Matabeleland South province will host the National Renewable Energy Summit from March 19 to 20, an initiative aimed at promoting practical and scalable clean energy solutions to drive Zimbabwe’s rural development.
The two-day summit, organised by New Dubai Development Group, will take place at Esigodini Cricket Ground and is expected to bring together regulators, miners, farmers, local authorities, bankers and officials from the Mutapa Investment Fund.
New Dubai Development Group said the summit formed part of the Presidential solarisation scheme and sought to advance sustainable energy solutions to address power shortages, improve water pumping efficiency and strengthen irrigation systems and other essential services.
Company secretary Laura Machaya told Southern Eye that the gathering will create a roundtable platform for stakeholders affected by unreliable energy supplies to explore solar-based solutions for their operations.
“We want all stakeholders on a roundtable discussion. Some of them are affected by energy supplies and can come up with solutions to solarise their businesses,” she said.
Machaya said the company had approached the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry to mobilise farmers across Matabeleland South to attend and exhibit at the summit.
“The summit forms part of the Presidential solarisation scheme and seeks to promote practical, scalable renewable energy solutions that directly support rural development, agricultural productivity and climate resilience,” she said.
The platform will showcase affordable solar-powered irrigation systems, borehole and water pumping technologies, cold storage solutions, livestock water management systems and agro-processing energy applications.
- Matabeleland South to host renewable energy summit
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“Participants will get direct access to technology providers, financial institutions, government agencies and development partners offering funding mechanisms and equipment financing,” Machaya said.
She encouraged farmers and innovators wishing to exhibit renewable energy initiatives or agricultural products to reach out for details on exhibition fees and space allocation.
Machaya appealed for the ministry’s support in mobilising extension officers, co-operatives and agribusiness stakeholders to maximise the summit’s rural impact.
She noted that water pumping stations, irrigation systems and public amenities often rely on grid electricity or diesel generators, which are costly and environmentally unsustainable.
Frequent power disruptions, she said, continued to affect water supply reliability, agricultural productivity, community wellbeing and industrial operations.
“A sustainable and self-sufficient energy solution is required to ensure uninterrupted supply while reducing dependency on conventional power sources,” Machaya said.
