Harare, (New Ziana) – As Zimbabwe transitions toward cleaner energy solutions, various stakeholders convened in Harare on Wednesday to map strategies to address the emerging challenges posed by electronic waste, particularly lithium-ion batteries and solar e-waste.
The dialogue on sustainable waste management was themed: “Pioneering e-waste solutions for a circular economy that fosters innovation, creates green job opportunities, and ensures viable energy access for communities.”
In Zimbabwe, while comprehensive national data on the volume of e-waste generated annually is limited, available research estimates that the country generates around 10 000 metric tons of e-waste each year, much of which remains unmanaged due to the absence of formal collection and recycling systems.
To address the growing environmental and public health concern, United Nations-Habitat, in collaboration with Action 24, an organisation involved in climate change, is piloting an innovative circular-economy initiative focused on the repair, refurbishment, and repurposing of lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries, including those from solar installations and electric vehicles.
“The initiative aims to extend the useful life of these technologies by converting otherwise discarded batteries into reliable energy storage solutions for peri-urban and rural households.
UN Habitat program manager Alex Cheleshe, said the initiative provides an opportunity to deal with the growing threat of e-waste.
“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,” he said.
“We aim 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.
Action 24 country coordinator Archieford Chemhere emphasized the importance of promoting local innovation in the wake of the growing global challenge of electronic waste.
“This workshop represents an important step toward building Zimbabwe’s capacity to tackle e-waste sustainably. 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 the renewable energy transition is both inclusive and responsible,” he said.
Despite its growth, less than a quarter of global e-waste was documented as formally collected and recycled, underscoring significant gaps in infrastructure and policy worldwide.
African countries, including Zimbabwe, produce comparatively low volumes of e-waste per capita relative to other regions, but they face disproportionate challenges.
In many cases, recycling rates remain below one percent in Africa, and domestic infrastructure for safe and sustainable e-waste management is limited, leading to hazardous informal practices and environmental risks.
New Ziana