By Brenda Mazhambe
Zimbabwe’s rural electrification drive has reached a defining milestone, with approximately 82 percent of public institutions—schools, clinics, business centres and other community hubs—now connected to electricity, signalling steady progress toward universal energy access.
The figure, confirmed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), reflects years of sustained infrastructure rollout and positions the country within reach of its immediate target: full electrification of all schools and clinics by the end of 2026. Beyond that, authorities are pursuing a broader goal of ensuring every rural household has access to modern energy by 2030.
Speaking at the RIA exhibition stand during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair 2026, Acting Chief Executive Officer Felisters Makumbinde said the gains are the result of a structured, institution-first approach that prioritises service delivery points critical to rural life.
“The Rural Electrification Agency is mandated to provide universal access to sustainable modern energy services to all rural areas of Zimbabwe. From inception to date, we have largely focused on public institutions such as schools, clinics, business centres, chief homesteads and Government extension offices.
“I am pleased to highlight that we have achieved approximately 82 percent electrification of these public institutions,” she said.
The strategy has deliberately targeted institutions that act as anchors of rural communities—schools that require power for digital learning and evening study, clinics that depend on electricity for refrigeration of medicines and operation of equipment, and business centres that stimulate local commerce.
Electrification at these nodes is designed to trigger wider socio-economic activity, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for broader connectivity.
Makumbinde said the programme is being implemented under clear national policy direction, aligned to the government’s development blueprint.
“Our interventions are fully aligned with the National Development Strategy 2, which emphasizes leaving no place and no one behind. By the end of 2026, our target is to ensure that all schools and clinics have access to electricity, while by 2030, our vision is that every rural household will have access to one form or another of modern energy,” she said.
To close the remaining 18 percent gap, the REA is accelerating deployments under a directive to prioritise all outstanding schools and clinics, particularly in remote and previously underserved areas.
“This year, we are working under a directive from His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, to ensure that every school and every clinic in rural areas is electrified.
“We are pursuing this through grid extension, where we are connecting institutions by extending power lines from one point to another, as well as through off-grid solutions such as solar systems,” she added.
The rollout model blends conventional grid expansion with decentralised renewable energy systems, allowing the agency to overcome geographic and cost barriers associated with extending the national grid to sparsely populated areas.
“We are constructing institutional solar microgrids specifically for schools, as well as community solar mini-grids that benefit entire communities. When we install a community solar mini-grid, it does not only serve a school or clinic, but also electrifies households, business centres and surrounding infrastructure. This approach ensures inclusive access to energy within rural communities,” she said.
Officials say the emphasis on public institutions is not an end in itself, but a deliberate sequencing strategy. Once these facilities are connected, they become entry points for expanding electricity access to surrounding households and enterprises.
“By targeting schools and clinics, we are effectively establishing the backbone infrastructure required for wider connectivity. Once this phase is complete, we will move towards what we call densification, where households, business centres and other facilities located close to existing grid lines will be connected more efficiently and at a higher subsidy.
“Our interventions are fully aligned with the National Development Strategy 2, which emphasizes leaving no place and no one behind,” she said.
The Role of the REA
Established to spearhead rural electrification, the Rural Electrification Agency operates as the Government’s principal vehicle for expanding electricity access beyond urban centres. It is funded primarily through the Rural Electrification Fund, which draws resources from levies, Treasury support and development partners to finance infrastructure projects in underserved areas.
Since its inception, the agency has focused on extending the national grid while increasingly incorporating off-grid renewable solutions to reach remote communities where conventional electrification would be costly or impractical. Its mandate covers a broad spectrum of installations, including schools, health facilities, irrigation schemes, business centres and community institutions.
Over time, the REA has evolved from a grid-extension entity into a hybrid energy provider, integrating solar mini-grids, microgrids and standalone systems into its deployment model. This shift reflects both technological advancements and the need for faster, scalable solutions to meet growing demand.
The agency’s work is central to Zimbabwe’s wider development agenda, particularly efforts to modernise rural economies, reduce energy poverty and support key sectors such as agriculture, education and health.
Safeguarding Gains, Expanding Impact
As the programme scales up, authorities are also placing emphasis on sustainability—both in protecting installed infrastructure and ensuring that communities translate access into tangible economic gains.
“I would like to urge all beneficiaries to jealously guard the infrastructure that is being provided. This infrastructure is meant to serve present and future generations. Let us collectively fight against vandalism and ensure that once an area is developed, it remains developed.
“Communities must also utilise the electricity productively by establishing village business units and school-based enterprises so that energy access translates into improved livelihoods,” she said.
The electrification drive, showcased at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, is increasingly defined by measurable outcomes. With more than four in five public institutions now powered, attention is shifting to the final stretch—closing the remaining gap to 100 percent and extending the benefits of electricity beyond institutions to households, enterprises and the wider rural economy.
