By Zim GBC News Harare Correspondent<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HARARE \u2013 Zimbabwe requires a staggering US$10 billion investment to boost power generation and end crippling electricity shortages, a new report by policy think-tank Veritas has revealed. The country\u2019s energy crisis has left households and industries struggling, with the poor bearing the brunt of prolonged load-shedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, Zimbabwe generates only 1,400 MW against a demand of 4,000 MW, forcing businesses and wealthier households to turn to expensive alternatives like solar, diesel generators, and windmills. However, Veritas warns that low-income families remain excluded from these solutions, deepening inequality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Debt-Strapped Nation Struggles to Keep the Lights On<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a US$21.5 billion debt burden\u2014nearly half of its GDP\u2014Zimbabwe faces hurdles in securing funding for new power projects. Finance Minister Prof. Mthuli Ncube recently acknowledged that the government can only make token payments to creditors like the World Bank and Paris Club, limiting access to fresh loans for infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cZimbabwe will need as much as US$10 billion to invest in energy production over the next decade to avert the ongoing crisis,\u201d the Veritas report stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPoor working-class and peasant families, who cannot afford private solutions, are suffering the most.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over-Reliance on Kariba and Hwange<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwe\u2019s power supply heavily depends on the 1,050 MW Kariba South Hydro and Hwange Thermal Station, which was upgraded in 2023 under a US$1.5 billion Chinese loan. However, droughts have repeatedly crippled Kariba\u2019s output, while Hwange\u2019s aging infrastructure struggles with breakdowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWater levels at Kariba improved this year, but the country still faces a massive deficit,\u201d the report noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cElectricity from private sources is more expensive, driving up production costs for businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Failed Projects and Stalled Solar Plans<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several initiatives meant to ease the crisis have faltered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Urgent Call for a New Energy Policy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Veritas urged the government to:
\u2705 Diversify the energy mix with solar, wind, and hydro projects like Batoka Gorge.
\u2705 Encourage private solar adoption through incentives.
\u2705 Mobilise domestic funding, including pension funds, for energy projects.
\u2705 Draft a clear transition plan balancing coal use (as a short-term fix) with green energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost multilateral funders now favour clean energy,\u201d the report noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cZimbabwe must align with global climate finance trends while addressing immediate needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government Responds<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his 2025 budget review, Finance Minister Ncube highlighted progress in off-grid solar adoption, estimating 86 MW of private generation. He also reaffirmed commitments to expand rural electrification through the Rural Electrification Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s Next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without urgent investment, Zimbabwe\u2019s power crisis will persist, further straining the economy. Stakeholders are calling for an inclusive energy policy<\/em> to ensure long-term solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zim GBC News\u00a9\ufe0f2025<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Zim GBC News Harare Correspondent HARARE \u2013 Zimbabwe requires a staggering US$10 billion investment to boost power generation and end crippling electricity shortages, a new report by policy think-tank… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8072"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8072\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8074,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8072\/revisions\/8074"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}