Zimbabwe shows potential to lead e-mobility transition

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that Zimbabwe is well-positioned to lead the e-mobility transition in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The document highlights how shifting to electric vehicles (EVs) could address critical economic challenges, including a high import bill for fossil fuels and an inefficient public transport system, while leveraging the country's automotive history and mineral resources like nickel.

• Zimbabwe's transition to e-mobility is primarily driven by economic growth incentives rather than emission laws. The services sector, which contributes over 62% of GDP according to a 2019 AFDB report, includes a significant portion of retail, trade, and repair of motorcycles and motor vehicles, making the country well-suited for this transition.
• High reliance on imported fossil fuels creates a significant economic burden for Zimbabwe, which spends US$1.2 billion annually on fuel imports, accounting for 30% of its total import bill. Zimbabwe also faces the highest petrol and diesel prices in the SADC region, which increases business costs and reduces the competitiveness of local goods.
• The public transport system in Zimbabwe is characterized by fragmented operations of 15-seater 'kombis' and an illegal 'pirate taxi' industry. The document suggests formalizing the pirate taxi sector by introducing affordable city EVs, similar to China's Low Speed Electric Vehicle programme (e.g., Wuling mini EV and Changan BenBen E-Star), and implementing high-capacity electric buses.
• A strategic approach to electrification could target fleet managers in the agricultural, tourism, logistic, academic, and mining sectors. These entities can afford new EV models and have replacement cycles that allow for high-volume orders, reducing the financial burden on the central government.
• Zimbabwe can leverage its mining sector to support the global EV battery market, specifically through nickel production. Nickel output capacity utilization increased from 60% to 70% between 2017 and 2018. Additionally, the adoption of net metering policies for renewable energy could enable smart city innovations like vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home systems.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2021). Zimbabwe shows potential to lead e-mobility transition. https://saiia.org.za/research/zimbabwe-shows-potential-to-lead-e-mobility-transition/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Zimbabwe shows potential to lead e-mobility transition. 2021. https://saiia.org.za/research/zimbabwe-shows-potential-to-lead-e-mobility-transition/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Zimbabwe shows potential to lead e-mobility transition |date=8 March 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/zimbabwe-shows-potential-to-lead-e-mobility-transition/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2021zimbabwe, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Zimbabwe shows potential to lead e-mobility transition}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/zimbabwe-shows-potential-to-lead-e-mobility-transition/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }