Sitting in the dark due to the absence of grid electricity at his rural homestead in Esigodini, southern Zimbabwe, Mr Daniel Sibanda decided to invest in a mini-solar system technology to light up his home, and recharge phones.
Mr Sibanda, a poor communal farmer who relies on selling tomatoes and vegetables, spent USD $90 every month, purchasing candles, boxes of matches, paraffin to make sure his children were able to read at night.
“My children are studying for their final year, and studying at night without electricity has been a challenge. I had to prioritise the future of my children by investing in a mini solar system for lighting up my home, and recharging phones so that my children can study at night,” he said.
But, the Zimbabwean government had promised its rural communities grid electricity to light up homesteads since the 1980 Independence Day, until today, it is failing to deliver on its promise due to lack of investments in the energy sector, according to the government officials.
“Policy inconsistencies in the energy sector were hampering foreign investments in the energy sector. The recent launch of the National Renewable Energy Policy (NREP) and the Biofuels Policy of Zimbabwe, early this year, represents a major milestone in the country’s efforts to catalyse the transition to renewable energy,” Energy and Power Development Minister, Fortune Chasi said in an interview. Read more…
