A MAJOR shift towards sustainable, climate-resilient development is underway in Southern Africa as policymakers, industrial giants, and international investors prepare to converge on Victoria Falls for the upcoming Southern Africa Eco-Infrastructure Summit.
Ahead of the high-level executive gathering, summit directors Lindah Mbidzo (LM) and Nicola Siyo (NS) on Thursday told Group Editor-In-Chief Guthrie Munyuki on his widely followed news and current affairs programme, Vantage, on leading national independent commercial television station, 3Ktv, that the region is transitioning away from traditional building methods to embrace mandatory green building codes, unlock international environmental finance, and foster a pipeline of bankable, eco-friendly projects.
Crucially, the initiative is also bringing regional universities into the deal room to equip the next generation of African policymakers.
Below are the excerpts of the exciting interview.
Q: This summit in Victoria Falls next (this) week, what is it all about?
LM: The Southern Africa Eco-Infrastructure Summit is a summit bringing together policymakers, government representatives, utilities, municipalities, and captains of industry—anyone, in fact, in that space looking at green, eco-friendly, efficient energy, infrastructure and real estate.
This is a platform, a high-level executive suite platform, bringing together implementers and anyone looking at environmental green solutions, alongside the financing requirements within the infrastructure space. This is happening to bring Southern Africa to the forefront of these climate, economic and green energy solutions, as well as development and progress in the various countries where governments are trying to push these agendas.
Q: Obviously, at some point, the countries within the Sadc region have had to suffer from the vagaries of the weather, ever-changing climate change and so forth. And so, most people might be aware of changes happening around them, but maybe they are not paying particular attention to real estate. Nicola, what sort of interest is this summit generating across the region and amongst regional experts?
NS: Yes, the summit has generated quite huge interest within the region and also within the international space. As mentioned, we are expecting regional policymakers and also international investors, development finance institutions, and other organisations to participate. As I said, the summit itself affects real-life issues: climate change, and how we are now experiencing different climates because of the issues that have existed in the past when it comes to climate resilience and all of that.
Q: Lindah, one of the things that has already taken place is the issue of solar. We have seen a lot of solar energy, and Zimbabweans have really embraced solar. We see it particularly for domestic use, both industrially and in residential homes. But I would like to turn to the issue of real estate. What sort of changes are we likely to see when people actually embrace this eco-friendly, climate-resilient message that you are trying to put across as we transition from the older way of building houses and other infrastructure?
LM: The ministry of Energy and Power Development in Zimbabwe has actually endorsed the summit. So, energy efficiency is a very key, integral part of climate sustainability and economically friendly green buildings.
Given that governments are actually making some of these mandatory codes to encourage green infrastructure, it means that it will encourage more finance to flow into the country for various real estate projects, because that is a key requirement with a lot of these institutions like the World Bank when financing real estate.
That will enable the trajectory to change in terms of how our infrastructure and real estate will be built more economically and more cost-effectively, but with greater opportunities to expand. As we have seen with urbanisation, as you mentioned, there is a greater need for housing, for water and for efficient energy.
So, that will enable people to enjoy better infrastructure, which is more environmentally friendly and basically moving along with the global trends that we see in other countries.
It is very exciting that this will enable better housing, better energy-efficient solutions, infrastructure developments, and better business economically, as funding will be flowing to support the various projects, whether housing or other economic infrastructure.
Q: Without pre-empting your summit next week, I am privy to part of the discussions and also some of the delegates who are going to be meeting in Victoria Falls. Something that really caught my eye was the inclusion of university students. Why are they so important?
NS: It is quite important for us to understand that university students are basically our youth, who are already doing their studies and case studies within the sector itself.
We need to also let them understand what is happening, what the policies are going to be, and put them into rooms like this where they can also look at these case studies and contribute to the conversation as well. As we know, this conversation is a mandatory conversation where they will be the future policymakers and leaders within the sector.
Also, looking at it from academia, the researchers, it helps us as well to understand what is happening there, what case studies are being researched, and what papers they have that we can also distribute. So, it is really, really important to have our future leaders and policymakers in the room.
Q: Did you look at a particular university or just select a few from the universities that are around Zimbabwe?
NS: Because Zimbabwe is the host country, we have tried to invite most of the universities in all the regions in the country, especially where we have seen that they are looking at innovation hubs and exploring these climate-resilient solutions in the various studies and journeys they are taking up.
