Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume Slams Councilors for Failing to Deliver on Green Energy Plan

Chat with us on WhatsApp via: +263 78 922 2847, +263 78 864 2437, +263 77 389 8979, +263 71 961 3479 and +263 71 884 5891.

SOLAR POWER STRUGGLE: HARARE MAYOR MAFOUME SLAMS COUNCILORS FOR FAILING TO DELIVER ON GREEN ENERGY PLAN

In a scathing rebuke, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has lambasted his fellow councillors for their failure to develop a green energy plan, which would have harnessed the city's potential to switch to solar power. 

The mayor's outburst comes as the city grapples with crippling power outages, with residents facing over 10 hours of daily blackouts.

RURAL COUNCILS LEAD THE WAY IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

Mafume's frustration is palpable, as he highlights the stark contrast between Harare's inaction and the progress made by rural councils. "Rural district councils are putting up eight megawatt stations, and a city the size of Harare does not have a renewable energy plan," he lamented. "It's unacceptable that we, with our financial capacity and potential, are lagging behind."

COUNCIL'S BUSINESS COMMITTEE UNDER FIRE

The mayor's criticism is directed squarely at the council's Business Committee, which he accuses of dilly-dallying and failing to make a decision on the solar project. 
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume
"I told people that we needed to have solar plants by now to have a homegrown solution for energy," Mafume said. "But the business committee is still avoiding coming up with a decision."

POWER CRISIS WORSENS IN HARARE

The consequences of Harare's inaction are being felt by residents, who are bearing the brunt of the power crisis. The city's reliance on the national grid, which is struggling to meet demand, has resulted in prolonged power outages. The situation is further exacerbated by the subdued power generation at Zimbabwe's main power stations, Kariba and Hwange.

EXPERT INSIGHTS

We spoke to energy expert, Dr. Tawanda Makoni, who highlighted the importance of Harare's green energy plan. "The city's failure to develop a renewable energy plan is a missed opportunity to reduce its reliance on the national grid and mitigate the impact of power outages," he said. "Harare's financial capacity and potential make it an ideal candidate for solar power, and it's disappointing that the council is not taking advantage of this."

WHAT'S NEXT FOR HARARE?

As Harare struggles to manage the power crisis, the city's residents are left wondering what the future holds. Will the council finally take action on the green energy plan, or will the city continue to lag behind rural councils? The answer lies in the hands of the Business Committee, which must now take decisive action to address the city's energy needs.

YOUR TURN: SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think is the solution to Harare's power crisis? Should the city prioritize solar power, or explore other renewable energy options?

About Solar Options Zimbabwe:

Solar Options Zimbabwe Empowers People To Make Smarter Solar Systems Decisions, Through Simplicity, Transparency, and Choice. Solar Options Zimbabwe gives you access to transparent information so you can make informed decisions, confidently. We connect you with The Best Solar Companies in Zimbabwe who are competing to earn your business.

Solar Options Zimbabwe is the go-to marketplace for making confident energy decisions and gaining control over the buying process.

Contact Solar Options Zimbabwe:

Solar Options Zimbabwe gives you access to transparent information so you can make informed decisions, confidently. Get in touch with us directly via WhatsApp by clicking the Chat with WhatsApp below.

Solar Systems Sales: +263 78 922 2847
Solar Systems Sales: +263 78 864 2437
Borehole Solutions Sales: +263 77 389 8979
Borehole Solutions Sales: +263 71 961 3479
Water Systems Sales: +263 71 884 5891

Related Stories

Image

Solar Battery Costs: Solar Battery Prices in Zimbabwe (with 2024 Guide)

Our top choice for the best and cost-effective high-quality solar battery is the Must Wall Mounted Lithium Battery (LiFePO₄ battery) in both 24Volts, priced at an average of $650USD, and 48Volts, priced at an average of $1000USD .  These batteries, available through Sona Solar Zimbabwe and Must Solar Zimbabwe, have consistently demonstrated excellence across various criteria, making them a versatile and dependable option for a wide range of homes .  Additionally, it stands out with its remarkable 4500 Cycle Warranty, a rare offering in the realm of solar batteries. It's crucial to note that individual battery needs vary significantly, emphasizing the point that they are not one-size-fits-all products. Batteries are a necessary part of a solar system if you’re off-grid (you do not have a ZESA connection), or if you need backup power for load-shedding. In this post, we will look at solar battery prices in Zimbabwe. Choosing The Right Solar Battery: Before looking at how much batterie
Read more
Image

The Best Solar Companies in Zimbabwe (Updated in 2024)

