By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
VICTORIA FALLS — In a region increasingly battered by climate shocks, solar power is emerging as a lifeline for essential services.
During a four-day field mission to Matabeleland North, United Nations Resident Coordinator Dr Rosemary Kalapurakal witnessed firsthand how renewable energy is transforming healthcare delivery and education in some of Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable communities.
Her visit from 24 to 27 August 2026 highlighted a growing network of solar-powered facilities that are keeping the lights on in operating theatres, classrooms, and maternity wards—even when the national grid fails.
Powering Healthcare: A 40kWp Lifeline
At Victoria Falls District Hospital, a 40kWp hybrid solar system installed in 2022 is providing uninterrupted power to critical departments including the operating theatre, pharmacy, laboratory, maternity ward and mortuary.
The system comprises 120 solar panels and a 115 kWh battery bank, allowing the facility to maintain essential services when electricity from the national grid is unavailable.
The impact has been transformative. For health workers, the change has been significant—reliable power means vaccines stay cold, surgeries can proceed without interruption, and mothers in labour are not left in darkness.
The installation has replaced a situation where the hospital had to contend with an unreliable grid, prepaid electricity, and a diesel generator that was not always operational.
The hospital is part of a much broader national programme that has seen more than 1,263 health facilities and medical warehouses receive solar energy systems through an initiative involving the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Fund, the Government of Zimbabwe, and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The investment is being implemented under the Resilient Systems Strengthening for Health programme, with solar systems ranging from 5 kWp to 450 kWp depending on individual facility requirements.
Dr Kalapurakal toured the hospital during her visit, observing how solar solutions are enhancing social service delivery. She welcomed the progress but stressed the importance of protecting the investment, asking: “How do we keep this infrastructure going and being as useful as possible for the future?”
From Classrooms to Communities: Solar-Powered Schools
Beyond healthcare, three government secondary schools near Victoria Falls—Mkhosana Adventist, Ndlovu, and Sizinda—are benefiting from solar installations supported by UNICEF in partnership with local authorities and private sector partner Wild Horizons.
The initiative, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2025, is implementing solar-powered, multi-sectoral water systems that bring clean water, renewable energy, and climate-smart infrastructure to children, teachers, and surrounding communities.
“This partnership is a powerful example of how business and development can come together to create sustainable solutions for children and their communities,” said Etona Ekole, UNICEF Zimbabwe Representative.
The systems are delivering far-reaching benefits. Children gain access to clean water, improving hygiene and menstrual health management, and reducing absenteeism—particularly among girls. Improved water connections to nearby health facilities, including the Ndlovu maternity ward, are enhancing maternal and child health outcomes.
School gardens irrigated through solar-powered systems are boosting food security and promoting climate-smart agriculture, equipping learners with practical knowledge on resilience.
A Model for National Scale
Wild Horizons, one of the largest tourism operators in Victoria Falls, already supports 44 local schools through its Corporate Social Responsibility programme. If successful, the model being implemented at the three schools could be scaled to all 44 and replicated across other provinces.
The initiative supports the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s Clean Green Zimbabwe Initiative and contributes to the national climate adaptation agenda. It also aligns with the Zambezi River Basin regional initiative, which spans eight countries and impacts over 41 million people.
During the tour, Dr Kalapurakal also visited the Kubudilila solar-powered nutrition garden, supported by the World Food Programme and World Vision, which has improved livelihoods and food security with strong community leadership and participation of women.
Renewable Energy Fund and the Way Forward
Her visit coincided with the 8th International Solar Alliance Regional Committee Meeting for Africa, hosted by Zimbabwe in Victoria Falls, where President Mnangagwa called for accelerated investment in solar energy across the continent.
Dr Kalapurakal briefed First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa on the UN Joint Programme on Renewable Energy, which includes the establishment of a US$100 million Renewable Energy Fund catalysed by an initial US$10 million from the UN Joint SDG Fund and matched by US$10 million from Old Mutual Insurance Corporation.
“The United Nations remains committed to supporting Zimbabwe’s efforts to build resilient communities, expand access to clean energy and promote sustainable development that leaves no one behind,” said Dr Kalapurakal.
#SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #ClimateResilience #UNZimbabwe #SDGs #Healthcare #Education
About Author
