Your Excellency, Mr. President, today as you commission this solar mini-grid, we are not just turning on a power switch – we are illuminating the path to a brighter future. We are walking the talk of the "leaving no one and no place behind" agenda.

Allow me to briefly explain.

As outlined in both the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and indeed in the National Development Strategy 1, access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy is not merely a goal in itself. It is the key that unlocks the door to achieving many other SDGs. For instance, our findings from UNDP show that a ten percent increase in energy access helps to reduce poverty by about 6 percent in Africa.

Here in Hakwata Village, you have seen for yourself the tangible evidence of this interconnection:

• You have met Mr. Isaiah who returned from South Africa to start his carpentry business, and heard how Mai Muzvuzvu is realising better profits in her retail shop - both embody progress towards SDG 8 on economic growth.
• The increased access to energy at the Hakwata Primary school and clinic are advancing SDG 3 on health, and SDG 4 on education, respectively.
• If given a chance, Ms. Chipo Ngoma will explain to you how her aging legs have been freed from daily firewood collection, representing strides in SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 15 on preserving our environment.

This solar mini-grid is not just providing electricity; it is empowering people, powering dreams, driving livelihoods, fostering equality, and catalysing sustainable development across multiple fronts.

Your Excellency, what we see before us is more than just solar panels and power lines. It's the result of a powerful partnership. From the national level, down to this very village, we have witnessed what can happen when we join hands and work together.

I must particularly commend the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and the Ministry of Energy and Power Development for their exceptional work on the ground.

Your Excellency, the power lines you see delivering clean energy to homes, businesses, the school, and the clinic, were erected in record time, well before the solar equipment arrived in Hakwata.

The REF team worked tirelessly, establishing connections to homes, and providing overall guidance and leadership on this mini-grid project.

Your Excellency, Ambassador Pete Vowles, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, allow me to express our deep appreciation for your country's support.

The financial contribution from the British Embassy was instrumental in sparking this entire initiative.

In addition, Ambassador Pete, your team's commitment and technical guidance has been evident at the highest levels.

Just two months ago, we were here with your Deputy Ambassador and the Climate Advisor, to see for ourselves the work and the impact on the ground.

This hands-on involvement from your team has been key to ensuring the project's progress.

Your Excellency, Mr. President, allow me to also recognise the invaluable contribution made by the fourth partner in this project – the people of Hakwata.

Through their Chief and Village Head, Hakwata has truly taken ownership of this project. Rather than being passive beneficiaries, they have been active partners, contributing land, ideas, labour, and security towards the success of this incredible work.

The Climate Adaptation, Water and Energy Project (CAWEP), through the Government of Zimbabwe-United Kingdom Government-UNDP Partnership, also focuses on delivering on Zimbabwe's climate change commitments and priorities as outlined in the Nationally Determined Contributions being championed by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife.  

Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, this impactful work in Hakwata is part of a broader effort that UNDP, through similar partnerships, is supporting to help Zimbabwe meet its SDG targets:

• This 200kW solar mini-grid brings the total renewable energy we have installed in hospitals, irrigations schemes and other social institutions to a staggering 13.6 megawatts - this equates to about 36.5% of the nations’ renewable energy supply generated by Independent Power Producers.
• Almost 1,900 hectares will be put under climate-smart irrigation by 2026 – of these, 750 hectares will be fully functional by the end of this year. Mr President, I am happy to tell you that Mlibizi Community in Binga is expecting to harvest over 60 tonnes of winter wheat from their recently established irrigation scheme.
• By the end of the year, Wanezi dam in Insiza, which was swept away by Cyclone Dineo almost eight years ago, will be completed in time to store the much-anticipated rains.
• 210 households have had biogas digesters installed – 90 of those households are here in Hakwata – saving over 400 tonnes of fully grown trees from being chopped down as firewood every year. 
• With more time, I could share more examples of what the power of partnerships can achieve.

Your Excellency, I bring good tidings from New York, where Zimbabwe had a highly successful side event on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly –  under the leadership of the Minister of Women Affairs, Community and SME Development - Hon Monica Mutsvangwa.

Investors have expressed a huge appetite to come to Africa, and specifically to Zimbabwe, to work with all of us to increase access to electricity.

This interest comes at a crucial time. Across Africa, 600 million people still lack access to electricity, with the majority living in rural areas. This energy poverty exacerbates gender inequalities, with women bearing the brunt of energy access deficits.

UNDP stands ready to work with the Government of Zimbabwe and any progressive partner to close this energy poverty gap. We envision a future where:

1. Off-grid solutions like mini-grids and solar home systems are expanded nationwide.
2. Skills training programmes are developed and implemented to enrich the local capacity and increase productive use of this infrastructure.
3. Policies that encourage and facilitate renewable energy adoption and its productive use are established.
4. Women and girls are empowered through targeted energy access programmes.
5. Community-led mechanisms are put in place to protect, maintain, and sustain these facilities.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentleman, in my language, we have a saying: 
“Ajoji owo kan ko gberu d'ori.”
This translates to 
“It takes multiple hands to effectively place a heavy load on another person's head.”

Development work is a 'heavy load' that cannot be effectively accomplished by governments alone in Africa.  It requires multiple stakeholders to accomplish.

Today, what has happened in Hakwata embodies this wisdom. This has shown us the power of coming together, of believing in a shared vision, and of working tirelessly to make it a reality.

As we commission this mini-grid, we're not just powering up Hakwata. We are igniting hope of women like Ms Chipo Ngoma. We are powering dreams of businesses such as Mr Isaiah and Mai Muzvuzvu. And we are energizing the future of little boys and girls like Garikayi and Zvikomborero that attend Hakwata Primary School.

Your Excellency, UNDP is proud to be part of this partnership - with the Government of Zimbabwe, under your leadership of Mr President, with strategic guidance from the Minister of Energy and Power Development, and with the British Government, through your support, Ambassador - which has allowed us to see proof of concept of  closing the energy access gap in a financially and operationally sustainable model.

Going forward, we thank you for inspiring new partnerships to redouble our efforts, and to scale this work up until every home, every school, and every clinic in Zimbabwe is powered by clean and reliable energy.

I thank you.