Sona Solar Zimbabwe, deemed among the top solar companies in Zimbabwe, presents an indispensable roadmap to selecting the finest solar panels for residences and businesses in 2024.  Recognizing the significant investment solar installations entail, it is paramount to opt for premium equipment that maximizes your return. With Sona Solar Zimbabwe's expertise, choosing the ideal solar panels tailored for both residential and commercial settings becomes seamless.  Amidst the rapid advancements in solar technology enhancing photovoltaic efficiency, navigating the array of options can be challenging; however, drawing from over a decade of hands-on experience in solar array installations, Sona Solar Zimbabwe meticulously evaluates and identifies the optimum panels and brands based on quality, performance, pricing, and manufacturer reputation.  Embark on your path towards sustainable and eco-friendly energy solutions by contacting us at +263 78 864 2437, +263 78 293 3586, or +263 78 922 28
Read more
Image

The Best Solar Panels in Zimbabwe - Jinko Solar Panels Review (Updated 2023)

Jinko Solar is currently the world's largest solar panel manufacturer and has a good track record for producing cost-effective reliable solar panels for residential and commercial applications.  On the back of several record-breaking solar cell efficiency records and innovations, Jinko Solar has emerged as one of the industry leaders in research and development and is now pushing the transition to higher-performance N-type cells with the new Tiger series panels. This brand is getting very popular in Zimbabwe for its exceptional performance. It is not a coincidence that many solar installers mention it when the talk is about the best solar panel brands.  But what is in the Jinko that Zimbabweans have developed sweet feelings with it? THE ORIGINS Well, first things first guys. Let us talk about the manufacturer for a minute. According to Wikipedia , Jinko is currently the world’s largest solar manufacturer, shipping 11.4GW of modules in 2018!  The Best Solar Panels in Zimbabwe - Jink
Read more
Image

The Real Cost of Installing Solar In Zimbabwe (with 2024 Solar Systems Prices)

The cost of Solar Energy has plummeted in recent years due to incredible advancements in the technology used and how it’s produced.  If we consider this alongside the escalating cost and hassles of ZESA power, “going solar” has become far more feasible than it ever was. As we attempt to navigate a concerning future of power in Zimbabwe, with load-shedding and the disruptions it causes, many are looking to solar to both reduce the cost of their electricity consumption and avoid the effects of load-shedding. We investigate the reality of this, and what costs you’ll need to consider to make this happen. How Solar Works If you are one of the many Zimbabweans looking to avoid load shedding by installing solar power, it’s important to understand the cost of solar energy powering your home.  The Real Cost of Installing Solar In Zimbabwe To best understand this, we need to investigate solar power’s system components and their functions. There are six major parts to a solar energy system and a
Read more
Image

Solar Packages in Zimbabwe - A 3KVA Solar Panel System For The Zimbabwe Home!

A 3kVA Solar System is one of the most popular sized Residential Solar Systems in Zimbabwe. A 3KVA Solar Power System will generate approximately 12 units of electricity (called kilowatt-hours or kWhs) per day. As mentioned, this is about 2/3 of the electricity usage of a modest Zimbabwean home. At current pricing, you can expect to pay about $2,000.00USD for a good 3kVA Solar System installed on your roof.  Is 3kVA of Solar System Enough for a Home in Zimbabwe? The experts who deal in solar said that three kilowatts (kW) of a Solar Power System is enough for an average family of three to four people. But for a larger family or for running an AC at home, five to seven kilowatts of a solar system will be required. Back in 2014, a 1 kW solar system was sufficient for the efficient running of a home. But today given that inverter batteries are becoming more prevalent and popular, a 3kVA system is at least required. A 3kW solar system will generate 12 to 15 units per day of power which las
Read more
Image

The Best Solar Panels in Zimbabwe - Canadian Solar Panels Overview and Review (Updated 2023)

With two decades of experience in solar panel manufacturing, Canadian Solar has earned a good reputation as being one of the more reliable suppliers of affordable solar panels for residential and commercial applications.  Despite being one of the top six solar panel manufacturers globally, Canadian Solar is generally quite conservative as they don’t rush into pushing out the latest technologies. However, the recently released HiKu6 and HiKu7 Series Panels feature the latest PV cell innovations and are some of the most efficient lower-cost panels available. Shawn Qu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc. In Zimbabwe, you cannot afford to talk about Solar Panels without mentioning Canadian Solar. To tell the truth, Canadian Solar is the favourite Solar Panel Brand in Zimbabwe. ORIGINS However, this brand awareness did not come on a silver platter. The Canadian Solar Panel deserves it. To mention just the tip of the iceberg, Canadian Sola Inc. achieved first place
Read more