By Aldridge Dzvene
Victoria Falls is set to become the strategic heartbeat of Southern Africa’s energy future this February as Zimbabwe hosts the 2026 SADC Sustainable Energy Week, a high-level regional conference expected to shape policy direction, investment flows and cooperation in the power sector.
The event places Zimbabwe, under the stewardship of the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Honourable July G. Moyo, at the centre of a regional conversation on how energy can be leveraged as a driver of economic growth, industrialisation and sustainable development.
The conference comes at a time when Southern Africa continues to face persistent energy deficits, climate-induced shocks and rising demand driven by population growth and industrial ambitions. By hosting the gathering in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is not only offering a neutral and symbolic meeting point for the region, but also signalling its intent to play a leading role in shaping solutions that balance energy security with the transition to cleaner and more efficient systems.
Honourable July Moyo, as the host minister, has consistently framed energy not as an isolated sector but as the foundation upon which productivity, value addition and regional integration depend.
Under the theme of driving regional economic growth through clean energy and energy efficiency, the SADC Sustainable Energy Week is expected to bring together energy ministers, regulators, utilities, investors, development partners and technology innovators from across the SADC bloc and beyond.
Discussions are anticipated to focus on policy harmonisation, cross-border power trade, renewable energy deployment, financing models, grid stability and the role of energy efficiency in reducing costs for industry and households. The emphasis is not merely on ideas, but on translating commitments into bankable projects and implementable frameworks.
For Zimbabwe, the conference also carries domestic strategic significance. It provides a platform to showcase ongoing reforms in the energy sector, efforts to attract independent power producers, and initiatives aimed at expanding generation capacity while modernising transmission and distribution infrastructure. Honourable July Moyo’s hosting role reinforces Zimbabwe’s positioning as a serious convenor on energy matters, capable of bridging public policy priorities with private sector investment interests in a region where power shortages have long constrained growth.
At a regional level, the gathering is expected to advance conversations around deeper energy integration within SADC, including the strengthening of power pools and alignment with continental initiatives such as the African Single Electricity Market. These efforts are increasingly viewed as critical to unlocking economies of scale, improving resilience against supply shocks and ensuring that energy-rich countries can support those facing structural deficits. The Victoria Falls meeting thus serves as both a policy forum and a strategic marketplace for partnerships.
Beyond policy and investment, the conference underscores a broader shift in how energy is framed in Southern Africa. Clean energy is no longer treated as a peripheral environmental concern, but as a core economic enabler capable of supporting industrial value chains, job creation and inclusive development. By hosting the event, Zimbabwe positions itself within this evolving narrative, projecting leadership that aligns national priorities with regional and global energy transitions.
As delegates converge on Victoria Falls, the spotlight will be firmly on Honourable July Moyo and Zimbabwe’s ability to convert the symbolism of hosting into tangible outcomes. The success of the SADC Sustainable Energy Week will ultimately be measured not by speeches alone, but by the momentum it generates toward a more connected, reliable and sustainable energy future for the region.
