Stakeholders from Government, the private sector, development agencies, finance institutions, academia and civil society are convening, today, in Harare for a Market Dialogue Workshop on Sustainable Solar E-Waste Management.
The workshop taking place at the Monomotapa Hotel is themed “Pioneering e-waste solutions for a circular economy that fosters innovation, creates green job opportunities and ensures viable energy access for communities.”
Speaking in a press release ahead of the workshop, yesterday, Dr Alex Cheleshe, Programme Manager and Head of Office for UN-Habitat Zimbabwe, said the initiative presents an opportunity to confront the growing threat of e-waste while supporting inclusive development.
“The Market Dialogue Workshop represents a key step in our efforts to improve the living conditions of urban and peri-urban communities in Zimbabwe. By piloting this circular economy initiative in partnership with Action 24, we are turning a waste challenge into an opportunity for development.
Our aim is to ensure that Zimbabwe’s transition to green energy is inclusive and sustainable, promoting ‘waste-to-wealth’ approaches that create green jobs for women and youth while promoting environmental stewardship,” he added.
Similarly, UN-Habitat Zimbabwe Project Officer for Energy and Environment, Isaac Mwangi, said local innovation was critical in addressing the global e-waste challenge.
“This project focuses on repairing and repurposing lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries including those from electric vehicles to extend their use in non-tractive applications such as home lighting and mobile charging.
Through innovative circular models, we can bridge the energy access gap for rural and peri-urban communities while promoting waste resource recovery initiatives,”he said
Action 24 Country Coordinator Archieford Chemhere said the workshop marks an important step in strengthening national capacity.
“By harnessing circular economy models from repair to repurposing we are transforming what is often seen as a burden into an opportunity for energy access, environmental protection and green job creation. We must work together to ensure that Zimbabwe’s renewable energy transition is both inclusive and responsible,” he said
The workshop is facilitating engagement across the solar value chain to define the roles of key market actors in the e-waste ecosystem, while also building partnerships to strengthen circular economy models.
Furthermore, it is expected to produce a shared understanding of project goals, clarify stakeholder responsibilities and generate actionable recommendations to inform future policy development and investment in e-waste management.
