The power to make a difference
A decade of dedication to service
Alittle goes a long way, especially when it comes to enhancing the lives of millions. The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has done just that, armed with the mandate to regulate the entire energy sector in Zimbabwe in a fair, transparent, efficient and cost-effective manner for the benefit of consumers and energy suppliers.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority was formed in 2012 after the promulgation of the Energy Regulatory Act of Chapter 13:23 of 2011 and replaced the Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Commission, ZERC, which only had the mandate to regulate the electricity subsector.
The company has since grown, not only in capacity but in utilisation as well.
“The Authority has grown in leaps and bounds, from having 9 employees at inception to a current 82 employees, inclusive of 63 permanent and 19 staff on contract.
“One of the significant accomplishments and milestones that we are celebrating is a decade of long service in a fair, transparent and sustainable environment,” said the ZERA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Edington Mazambani.
ZERA's accomplishments over the years are both extensive and inspiring, these include:
● The procurement and commissioning of a Mobile Fuel Quality Testing Laboratory, one of the few in the whole of the SADC region in 2012. The mobile laboratory offers among other things* Quick responses to fuel quality
issues countrywide;
On site testing of ethanol levels in
blend fuel;
On site check of fuel contamination;
Testing for motorists with fuel
quality complaints Developed standards for: LPG transportation in 2016. Commenced the construction of a
model energy efficient ZERA Head Office- in Mount Pleasant, Harare
Attained the Standards Association of Zimbabwe ZWS ISO 9001: 2015 certification Trained more than 2500 LPG
fillers between 2014 and 2020 Commenced grading and
labelling of service stations. Licensing of 110 Independent
Power Producers to date, to increase our country's energy
generation capacity and access to energy for all. Of late, energy projects are gravitating towards Financial Close, construction and eventually commissioning as evidenced by Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects that nearing and have come online. Procured an Electric Vehicle Demonstration Unit to encourage the adoption of smarter technologies. This procurement of the EV technology marked the
beginning of a journey towards efficient management of fuel consumption and clean environment.
“ZERA is very passionate and
motivated by knowledge generation, research and development driven
initiatives hence the partnering and donating towards STEM programs. ZERA has funded at least six
Research and Development Projects from HIT (2), UZ (1), CUT (2) and Tobacco Research Board (TRB),” said Mr Mazambani
Demonstration Projects such as the LED Lighting Retrofitting were carried out at:
● Mpilo Hospital
● Harare Hospital Children's Ward
● MOEPD Offices
● ZERA Head Office
● Siakobvu Police Charge Office (Binga)
● Mucheke Old People's Home (Masvingo)
● Emthunzi Wethemba Children's Home (Byo)
● Mdlankunzi Rural Health Centre in Lupane.
● Mutepfe Rural Health Centre in Buhera
● Matthew Rusike Children's Home
● Mashambanzou AIDS Centre
● Chinyaradzo Children's Home (Highfields Harare)
● Highfields Old People's Home
● Chipendeke Micro Hydro MiniGrid LED lighting retrofit for the consumers.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) plays an important role in ZERA's identity. The authority has funded scholarships which have seen scholars awarded the opportunity to better their personal lives as well as that of the community.
“Further, as part of the Authority's CSR, donations go a long way in improving the higher and tertiary institutions capacity to enhance their teaching and learning. A group of 17 scholars have benefited from the ZERA-funded scholarships with the last of the students having graduated in 2021,” he said.