African Heads of State and Government gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this Tuesday for an Energy Summit aimed at boosting power generation and attracting investments in the energy sector. The summit, held under the theme “Mission 300,” focused on ensuring that the estimated 300 million people across the continent gain access to electricity by 2030.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa was represented by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Energy and Power Development, Honourable July Moyo, who joined 21 other heads of state, government officials, and international financiers.
In his remarks on the sidelines of the summit, Honourable Moyo stressed the need for intensifying electrification efforts in both rural and urban areas. He emphasized the importance of energy in boosting productivity, particularly in sectors like agriculture, which is central to Zimbabwe’s economy. “Energy is crucial for agriculture, especially in promoting irrigation systems. Zimbabwe is also building the largest steel plant, which requires electricity,” he said.
The summit also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, with countries with surplus power, such as Tanzania and Angola, set to be connected to the Southern African Power Pool. This connection will allow the region to benefit from the excess power generated by these countries.
Honourable Moyo further noted that the focus was on ensuring a balanced power supply across the continent, with countries like Tanzania and Angola, which have surplus energy, now set to link up with the Southern African Power Pool. “We are now comparing ourselves to Tanzania and Angola, who are the only two countries not connected to the Southern African Power Pool, but Tanzania is now connecting with Zambia so that we can benefit from their excess power,” he added.
The summit also saw the launch of the National Energy Compacts for 15 countries, marking a key milestone in the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. The initiative is part of broader efforts to address energy sector gaps, improve infrastructure, and attract the necessary investments to meet the continent’s growing power demands.
