By Nassa Makuyana & Simbarashe Mangena
HARARE – ZIMBABWE’S persistent energy shortages have become more than an inconvenience, they are a chokehold on our nation’s economic ambitions and social well-being. Daily loadshedding undermines factories, disrupts hospitals and schools, and frustrates citizens striving for basic necessities.
Our reliance on ageing hydropower at Kariba, and on climate vulnerable thermal stations such as Hwange, has exposed the limits of these traditional supplies. In this context, the global revival of nuclear technology, particularly Small Modular Reactors, offers Zimbabwe a tangible opportunity to secure reliable, low-carbon baseload power.
Yet realising this promise will demand more than political declarations: it requires a coherent legal framework, rigorous regulation, dedicated institutions, innovative financing and unwavering public engagement.
Nuclear as the Missing Pillar of Our Energy Mix
Although solar and wind have transformed parts of our energy mix, their intermittent nature cannot guarantee the continuous generation required by heavy industry or the evening peak when solar output falls.
Nuclear energy, by contrast, can deliver uninterrupted power day and night, unaffected by weather or water levels. A modular nuclear plant configured to Zimbabwe’s grid could supply gigawatts of electricity at a capacity factor exceeding 90 percent, while reducing transmission losses.
Such reliability would catalyse industrial expansion, from platinum beneficiation to agro-processing, and accelerate electrification of rural communities. Moreover, when measured over its full life cycle, nuclear power produces less than one gram of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour, positioning it firmly within Zimbabwe’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and enhancing our reputation as a climate-responsible nation.
Financing the Future
The upfront capital required for nuclear projects often runs into the low single billions of dollars, yet this cost can be managed through innovative financing structures that mitigate fiscal strain and de-risk private investment. Public-private partnerships, sovereign guarantees and multilateral development loans can spread repayment over decades, aligning debt service with predictable revenues from stable power sales.
Additional instruments such as green bonds, climate finance windows and the African Development Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa provide further avenues for concessional funding. By proactively structuring these financial arrangements, Zimbabwe can avoid unsustainable debt burdens while catalysing private-sector participation in its nuclear ambitions.
Legal and Regulatory Imperatives
On the legislative front, our existing Radiation Protection Act of 2004 and its 2011 Safety and Security Regulations were designed for medical and industrial uses of radioactive materials but are ill-equipped to address the complexities of large-scale power generation.
To fill this gap, Zimbabwe must enact a comprehensive Nuclear Energy Act that clearly defines the processes for reactor licensing, site approval and environmental impact assessment; codifies safety and emergency readiness obligations; establishes protocols for waste management and reactor decommissioning; and delineates liability and insurance requirements in line with international conventions.
At the heart of this legislation should be a truly independent Nuclear Regulatory Commission with financial autonomy and a mandate to oversee every stage of nuclear development, from design certification through post-shutdown decontamination.
Insulating this regulator from political interference will be essential for meeting International Atomic Energy Agency standards and reassuring both investors and neighbouring states.
International Safeguards and Cooperation
International safeguards already provide a solid foundation for Zimbabwe’s nuclear programme. As a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, with Comprehensive Safeguards and an Additional Protocol in place with the IAEA, and signatory to conventions on nuclear accident notification and the physical protection of materials, Zimbabwe has demonstrated its willingness to comply with global norms.
However, formal commitments must translate into practical cooperation. Regular Integrated Regulatory Review Service missions by the IAEA, targeted technical exchanges and peer-to-peer capacity-building workshops will help strengthen our domestic oversight. At the regional level, collaboration through the Southern African Development Community can harmonise emergency response frameworks, border-security protocols for nuclear shipments and training standards for regulators, ensuring that no country faces nuclear challenges in isolation.
Building Domestic Capacity
Underpinning all these efforts is the need for a skilled workforce. Zimbabwe’s universities and polytechnics must expand curricula in nuclear engineering, reactor physics, radiation protection and nuclear law. The newly established Centre for Education Innovation Research & Development, housed within the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, offers an ideal platform for academic-industry partnerships, internships and specialized training programmes.
Simultaneously, the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe must accelerate recruitment of inspectors and technical officers, leveraging twinning arrangements with established nuclear agencies to facilitate on-the-ground knowledge transfer. Only through a decade of disciplined capacity building will Zimbabwe cultivate the cohort of professionals needed to manage every stage of the nuclear lifecycle safely and effectively.
Winning Hearts and Minds
Perhaps the most formidable obstacle, however, is public acceptance. Memories of Chernobyl and Fukushima still colour perceptions of nuclear power, and legitimate safety concerns must be addressed head-on. Transparency will be paramount: every siting study, environmental review and safety assessment must be accessible to civil society.
Regular town-hall meetings, live-streamed monitoring data and community-based emergency drills can demystify the technology, turning apprehension into ownership.
Educational outreach in schools and universities, coupled with targeted social-media campaigns, will help reframe nuclear power from an arcane hazard to a modern marvel. When citizens see reactors not as hidden threats but as well-regulated assets, the foundation for long-term support will be laid.
Conclusion
In the final analysis, nuclear energy is neither a panacea nor a Pandora’s box; it is a strategic complement to renewables in the quest for a balanced, resilient energy portfolio. For Zimbabwe, it represents an investment in industrial growth, job creation and climate stewardship.
However, success hinges on more than engineering. It demands legislative vision, institutional integrity, innovative financing, skilled human capital and above-board community engagement.
By enacting a comprehensive Nuclear Energy Act, empowering an independent regulator, mobilising creative funding mechanisms and engaging citizens with unflinching transparency, Zimbabwe can transform nuclear from distant potential into a cornerstone of its energy future, fueling factories, lighting homes and powering progress.
Nassa Makuyana, is an Energy Lawyer and can be contacted on +263 78 321 2489
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