Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust (GGZT), in partnership with Oxfam, recently hosted a Just Energy Transition learning workshop for journalists in Harare.
The workshop aimed to educate journalists on the critical aspects of energy transition in Zimbabwe, with a strong emphasis on fairness and inclusivity. This initiative sought to raise awareness, set the agenda, and shape the discourse surrounding energy transition in the country.
Engineer Hilton Chingosho, University of Zimbabwe’s Energy and Power Research Leader and Coordinator of the Renewable Energy Programme, provided insights into the Just Energy Transition in Zimbabwe. He highlighted that while Zimbabwe currently has 40% electricity access and 62% energy access, with growing energy consumption, the country needs to embrace renewable energy and a just transition.
“Transition refers to the gradual shift towards lower carbon technologies, while ‘Just’ ensures that this transition does not negatively impact society, jobs, and livelihoods,” Chingosho explained. “It’s about defunding fossil fuels in a way that reduces inequality, shifting the costs of climate action onto wealthy polluters, and prioritizing economic, racial, and gender justice while still guaranteeing universal energy access.”
Chingosho further emphasized the importance of stopping fossil fuel use, utilizing renewable energy sources, and ensuring that efforts to scale up renewable energy production do not replicate past harms. He stressed that the goal is to leave no one behind, whether by closing the economic gap or creating jobs with livable wages. A just energy transition can only be achieved if the most vulnerable communities experience minimal negative impacts and do not bear the costs of climate action or inaction.
Judith Marera from Lanforce Energy discussed the gendered impact of energy transition in Zimbabwe, highlighting how women in rural areas are disproportionately affected by the current energy landscape. She pointed out that with only 40% of the Zimbabwean population having access to grid electricity, rural areas face even lower rates, which significantly impacts women.
Marera advocated for a gender-inclusive energy transition. She recommended including women in energy transition decision-making, conducting more awareness campaigns to educate women about the benefits of clean energy, integrating gender perspectives into energy policies and planning processes, and investing in capacity building for women in the clean energy sector through training and skills development.
This workshop was a crucial step towards ensuring informed and balanced reporting on energy transition in Zimbabwe, emphasizing the importance of inclusive and equitable practices. Journalists gained valuable insights into the social, economic, and environmental impacts of this transition, enabling them to effectively inform and engage the public.
