Rural community energy options amid climate change

The research highlights the reliance of rural communities in Zimbabwe's Mbire and Muzarabani districts on a mix of energy sources due to the unreliability of the national grid. While solar energy is common for lighting and electronics, firewood remains the most widespread cooking fuel, disproportionately impacting women and girls through labour and health risks. The study notes a preference for gas despite high costs and the adoption of 'tsotso stoves' as an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to open fires. It argues for inclusive benefit-sharing frameworks and investment in clean energy systems, particularly from extractive industries operating in the region.

• Rural energy use in the Mbire and Muzarabani districts is determined by affordability and accessibility, with residents using a mix of the national grid, solar energy, gas, coal, and firewood. The national grid is considered unreliable due to load shedding, dilapidated infrastructure, and faults.
• Solar energy is widely used for lighting and powering small electronics, but high-capacity systems for cooking are unaffordable for most households.
• Firewood is the most reliable and widespread source for cooking, but it creates significant gender inequalities in labour and health risks. Access to firewood is becoming more difficult due to Zimbabwe Environmental Management Agency (EMA) prohibitions intended to curb deforestation.
• Communities have adopted 'tsotso stoves'—concrete or clay structures using dried twigs—as an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional open fires, reducing smoke pollution and the need to cut mature trees.
• There is a preference for gas as an energy source, although it is expensive at US$2.50 per kilogram.

APA

Nyarota, S. M. F. M. A. D. (2026). Rural community energy options amid climate change. Good Governance Africa. https://gga.org/rural-community-energy-options-amid-climate-change/

Chicago

Nyarota, Sikhululekile Mashingaidze, Farai Makururu and Donald. Rural community energy options amid climate change. Good Governance Africa, 2026. https://gga.org/rural-community-energy-options-amid-climate-change/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Nyarota |first1=Sikhululekile Mashingaidze, Farai Makururu and Donald |title=Rural community energy options amid climate change |publisher=Good Governance Africa |date=8 May 2026 |url=https://gga.org/rural-community-energy-options-amid-climate-change/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{nyarota2026rural, author = {Nyarota, Sikhululekile Mashingaidze, Farai Makururu and Donald}, title = {{Rural community energy options amid climate change}}, institution = {Good Governance Africa}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://gga.org/rural-community-energy-options-amid-climate-change/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }