The Power Development Department is one of the technical departments of the Ministry. Its main role is to facilitate the improvement of availability of electricity to the populace, as well as the attainment of self-sufficiency in electricity generation. The achievement of the strategic goals is centred on the effective administration of the utilities under the Department’s purview namely ZESA Holdings (Pvt) Ltd group of companies and its subsidiaries: Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), ZESA Enterprises (ZENT) and Powertel; the Rural Electrification Fund (REF); Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Authority (ZERA) and the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) which is a bilateral body owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Mission Statement
To facilitate the development of power infrastructure and provision of safe, adequate, reliable and cost-reflective electricity
Roles Of The Department
- Formulate and review policies;
- Monitor and evaluate policy implementation;
- Undertake power sector reforms;
- Administer and manage power sector issues;
- Monitor and evaluate operations of State Enterprises and Parastatals in the power sector;
- Compile and avail information on the power supply situation to stakeholders;
- Facilitate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of national power projects and programmes;
- Promote an enabling environment and provide information for investment in the power sector, with a bias towards indigenisation;
- Develop energy plans;
- Coordinate and manage IAEA Technical Cooperation projects (TC);
- Prepare the Ministry‘s Senior Management Meetings and reports.
Power Sector Reform
In accordance with Government policy to embark on reforms of the electricity sector, a new Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19) was enacted in 2002 bringing about the restructuring and unbundling of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) from a vertically integrated utility into separate successor companies focusing on Generation, Transmission & Distribution and Service companies.
The Act also provided for the setting up of an autonomous regulatory body that would encourage new investment in the electricity sector through appropriate regulatory, fiscal and environmental frameworks, harmonized with those of the SADC countries and through strategic partnerships.
Rural Electrification Programme
Government recognises the fact that rural electrification is a major pillar in enhancing socio – economic development in rural communities. In this regard, the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) was established through an Act of Parliament (Chapter 13:20) of 2002 whose main focus is to spearhead rapid and equitable electrification of rural areas in Zimbabwe. To date, the rural electrification programme has seen more than 5000 rural institutions, farms, villages, borehole, dam points and irrigation schemes electrified to date.
It is worth noting that the Zimbabwe Rural Electrification Programme has two complementary components as follows:
Expanded Rural Electrification Programme
The Expanded Rural Electrification Programme (EREP) seeks to extend the electricity grid into rural areas. All rural public institutions qualify for 100% capital subsidy. These include schools, clinics, and Government extension offices and chiefs homesteads. All other rural electrification programmes qualify for 60% capital subsidy.
Electricity End-Use Infrastructure Development
The Electricity End Use Infrastructure Development (EEUID) component endeavours to empower rural communities socio-economically by promoting productive use of electricity in irrigation and cottage industries etc.
The Rural Electrification Fund Act provides for the funding of the programme through levies, loans, fiscal allocations, grants and donations. At present, the Rural Electrification programmes are primarily funded by 6% levy, levied on all electricity consumers as well as fiscal allocations.