e-Waste is increasingly a problem in Zimbabwe as in many parts of the world. Against this background, stakeholders from government, the private sector, development agencies, finance institutions, academia, and civil society are convening at the Monomotapa Hotel for a Market Dialogue Workshop on Sustainable Solar E-Waste Management in Zimbabwe.
The dialogue themed: “Pioneering e-waste solutions for a circular economy that fosters innovation, creates green job opportunities and ensures viable eneergy access for communities,” seeks to collaboratively map strategies for addressing the emerging challenges posed by electronic waste — particularly lithium-ion batteries and solar e-waste — as Zimbabwe transitions toward cleaner energy solutions.
The rapid acceleration of digital and clean energy technologies has produced one of the fastest growing streams of waste worldwide.
In 2022 alone, an estimated 62 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated globally, and this figure is projected to reach up to 82 million metric tons by 2030 if proper systems are not adopted.
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 1 percent in Africa, and domestic infrastructure for safe and sustainable e-waste management is limited, leading to hazardous informal practices and environmental risks.
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 respond to this growing environmental and public health concern, UN-Habitat, in collaboration with Action 24, is piloting an innovative circular economy initiative that focuses 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.
Dr.Alex Cheleshe, Programme Manager and Head of Office (UN-Habitat Zimbabwe) 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.
Our aim is to ensure that Zimbabwe’s transition to green energy is inclusive and sustainable promoting “waste-to-wealth” approaches that creates green jobs for the women and youth while promoting environmental stewardship.”
“With the growing global challenge of electronic waste, promoting local innovation is very important. 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,” said Mr. Isaac Mwangi Project Officer: Energy and Environment (UN-Habitat Zimbabwe)
This initiative demonstrates that through innovative circular models, we can bridge the energy access gap for rural and peri-urban communities while promoting waste resource recovery initiatives.”
Archieford Chemhere, Country Coordinator of Action 24, said: “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.”
The workshop will facilitate stakeholder engagement across solar value chains to identify and define roles of key market actors in the e-waste ecosystem.
Discussions will also focus on building partnerships that strengthen circular economy models and support a just and inclusive energy transition.
The workshop is expected to produce a shared understanding of project goals, clear stakeholder roles, and actionable recommendations to inform future policy development and investment in e-waste management.
Participants include representatives from private sector companies, government agencies, finance institutions, development partners, non-governmental organisations, and research institutions.
Share Your Comments