REA is a statutory body governed by the Rural Electrification Fund Act (Chapter 13:20).

Addressing the gathering, the Minister urged the board members, who represent the country’s 10 Provinces, to do data collection as a tool to assess progress as we move to electrify all the institutions including schools, hospitals and clinics by the year 2026. “We have created a void by not doing data collection, and we can not attract investment,” he said.

It was established during the Post-independence period when the Zimbabwean Government gave high priority to rural infrastructure development programmes, which included a robust rural electrification programme.

With reference to agriculture, the Minister said, “we have 35000 villages and each has a village business unit (VBU). These village business units can only realise their potential if REA is on the ground to extend the grid or create mini grids to connect these projects. This is because energy is an enabler for these projects to see the light of the day,” he said.

The policy framework was a deliberate intention to correct the imbalances between urban and rural electrification with the ultimate goal of socially and financially empowering the rural communities and enhancing their capabilities in their contribution towards economic development of the country.