Stakeholders in the energy sector and the wider public have hailed the 2026 SADC Sustainable Energy Week (SEW) as a resounding success after five days of high-level policy dialogue, investment discussions and technical exchanges aimed at accelerating the region’s transition to clean, modern and affordable energy. The 2026 SADC SEW, held from 23–27 February at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls, brought together regional energy ministers, regulators, development finance institutions, private sector leaders, technical experts and civil society under the theme “Driving Regional Economic Growth through Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency.” Hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Energy and Power Development (MoEPD), in partnership with the SADC Secretariat and SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE), the Week reaffirmed sustainable energy as a cornerstone of regional industrialisation, energy security and inclusive development.
Day 1 focused on solar thermal innovation, clean cooking and enabling policies. Hon. July G. Moyo, Minister of Energy and Power Development, formally welcomed delegates, stressing that clean energy and energy efficiency are catalysts for economic growth and central to Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, while calling for deeper regional integration, stronger public–private collaboration and harmonised legislation. SACREEE Executive Director, Mr. Kudakwashe Ndhlukula, outlined the weeks programme combining high‑level sessions, B2B meetings, exhibitions, national energy compact presentations, awards and technical tours to move the region from dialogue to execution.
The 9th Southern African Solar Thermal Training & Demonstration Initiative (SOLTRAIN) Conference showcased Southern Africa’s progress in solar thermal technologies, from policy and standards to demonstration projects and vocational training. Subsequent sessions examined pathways to sustainable heating and cooling innovations, gender diversity management and youth inclusion, highlighting the need for harmonised standards, installer certification and targeted capacity building so that solar thermal can play a larger role in the energy transition. Parallel sessions on clean cooking, convened by the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres, positioned clean cooking as a core pillar of universal access, stressing integrated policy frameworks, blended finance and gender‑responsive approaches. Day 1 closed with discussions on regional policy frameworks for energy security and on redefining power sovereignty in a high‑renewables future, underscoring that regional power trade, strong institutions and grid investment are now central to energy security and economic development.
Day 2 turned to energy efficiency, infrastructure finance, productive use of energy, industrial and captive power solutions. In the Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (EELA) ‑led session, Hon. Moyo underscored energy efficiency as a strategic priority for development and climate resilience, urging that policy be translated into binding legislation, supported by robust data and institutional capacity. H.E. Per Lindgärde, Ambassador of Sweden, framed efficiency as the “first fuel” and a cornerstone of resilience and economic transformation, stressing that progress should be measured by how efficiently energy is used. The United Nations Industrial Development Programme ( UNIDO) and regional experts reinforced that energy efficiency offers the fastest, lowest‑cost route to lowering emissions, cutting costs and strengthening competitiveness, but requires stronger enforcement of standards, regional testing infrastructure and better access to finance.
Parallel sessions explored infrastructure financing for an energy‑secure region, with development banks, pension funds and commercial financiers discussing blended finance, risk‑mitigation tools and regional project pipelines to crowd in private capital. Later, SACREEE’s session on advancing energy efficiency highlighted continental initiatives to boost energy productivity and called for prioritising efficiency investments before new generation. Other Day 2 discussions focused on productive use of energy in agriculture and rural economies, demonstrating how agrivoltaics, solar mini‑grids and off‑grid solutions can power irrigation, agro‑processing and rural enterprises, thereby creating jobs and strengthening resilience. A session on captive power and industrial energy solutions showcased how renewable energy and efficiency are being deployed in mines, manufacturing and utilities to support industrialisation. The gender and youth track, led by GWNET and SACREEE, emphasised mentorship, standardised skills, targeted financing and stronger representation of women and youth in technical and leadership roles, including the launch of the “African Power Girls Rising” campaign. The day concluded with a Ministers’ Welcome Dinner and a closed “Women in Energy” event that reinforced political commitment to inclusive energy transitions.
Day 3 centred on the official high‑level opening, ministerial policy deliberations and the first‑ever SADC SEW Awards. In the opening ceremony, Hon. Richard Moyo, the Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister for Matabeleland North, welcomed delegates to Matabeleland North, linking the SEW theme to provincial aspirations. SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Elias M. Magosi presented the regional energy status: completion of most national energy compacts, rising electricity access to about 56 percent and advancing regional masterplans and interconnectors, alongside persistent challenges such as a coal and hydro‑dominated mix, financing gaps and power shortages. He emphasised that energy is about people and livelihoods, calling for diversified, resilient and integrated systems.
Vice President General (Rtd) Hon. Dr. C.D.G.N. Chiwenga delivered the official opening remarks under the theme “Championing a Sustainable Energy Future – Zimbabwe’s Commitment to Regional Energy Security,” urging SADC to move decisively from discussion to implementation and to leverage its abundant resources to shift from energy deficit to surplus. The ceremony also featured the formal handover of future hosting rights from Zimbabwe to the Kingdom of Eswatini, represented by His Royal Highness Prince Dlamini, the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, symbolising continuity of the platform. Key partners including Austria, the World Bank and the AfDB then highlighted large‑scale investments in renewable heating and cooling, transmission, hydropower, storage, regional power markets and just energy transition frameworks, while stressing the importance of policy certainty, cost‑reflective tariffs and de-risking instruments.
