Power struggles: Zim’s quest for energy independence amid economic turmoil

📅 Published: August 20, 2025

📰 Source: zimbabwesituation

Curated by AllZimNews.com

In the early 2000s, energy experts urged Zimbabwe to capitalise on its vast potential for harnessing alternative energy sources.

However, without autonomy from the corridors of power, local independent power producers (IPPs) found themselves stifled.

That was a time when regional energy prices were beginning to rise, and the country’s reliance on a faltering main grid increasingly threatened its economic stability.

Fast forward to today, the government has declared a renewed commitment to empowering IPPs, asserting that independent power generation is essential for revitalising the economy.

At the recent Energy Forum for Africa (EFA) held in Harare, leading stakeholders from Zimbabwe and Zambia gathered to forge partnerships aimed at closing the southern Africa energy gap.

The event underscored a collective recognition that sustainable energy development is crucial for the region’s future.

Benson Munyaradzi, the director for policy and planning in the Energy and Power Development ministry, emphasised the government’s strategy: “We have developed the National Energy Compact, a roadmap designed to ensure affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity for all citizens by 2030. “Our targets include electrifying 3,1 million households, thereby providing universal access to electricity. ” Yet, the promise of this compact is met with scepticism from many citizens.

In urban areas like Harare, where power outages are frequent, frustrations are palpable. “We can’t plan our lives around electricity supply,” says Thandiwe, a business owner in the capital, who preferred to provide only her first name. “My bakery relies on electricity for everything — from baking to refrigeration.

Every outage is a loss. ” Her story reflects the hardships faced by countless small businesses that struggle to thrive in an environment where power is a luxury rather than a right.

In rural communities, the situation is even dire.

Many households lack access to reliable electricity, relying on candles and kerosene lamps. “We often go for days without power,” laments Juma, a farmer from Masvingo. “Without electricity, we cannot store our produce and it spoils before it can reach the market. ” Juma’s experience underscores the economic vulnerabilities that arise from a lack of reliable energy, affecting not just individual households, but entire communities.

The government’s push for IPPs is seen as a potential solution but significant barriers remain.