Zimbabwe Targets 520,000 Annual Electricity Connections to Achieve Universal Access by 2030
Zimbabwe has set an ambitious target of connecting 520,000 households to electricity every year through 2030 as part of its National Energy Compact under the Mission 300 initiative.
The target comprises 320,000 on-grid connections and 200,000 off-grid connections annually, a significant increase from the country’s current pace of between 40,000 and 60,000 connections a year.
Zimbabwe had approximately 1.76 million households with electricity access at the end of 2024, while another 2.55 million remained without electricity.
The country is projected to have about 4.86 million households by 2030, making rapid expansion of connections essential to achieving universal access.
The compact highlights a major challenge: Zimbabwe is adding around 118,000 households annually, meaning electricity connections must grow substantially faster simply to increase the proportion of households with access.
Financing remains one of the biggest obstacles. Zimbabwe currently spends about $45 million to $50 million annually on electrification through the Rural Electrification Fund and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).
However, achieving universal access by 2030 is estimated to require approximately $3.397 billion, equivalent to an average of about $566 million annually. High connection costs also prevent many households from connecting to networks that already reach their communities.
To close the financing and infrastructure gap, the government plans to expand private-sector participation in electricity distribution and retail through secondary distribution and retail licences.
The compact also calls for regulations allowing third-party access to the electricity grid, creating opportunities for private companies to invest in network expansion and provide electricity services.
Off-grid solutions are expected to remain an important part of the strategy. Private solar-home-system providers are already connecting between 20,000 and 30,000 households annually, while the Presidential Rural Solarisation Scheme targets 200,000 standalone systems each year.
Across the wider energy sector, Zimbabwe’s compact seeks to mobilise approximately $9.13 billion, with $4.42 billion expected from private investors.
The programme also targets the construction of 1,607 kilometres of transmission and distribution lines and a reduction in technical electricity losses from between 18% and 20% to 14% by 2030.
Zimbabwe’s ability to attract private capital and accelerate both grid and off-grid connections will be critical to turning its 2030 universal-access target into reality.