SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) in Zimbabwe is set to roll out provincial Solar Fairs in the country’s eight provinces starting this Saturday 4th June, in Gweru.
The Solar Expos, organised in partnership with Government, Solar Companies and provincial authorities, will bring together more than 25 major solar companies, to display products, ranging from lights and home entertainment systems to agro based solar solutions. The expos will be held concurrently with the Provincial and District Agricultural Shows in July and August.
“The solar fairs will create marketing spaces for SNV trained youth entrepreneurs in partnership with the central distributors to engage the market and showcase the wide variety of holistic, quality solar products and solutions that are available and affordable,” said the SNV Renewable Energy Sector Head, Chandi Mutubuki Makuyana.
The Solar fairs are part of SNV’s public awareness and communication strategy that has contributed to the development and expansion of the solar market in the rural and peri urban areas in Zimbabwe. Running under the theme, ‘Solar Kumusha, ISolar Ekhaya” and “Zvirikufaya ne/Ziyakhipha nge” solar, the publicity and awareness campaigns also involves broadcasting of promotional programmes on radio and television stations. Radio Zimbabwe, with a listenership of more than 2,6 million and ZBC TV’s ‘Emerging Giant’ programme will also broadcast some of the Solar Fair events.
SNV has struck strategic partnership agreements with key Solar Companies inlcuding, Total Zimbabwe, Solar Shack, Samansco, Gemwitts and GreenDot as part of this project. Total Zimbabwe in partnership with SNV have already trained 360 youth entrepreneurs drawn from rural and peri-urban communities in marketing of its new brand of lights and lanterns, Awango.
The Solar Fairs will also include financial advisory support by Financial Institutions including FBC Micro plan, who will explain how customers who wish to install solar home systems can access finance. After the first fair in Gweru Central Business District, the second one will take place the following week in Bulawayo on the 11th July 2015. Other places to be covered include Lupane, Karoi, Mutare, Mt Darwin, Masvingo and Mutoko.
“We have indeed seen the lives of communities in rural areas transformed by the use of solar products and every rural household deserves to have solar solutions for power and lights.” – Chandi Mutubuki Makuyana, Sector Leader for Renewable Energy at SNV.
