ZETDC Targets 300,000 New Power Connections as Electrification Drive Scales Up
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has unveiled an ambitious plan to connect more than 300,000 households currently living without electricity.
The initiative forms part of Government’s broader National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and is designed to fast-track access to power in high-density suburbs and newly established residential areas that have remained off the grid for years.
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Private Sector to Help Clear Backlog
Under the programme, the State-owned utility will deepen partnerships with private players to accelerate network expansion and address long-standing reticulation backlogs. Officials said this collaborative approach is intended to unlock funding, expertise and delivery capacity beyond what the utility can manage on its own.
The strategy was outlined during the ZETDC consultative operations and client service indaba recently held in Victoria Falls, where stakeholders assessed service delivery challenges and opportunities for faster rollout.
Work Already Underway in Urban Areas
ZETDC confirmed that reticulation works are already in progress in several communities, including Lobengula and Cowdray Park in Bulawayo — suburbs that have historically struggled with limited access to electricity despite being fully settled.
The focus on such areas is part of efforts to eliminate so-called “dark cities”, where residents have waited years for power connections long after housing developments were completed.
Scaling Up to Meet NDS2 Goals
Zesa Holdings chief executive officer Engineer Cletus Nyachowe said the new targets represent a dramatic shift in scale compared to previous years.
“On average, we have been connecting between 30,000 and 40,000 customers per year, but to meet the demands of NDS2, we now need to exceed 300,000 connections annually,” he said.
He added that achieving the target would require faster execution, smarter deployment of resources and expanded private sector participation, noting that internal assessments show the goal is attainable.
Energy Seen as Key to Vision 2030
Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo said electricity access remains central to Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy.
He emphasised that while progress has been made in power generation, equal attention must be given to strengthening distribution infrastructure so that communities can fully benefit.
“Our front-line ZETDC teams are critical in translating policy into real outcomes for communities,” said Minister Moyo. “No place and no one should be left behind. These last-mile connections are where development becomes real.”
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