Story by John Nhandara
ZIMBABWE is strengthening its position as a regional supplier of electricity transformers, with ZESA Enterprises (ZENT) confirming ongoing engagements with Mozambique as it seeks to expand exports across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The development comes as the power utility’s manufacturing subsidiary revealed it has exceeded its transformer production targets, producing more than 1 900 units and creating capacity to serve both domestic and regional markets.
At its Harare manufacturing plant, ZENT is producing a range of electricity transformers as part of efforts to support the country’s industrialisation agenda, reduce imports and advance national electrification objectives.
Acting Managing Director, Dr Godfrey Mugaviri, said increased production is aligned with national development priorities.
“We draw our inspiration from Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). Production capacity at ZENT has increased significantly. While we were expected to supply 1 374 transformers, we have surpassed that target by delivering 1 944 transformers to ZETDC.”
ZENT Business Development and Commercial Executive, Mr Burusa Mandipezano, said the company continues to scale up output.
“We are manufacturing distribution transformers ranging from the smallest size of 10kVA up to 1.6MVA. Currently, we are producing about 250 transformers per month.”
The company has also expanded its presence in regional markets, securing contracts across Africa.
Operations Director, Engineer Shepherd Madhorobha said ZENT has already supplied transformers to several countries and is pursuing additional opportunities.
“We have supplied to DRC, we have supplied to Lesotho at the end of last year, we supplied 170 transformers to ZESCO of Zambia. We have an order to supply 500 transformers to Rwanda, and we have done 30 percent of that project. We are finalising a project to supply 500 transformers to EDM of Mozambique.”
The increase in production has also translated into employment and skills development opportunities, with the company maintaining apprenticeship programmes aimed at nurturing future industry professionals.
An apprentice at the facility said the company continues to invest in workforce development while promoting gender balance within its operations.
The expansion of ZENT’s export portfolio has been supported by strategic partnerships with local industry, including an offtake agreement with Dinson Iron and Steel Company, which provides key raw materials required for transformer manufacturing.
As production continues to grow, ZENT is positioning itself as a key player in regional energy infrastructure development while contributing to Zimbabwe’s broader industrialisation and export growth objectives.
