Government
incentives,
including
a
reduction
of
import
tax
duties
on
electric
vehicles
(EVs)
from
40
to
25
%,
are
propelling
Zimbabwe
towards
greater
EV
adoption.
This
aligns
the
country
with
global
trends
promoting
environmentally
friendly
ways
of
transportation.
Tanaka
Kutama,
a
business
consultant
and
EV
specialist,
confirms
growing
interest
in
the
sector
since
the
duty
reductions
were
introduced.
“We
have
seen
an
increase
in
inquiries
and
imports,
but
infrastructure,
and
energy
reliability
remain
major
hurdles,”
he
says.
Currently,
Zimbabwe
has
only
a
small
number
of
public
EV
charging
stations
spread
across
key
cities
such
as
Mutare,
Bulawayo
and
Harare.
Notable
locations
include
the
Fidelity
Life
Centre
in
Mutare,
the
Century
Towers
in
Harare
and
the
Zimbabwe
International
Trade
Fair
(ZITF)
grounds
in
Bulawayo.
According
to
Washington
Zhakata,
director
of
Climate
Change
Management
in
the
Ministry
of
Environment,
Climate
and
Wildlife,
the
shift
towards
EVs
is
inevitable.
“Countries
that
are
producing
oil
have
been
obliged
under
multilateral
environmental
agreements
to
reduce
oil
production
and
switch
to
renewable
energy,”
he
explains.
“So,
the
issue
of
electric
vehicles
is
inevitable.
We
can’t
run
away
from
it.”
Zhakata
also
notes
that
EV
adoption
is
already
under
way
in
Zimbabwe.
“Several
companies
are
starting
to
market
electric
vehicles,
including
motorcycles.
By
2030,
we
expect
a
transformation
in
the
transport
mix
from
fossil
fuel-based
energy
to
renewable
sources,”
he
says.
However,
experts
emphasise
that
for
EVs
to
truly
reduce
emissions, investment
in
mass
transportation
solutions
is
essential.
“There
are
far
too
many
private
cars,
and
the
carbon
footprint
could
be
greatly
reduced
if
the
country
invested
in
public
transport
options
such
as
electric
buses
and
vans,”
Zhakata
adds.
Power
supply
issues
remain
a
major
challenge.
Frequent
outages,
lasting
up
to
18
hours
in
some
areas,
combined
with
limited
grid
coverage,
hinder
the
viability
of
EVs.
Many
consumers
are
sceptical,
especially
in
rural
areas,
where
electricity
supply
is
unreliable.
“People
don’t
see
EVs
as
a
solution
if
they
can’t
charge
them,”
one
commentator
observes.
Yet,
there
is
cautious
optimism.
Zimbabwe
holds
significant
lithium
reserves,
a
critical
input
in
EV
battery
technology.
This
could
position
the
country
as
a
player
in
the
emerging
EV
market,
both
regionally
and
globally.
Kudakwashe
Ngoni,
an
EV
owner
from
Harare,
remains
confident
about
the
future.
“We
are
hopeful
to
see
more
electric
vehicles
on
the
roads.
I
currently
drive
one,
and
it
has
been
a
great
investment,”
he
says.
The
road
ahead
will
not
be
without
obstacles.
However,
by
leveraging
local
resources,
addressing
infrastructure
gaps
and
promoting
public-private
partnerships,
Zimbabwe
has
an
opportunity
to
drive
sustainable
growth
in
the
transport
sector.
Lungelo
Ndhlovu is
a
freelance
journalist
based
in
Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe.
ndlovu.lungelo@gmail.com