With the country’s commitment to meeting UN-enlisted Sustainable Development Goal 7, which advocates access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, the country still lags behind in terms of implementation and funding clean power.

The main intervention of the programme centres on the establishment of an innovative inclusive and gender responsive Renewable Energy Fund (REF) that aims to leverage private sector and financial markets to finance renewable energy projects that have a return on investment while achieving social impact for the acceleration of SDG achievement.

Rural communities such as Umzingwane district in Matabeleland South province are set to be empowered courtesy of an electrification exercise, which is expected to create employment and provide internet connectivity in the area.

The programme should see the drilling of up to 35 000 boreholes across provinces by 2025, all equipped with solar systems to anchor the Presidential Rural Horticulture Transformation Plan.

Speaking at Umzururu Primary School in Nyabira under Zvimba East Constituency, area legislator Cde Tawanda Tungamirai implored the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to consider expediting the drive to save trees and conserve the environment.