CMED introduces 18 electric buses in Zimbabwe

The Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) has taken a major step in advancing environmentally friendly transport in Zimbabwe, receiving 18 commercial electric buses that will undergo trial runs this week. The development marks a significant milestone in reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels and aligns with the government's broader strategy to promote clean energy transport, leveraging Zimbabwe's rich lithium reserves — a key component in electric vehicle batteries.

CMED Managing Director Davison Mhaka spoke to Sunday News on the sidelines of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development's Eighth (Second 2025) Session of the Line Minister's Public Entities Corporate Governance Oversight meeting in Bulawayo last week. He confirmed that the 18 buses will complement the 41 electric vehicles already in operation under CMED.

"These buses will be deployed in the near future, and by next week, we will start trial runs where we establish dedicated lanes for their operation," Mhaka said. He added that plans are underway to roll out charging stations across the country, including five in Bulawayo and additional stations along key routes such as Victoria Falls.

Mhaka highlighted the global shift toward electric mobility, noting that most developed countries are expected to phase out internal combustion engines by 2035. "Electric vehicles are already popular in many parts of the world, such as China, where most urban transit systems are electric," he said. "At CMED, we are trying to drive a mass urban transit system similar to Zupco but fully electric."

The move to electric buses also carries significant economic benefits. Mhaka noted that operational costs are roughly a quarter of those for diesel buses, while fuel import bills are expected to decline as reliance on fossil fuels decreases. CMED's plan extends beyond importing buses to include local production of small electric vehicles, referred to as "neighbourhood electric vehicles," intended for internal operations within hotels and other facilities. Production will incorporate both imported kits and locally sourced components such as springs and chassis, with manufacturing set to start next year.

The initiative is also linked to Zimbabwe's Education 5.0 strategy, as CMED plans to collaborate with local universities to develop and produce electric vehicle components domestically, reducing dependence on imports.

Globally, the shift toward electric vehicles is accelerating. According to Reuters, sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose 29% year-on-year in March, driven by strong growth in China and Europe. In China, sales increased 36% from the same month in 2024 to nearly 1 million vehicles, while Europe recorded a 24% increase in registrations to 400,000 cars. North America also saw growth, with EV sales in the United States and Canada rising 12% to 200,000 vehicles, as emission targets and regulations promote electric mobility.

Zimbabwe's move to expand its electric vehicle fleet reflects the global trend toward cleaner transport and represents a significant step in building a sustainable, low-carbon transport infrastructure.