REF appeals for increased fiscal support

The Rural Electrification Fund (REF) has called for greater fiscal support and improved access to key infrastructure, warning that current funding limitations and supply shortages continue to slow Zimbabwe's rural electrification efforts.

Speaking at a REF Stakeholder Consultative Workshop in Harare on Thursday, board member Cosmas Chiringa, who delivered remarks on behalf of board chairperson Willard Chiwewe, said the Fund continues to face major obstacles in extending power access to rural areas due to inadequate financial resources.

"REF faces problems in the provision of energy infrastructure in rural areas. The biggest challenge is inadequate funding," said Chiringa. "REF relies on funding from electricity sales — a 6% levy from consumers. While we appreciate government's competing priorities, we appeal for an increase in fiscal support."

He added that unlike other countries whose rural electrification programmes benefit from donor funding, Zimbabwe's initiative is entirely self-financed, which limits the scale and pace of expansion.

Chiringa also cited shortages of key infrastructure and materials, including transformers, as a major bottleneck. Some components have to be imported to supplement supplies from Zesa Enterprises, further straining project timelines and costs.

"Our target is universal access to modern energy services by all rural communities of Zimbabwe by 2030," he said. "The Rural Electrification Programme has transformed rural life - schools now have ICT access, teachers and nurses are more motivated, and smallholder farmers are able to irrigate and farm year-round."

He highlighted that electricity has improved service delivery in health institutions and boosted productivity in farming communities through irrigation schemes.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Gloria Magombo, through Director for Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy, Sosten Ziuku, reaffirmed government's commitment to supporting the Fund as the lead agency for rural energy access.

"REF remains the core implementation arm of government's rural energy access policy. It operationalises our national commitment to leave no one and no place behind in the transition to modern energy," said Ziuku.

He urged the Fund to focus on renewable energy integration, results-based management, and densification — extending electricity from electrified institutions to surrounding households.

"The renewable energy sector is evolving rapidly, and REF must adapt technologies suitable for rural populations," Ziuku said. "We are fully aware that REF has already electrified many rural business centres, clinics, and schools. The next stage is densification — ensuring that surrounding communities also benefit."

Zimbabwe's rural electrification drive, launched in 2002, has connected thousands of public institutions and households to grid and off-grid systems, but progress has slowed in recent years due to funding shortfalls and infrastructure challenges. REF officials maintain that increased fiscal support and stronger coordination with stakeholders are key to achieving universal energy access by 2030.