Zimbabwe’s Rural Electrification Drive Powers 1,300 Villages Nationwide
THE Government, through the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), has made significant strides in its power connectivity campaign, successfully electrifying over 1,300 villages nationwide.
This milestone is part of the country’s broader effort to achieve universal access to modern energy services by 2030, in line with the National Development Strategy 1 and Sustainable Development Goals.
In a statement on his official X account, Nick Mangwana, Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, confirmed that the number of villages with electricity has reached 1,302, underscoring the government’s ongoing efforts to expand rural connectivity and boost access to power across Zimbabwe.
According to the data provided, Manicaland Province leads the country with 361 electrified villages, followed by Mashonaland East with 202, while the Midlands Province ranks third with 194 villages powered.
The remaining provinces have the following number of villages: Matabeleland South has 138 villages, followed by Mashonaland West with 134 villages. Mashonaland Central has 56 villages, while Matabeleland North has 24 villages.
The Rural Electrification Fund (REF) has introduced targeted subsidies aimed at making energy access more affordable for rural Zimbabweans, aligning to achieve universal energy access by 2030.
These include a 100 per cent solar subsidy for public institutions and chiefs’ homesteads, while groups of villagers (10 or more) and individual homesteads receive 50 per cent and 40 per cent subsidies, respectively.
This year, Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo has commissioned several projects financed by the Government through REF, including the 45kW Chiwenga Solar Mini-Grid Electrification Project in Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central, and the Soti-Source resettlement area in Gutu, where he commissioned a 160kW solar power project.
As of February this year, the permanent secretary in the Ministry, Engineer Gloria Magombo, also revealed that REF had electrified more than 10,840 rural public institutions.
These include 4,621 primary schools, 1,538 secondary schools, 1,037 rural health centres, 1,279 business centres, 303 chiefs’ homesteads, 870 small-scale farms and villages, as well as grinding mills, irrigation schemes and base stations.
REA utilises both the conventional grid network and alternative renewable energy sources such as solar and biogas to provide electricity to rural communities.
The agency has also been connecting public institutions like schools and clinics to the electricity grid, enhancing their ability to provide better services and attract qualified staff.
The ongoing programme also aligns with President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind as the country gallops towards achieving an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
