By Environmental Reporter
Zimbabwe today convened to map strategies, under EELA, Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (EELA) Zimbabwe Country Window, in a bid to map strategies that advance sustainable energy development in line with the global call to address carbon emission and the call to adopt sustainable energy solutions for Zimbabwe.
EELA can be viewed as the intention to standardise energy systems of African states through adopting climate change smart energy usage patterns that are renewable, accessible to everyone, compliant, sustainable as resilient in advancing climate change mitigation.
Speeking during Zimbabwe’s adoption of the EELA strategy in Harare, The Minister of Energy and Power Development for Zimbabwe, July Moyo, highlighted that, EELA is geared at “… targeting the accelerated uptake of energy-efficient lighting and appliances while positioning energy efficiency as a catalyst for industrial transformation, environmental protection, and socioeconomic development.”
Also worth noting is that, “The EELA Zimbabwe Country Window Project is a critical undertaking that aligns with our national goal of achieving universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030.” Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Dr Gloria Magombo said.
The initiative comes at a time government has taken strides in advancing the accessibility of Zimbabwean’s to not only energy but sustainable energy solutions while rewarding and encouraging invention within the energy space.
“The recently launched Energy efficiency Policy seeks to maximize the efficient use of energy resources and minimizing energy waste through the promotion of energy-efficient technologies and practices across various sectors like mining, residential, commercial, and industrial.” Magombo also said.
Furthermore, “The Ministry is also developing a National Clean Cooking Strategy which encourages transition from cooking with firewood to cooking with electricity, LPG and renewable energy sources such as solar, biogas and biofuels. The strategy also looks at provision of incentives and the promotion of innovation, research and development in the clean cooking space.” Magombo further highlighted.
On the other hand, “By establishing a Private Sector Industry Clean Tech Platform (ICTP), we aim to accelerate investments in clean technology and unlock green industrial growth. This is not just about energy—it is about jobs, innovation, and inclusive economic empowerment.” The Minister of Energy and Power Development, July Moyo also concurred.
Energy remains a perennial problem not only for Zimbabwe, but developing nations in particular owing to dependence, corruption and lack of development, the quest to develop vis a vis lack of industrial capacity within the area.