Zimbabwe Joins Grand Inga Transmission Push as Cabinet Approves Intergovernmental MoU

Zimbabwe’s Cabinet has approved participation in the Grand Inga 3 (Quintet) Transmission Line Project, signing an MoU with regional partners to boost power trade and energy security across Southern Africa (image source)

HARARE — Zimbabwe has officially approved its participation in the Inga 3 (Quintet) Transmission Line Project, a landmark regional initiative to harness more than 40,000 megawatts of hydropower from the Congo River, aimed at easing Southern Africa’s chronic energy shortages. Cabinet confirmed the decision during a post-meeting briefing in Harare, authorising an inter-governmental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide cooperation on developing transmission infrastructure and cross-border interconnectors linking the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Information Minister Jenfan Muswere told journalists that preliminary feasibility studies have already been completed and that the MoU will formalise Zimbabwe’s role in the power-pooling framework. The agreement positions the country as both a beneficiary and a key transit hub for electricity generated from the Inga hydropower complex. The initiative forms part of a wider SADC energy integration drive, which seeks to accelerate the construction of regional interconnectors and strengthen cross-border energy trade among member states.

Energy experts have welcomed the move as strategically sound but have warned of logistical and financing challenges ahead. Dr. Tafadzwa Chikodzi, an energy policy analyst, highlighted the need for rapid regional cooperation while cautioning that issues such as transmission corridor rights, regulatory harmonisation, and financing mechanisms will require extensive coordination. He noted that long-distance transmission projects depend on firm agreements on grid upgrades, transit fees, and commercial frameworks to ensure sustainability.

Past assessments of the Grand Inga project and its associated transmission routes point to complex negotiations involving multiple utilities, environmental approvals, and funding commitments. Nonetheless, the proposed Quintet Project could greatly expand Zimbabwe’s energy mix, lessen dependence on costly thermal generation, and create new opportunities for electricity exports or transit revenue.

Government officials say the move dovetails with national objectives to stabilise power supply, support industrialisation, and enhance regional energy security. The signed MoU now sets the stage for detailed technical, environmental, and commercial feasibility studies, followed by multilateral financing talks and implementation planning.

Observers caution that tangible progress will depend on sustained political will, donor participation, and private-sector investment across the participating countries. Still, the agreement marks a significant milestone toward Zimbabwe’s deeper integration into Southern Africa’s evolving power landscape.