MARTIN MAWAYA
Harare—The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has dismissed as fake and “malicious” social media reports claiming the government intends to impose a US$100 monthly tax on households using domestic solar systems.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the regulator said the allegations which spread widely across social media platforms this week were fabricated and aimed at misleading the public.
“The report is entirely false, devoid of any truth and should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves,” ZERA said.
According to the false claims, ZERA had allegedly resolved, after meetings with energy stakeholders, to introduce a US$100 levy on all households with solar panels to raise funds for infrastructure development and regulate the fast growing solar market.
The widely circulated posts further alleged that the tax was set to be implemented in the coming months once approved by authorities.
But ZERA said no such discussions had taken place and no policy proposal of that nature existed.
Instead, the regulator said the government’s energy policy actively promotes the expansion of renewable energy, including domestic solar systems, under the National Energy Compact which seeks to achieve universal energy access by 2030.
“To support this goal, mechanisms have been put in place to increase the roll-out of solar power so that no one and no place is left behind,” the statement read.
ZERA highlighted ongoing incentives such as duty-free importation of solar equipment, nationwide training for installers to ensure quality and safety compliance, and the net-metering programme which allows households to feed excess energy into the national grid.
“There is no levy or charge required, or that will be required, to install or own a solar system for domestic use,” the authority said.
The regulator urged citizens to disregard the fake reports and to rely on official communication channels for accurate information.
ZERA reaffirmed its commitment to expanding clean energy access and supporting national efforts to close the energy gap without burdening consumers with nonexistent taxes.
