ZERA dismisses solar tax claims

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has dismissed circulating social media reports suggesting that the government plans to impose a tax on households using solar power, describing the claims as "malicious and entirely false."

In an official statement, ZERA clarified that there is no levy or charge associated with installing or owning a domestic solar system. The regulator urged the public to treat the reports with contempt, stressing that they have no factual basis.

"These allegations threaten to undermine national efforts to expand access to clean energy under the recently launched National Energy Compact, which commits Zimbabwe to achieving universal energy access by 2030," ZERA said.

The Authority highlighted that the government has actively promoted renewable energy adoption, including duty-free importation of solar equipment, training programs for installers, and net-metering regulations that allow households to feed surplus electricity back into the national grid. ZERA said these measures demonstrate the government's intention to encourage, rather than penalize, solar energy uptake.

"Members of the public are therefore advised to completely ignore malicious statements, as they are contrary to government policy and priorities," the regulator added. ZERA also urged citizens to rely on verified information from official sources, warning that unsubstantiated social media posts risk creating unnecessary alarm.