Abiah Madzudzo
The Rural Electrification Fund (REF) has expanded its rural solar and biogas projects at the City of Gweru Theatre .
This initiative aims to reduce deforestation and the risk of wildfires by replacing firewood with clean energy sources.
During a joint energy awareness campaign at the Gweru Theatre, Engineer Silba Zimwara, who is the REF Renewables Engineer and also the Provincial Manager for the Midlands Province at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), emphasized the environmental benefits of this
initiative. Zimwara highlighted that protecting the country’s diminishing forest cover is a key objective.
“Our mandate is to bring reliable, clean energy to rural communities,” stated Engineer Silba Zimwara.
“When households and institutions transition from firewood to biogas and solar energy, we decrease the pressure on forests, reduce indoorpollution, and lower the risk of uncontrolled fires.”
This accelerated program addresses a longstanding issue in Zimbabwe’s rural areas, where reliance on biomass for cooking and heating has historically contributed to high rates of tree cutting and land degradation.
The rural clean energy initiative is already showing measurable ecological and economic benefits in several targeted areas.
One notable installation is a 200 kilowatt solar mini-grid in Hwakwata, which now powers local homes and institutional facilities.
Engineer Silba Zimwara pointed out that the Hwakwata installation has significantly reduced the local reliance on wood fuel while simultaneously improving community infrastructure by providing reliable lighting, refrigeration, and enhanced connectivity.
Similar successes have been recorded in Ummelusi, Kwekwe, where systems supported by REF have resulted in a measurable decrease in deforestation in surrounding areas.
Across various rural districts, the deployment of decentralized solar mini-grids and domestic biogas digesters has successfully transformed daily energy consumption habits.
“These projects demonstrate what can be achieved when communities embrace cleaner energy,” Engineer Zimwara added.
“We’ve noticed a reduction in tree cutting, improved health outcomes for women and children, and more time for productive activities.”
Supported by Zimbabwe’s statutory 6% electricity levy, REF’s biogas program has successfully commissioned over 400 digesters across the country.
Each unit serves as a direct alternative to wood-based cooking, acting as a localized safeguard against forest depletion.
Building on this momentum, the agency announced that its next phase will aggressively target rural schools, clinics, growth points, business centers, and vulnerable farming communities in need of modernized energy grids.
This initiative is part of a coordinated strategy between the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to address the dual challenges of energy poverty and environmental degradation.
ZERA officials emphasized that transitioning rural communities to cleaner energy strengthens national veld fire mitigation efforts.
Traditional practices of extensive firewood harvesting and uncontrolled land clearing often deplete critical tree cover, creating fragile ecosystems that are highly susceptible to seasonal wildfires.
By providing viable, localized utility alternatives, the infrastructural pressure on these ecosystems is significantly reduced.
As the awareness campaign concluded, REA urged rural communities and local authorities to actively apply for electrification under the REF
framework.
Management stressed that community ownership and diligent maintenance of the installed solar and biogas infrastructure are essential, noting that every operational system contributes to reducing the national rate of forest loss.
