By Wallace Mawire

Zimbabwe is hosting its Clean Energy Week 2015 commemoration under the theme: Clean energy-clean cities. According to Panganayi Sithole, Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Energy Council (ZEC),  the host organization, the event is expected to take place between on 28th September and 2nd October, 2015. Cities and towns hold an important but untapped potential for the deployment of both renewable and energy saving initiatives, said Sithole.

The 2015 edition of the clean energy week is discussing issues to do with energy and climate change, street lighting solutions for urban areas, energy efficiency mechanisms for both domestic and commercial buildings in
the cities and towns, opportunities for the waste to energy initiatives and the cities going green initiatives and renewable energy use.

Sithole says that the clean energy week is Zimbabwe’s biggest event for the renewable energy and energy efficiency industry. it is held across various venues in the capital Harare. It also includes a trade exhibition and energy market interactive clean energy forum, women in energy luncheon and the Business Civil Society Organisations breakfast meeting, which attracts prominent speakers from government, industry and from around the world.

“Cities and towns are essential actors for the fruition of long term energy goals.”

Sithole added that the clean energy week, which is in its second edition, have been endorsed by the country’s ministry of Energy and Power Development as well as other partners who include HIVOS, SNV, UNDP and the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authourity (ZERA).

“The event has proved to be the right platform to discuss energy, power and climate change issues,” Sithole said.

This year’s event is expected to be graced by regional counterparts from South Africa such as Mr Magesh Naidoo, Senior Executive Energy and Climate Change office for the Ethekwini Municipality in Durban and Mr Sol Mhlanga, General Manager for Power City Johannesburg.