The following countries were represented by Ministers responsible for Energy: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Whilst the other countries were represented at permanent secretary and executive directors level namely from: Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The Ministerial High‑Level Policy Deliberations that followed examined how to drive policy synergies for a sustainable energy transition, framed by SADC’s Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan and Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan. Ministers and heads of delegations from across the region discussed targets for electricity access, renewable integration, transmission expansion, gas corridors, local manufacturing of clean‑energy components and the development of regional regulatory authorities.
At the Cultural Dinner, the inaugural SADC SEW Awards honoured four trailblazers in the region’s energy transition. Malawi’s Orifice Irrigation and Water Supply Ltd was recognised for solar‑powered water and irrigation solutions transforming rural livelihoods. Zimbabwe’s Joint SDG Fund Programme (ZimREF) received the Sustainable Energy Finance Innovator award for its blended‑finance facility catalysing renewable investments. Eswatini’s Energy Department won the Energy Efficiency Excellence Award for greening Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital. Centragrid Private Limited (Zimbabwe) was celebrated as Outstanding Private Sector Developer for scaling a utility‑scale solar PV plant in Nyabira and mobilising predominantly local capital.
Day 4 focused on national implementation through the National Energy Compacts and culminated in the official closing. Morning keynotes from the AfDB and the World Bank stressed the need for scaled‑up investment, innovative financing, enabling policies and strong institutions to unlock private capital and accelerate the regional energy transition. Parallel compact sessions allowed SADC Member States to present progress and lessons on their National Energy Compacts and energy transition plans, highlighting diverse pathways but a shared commitment to universal access, cleaner energy mixes and regional power trade.
The Official Closing Ceremony consolidated the outcomes. The SADC Secretariat presented the 2026 SADC SEW Outcome Statement, which acknowledges persistent challenges in availability, accessibility and affordability of energy, especially in rural areas, and fragmented policy environments that constrain cross‑border trade, while setting out a comprehensive action agenda. Priorities include fast‑tracking key interconnectors, accelerating universal access by 2030 via grid and off‑grid solutions, harmonising policies and regulations to attract private investment across the value chain, scaling solar thermal, advancing energy efficiency standards and productive use of energy, and leveraging critical minerals, green hydrogen and emerging technologies to drive a just, diversified energy transition. The Statement also calls for increased national budget allocations, strengthened roles for regional implementing agencies, and targeted initiatives for women and youth, while commending Zimbabwe for successfully hosting the 2026 SEW and acknowledging Eswatini as host of the 2027 edition.
In the closing speeches, Mr. Moses Ntlamelle of the SADC Secretariat and Mr. Ndhlukula of SACREEE reflected on key recommendations and announced the 2027 SEW, before Hon. July Moyo offered a vote of thanks. They stressed that commitments now need to be converted into time‑bound, trackable actions, supported by strong regional cooperation, private‑sector engagement and community‑level impact.
Day 5 translated discussions into practice through technical tours and high‑level networking. Delegates visited the Palm Hospitality Group’s integrated solar thermal and 160 kW rooftop and carport PV systems, which demonstrate how hotels can combine efficiency and on‑site generation using flat‑plate collectors, hot water storage and modern inverters to cut costs and emissions. A parallel tour showcased Lanforce Energy’s household‑scale biogas digesters near Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwe’s Vice President, Hon. Kembo Mohadi, officially opened the inaugural SADC Sustainable Energy Week Golf Day with a ceremonial tee-off at the Elephant Hills Golf Club on Friday. The tournament brought together ministers, policymakers, investors, and partners for a day of sport, networking, and regional collaboration. In his remarks, Vice President Hon. Mohadi applauded participants and partners for supporting the initiative, describing the event as a valuable complement to the broader SADC Sustainable Energy Week programme. He later officiated at the prize-giving dinner, where he congratulated the winners and commended the high level of competition and engagement displayed throughout the tournament.
The Week was underpinned by a strong coalition of hosts, partners and sponsors. Zimbabwean institutions, including Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC), Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), Petrotrade, the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), anchored the event in the national energy and tourism ecosystem.
Regional and international partners such as the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC), Regional Electricity Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA), SADC Development Finance Resource Centre (SADC‑DFRC), SOLTRAIN+, World Bank, GET.transform, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, and the Austrian Development Agency enriched the programme with expertise and convening power. Sponsors including Old Mutual, GIZ Namibia, the INSPIRED Agri‑PV programme, JA Solar, Kanona Power Company, Dinson Iron and Steel Company, the Intensive Energy User Group, Varun Beverages Zimbabwe, RJ Corp, Mingchang Sino‑Africa, TENDO, the University of Zimbabwe, Cell Insurance, ZAMPROC, the Institute of African Knowledge, ESI Africa and The Standard were recognised for backing a regional platform dedicated to accelerating sustainable energy investment and innovation. The inaugural Golf tournament was sponsored by Kanona Power Company, Geo Pomona, Zambezi Gas, South Mining, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Rainbow Tourism Group and Delta Beverages.
As the week-long gathering drew to a close in Victoria Falls, delegates departed with a renewed sense of urgency and optimism about the region’s clean energy transition. The discussions, partnerships and commitments forged during the 2026 SADC Sustainable Energy Week underscored a shared resolve among governments, industry and development partners to accelerate investment, strengthen regional power cooperation and expand access to sustainable energy. With the platform continuing to gain traction as a catalyst for policy dialogue and innovation, the baton now passes to the Kingdom of Eswatini, which will host the 2027 edition and build on the momentum generated in Zimbabwe.