Tendai Keith Guvamombe
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has moved swiftly to quell public anxiety, strongly dismissing a “malicious article” circulating on social media that falsely claimed the Authority intends to impose a tax on domestic solar energy users.
ZERA categorically stated that the report is “entirely false, devoid of any truth and should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.”
The statement reinforces the Government’s commitment, outlined in the recently launched National Energy Compact, to achieve universal access to energy by 2030. Far from taxing solar users, the national policy actively encourages the increased roll-out of all energy forms, including solar, to ensure that “no one and no place is left behind.”
Incentives Over Levies
The Authority highlighted a range of concrete incentives already in place to support the growth and accessibility of solar power across the country, demonstrating a clear policy trajectory towards decentralized green energy:
Net-Metering: Regulations are in place allowing households and small-scale producers to supply excess energy generated back to the main grid, offering financial credits to consumers.
ZERA explicitly reassured the public that no levy or charge is required, or will be required, to install or own a solar system for domestic use.
The public is strongly urged to rely only on official ZERA platforms for updates and to ignore the malicious statements, which are contrary to the Government’s priority of expanding energy access through renewables.
Duty-Free Importation: All solar equipment is allowed to be imported duty-free, significantly lowering the cost of installation for households and businesses.
Industry Support: ZERA is actively supporting the training of solar installers to boost the industry’s capacity and ensure strict adherence to high safety and quality standards.