This helps in terms of developing that mindset that young people need to look at how ICT and Artificial Intelligence are also coming in, which is where a lot of young people are interested.
So, we have definitely invited all the major universities and technical colleges in this regard to be part and parcel of the discussion we should have around sustainability, energy efficiency, and green, smart infrastructure. Sure. Please join us after the break as we continue this week’s program.
Q: Ladies, this is a very topical issue, particularly when you look at the amount of investment being made in creating a green environment. We have had a lot of COPs, COP 23, and now COP 29. I think we are now at COP 29. And so, this speaks to a deliberate shift in terms of policy. Because this is a regional summit, what are we saying? I’ll start with you, Lindah. What are we saying to our own governments in terms of policies to make this thing a reality?
LM: Southern Africa is basically gaining momentum in the trajectory to ensure that, regarding the environment, we have green buildings, and these policymakers are actually putting more effort into ESG frameworks and climate-resilient programmes, pushing their agendas in their various countries.
We are happy to note from talking to institutions like Green Building Zimbabwe that we are aware, and also in the region, that South Africa is leading in terms of these green building initiatives.
Countries further north, like Kenya, are also making good progress, while Zimbabwe is picking up momentum too and is fast-chasing these targets by actually introducing mandatory policy codes in this regard to encourage this trajectory. So, it is no longer a question in the region of simply where we are building, but it is how we are building.
We are seeing great strides in the region in this regard. There is a lot of effort being directed across the various ministries, and that is why you see the event has pretty much secured almost all the key ministries interested in these climate-resilient solutions, sustainable eco-infrastructure, energy and real estate developments in the region.
Q: Nicola, when we look at the issue of participation, I have looked at the CEOs, I have looked at the experts, I have also looked at the class of engineers, and we have looked at senior government officials, as well as the students, and there is also a theme that we have. What does this theme speak to at this summit?
NS: Yes, the theme speaks to making sure that we have renewable and just building infrastructure within Southern Africa. As Lindah mentioned, right now it is not even a matter of it being a ‘nice-to-have’; we are compelled by global standards to adjust and also adhere to those policies.
Q: Lindah, Victoria Falls, not Kariba, but Victoria Falls—that is the choice for the venue. Why Victoria Falls?
LM: Yes, it is very exciting that Zimbabwe has been put on the global arena as having Victoria Falls as the number one destination of choice globally for tourists. We found this option ideal in terms of bringing together a serious business, technical, policymaker and multi-stakeholder event to such a destination because, while we are encouraging the discussion around these green environmental solutions, there is a heritage site which we want to showcase to the world.
In partnership with all the other Southern African countries, we want to show that here is a site that is number one at the moment. Come and see Zimbabwe as well, enjoy the beautiful climate, and understand the initiatives the government is undertaking to keep the environment friendly and green. That is why we chose Vic Falls. Zimbabwe has one of the most beautiful climates as well, so it is an option timed perfectly for all these implementers, engineers, architects and green companies to come through and enjoy the country.
Q: Nicola, what sort of programmes have you put together? In most cases, people go there, do the hard yards, deal with the topic of the day, and leave. She is speaking to the issue of Victoria Falls also wanting to promote local tourism. What sort of activities have you put in place apart from just having keynote addresses and discussions?
NS: We have put together an extensive programme. Besides the main plenary, we also have tours to the infrastructure sites within Victoria Falls on the final day. We will then have our delegates look at what is happening within the region, in the city itself.
Just one thing that I think we did not mention: we also have an investment arena taking place, which we are quite excited about. In that way, some investors and also upcoming projects will be able to submit their projects into a competition where we will have a judge or panellist evaluate the project.
Q: Ladies you said something that really caught my attention about the investors. I am sure everyone is always looking for investment. Those investments are the ones that actually progress us. And so, at next week’s summit, what will be happening within the investment arena?
LM: So, the investment arena is the highlight of the summit, in terms of the fact that there is a session where, at the moment, there is a call to action for project promoters meeting all our sub-themes—which are ESG-related, climate-friendly, energy-efficient, eco-sustainable projects—to submit applications through our website, which is the Southern Africa Eco-Infrastructure Summit.
These will be pre-selected for the final showcase at the event, whereby the shortlist will pitch to the audience. It is a very exciting arena. This arena will obviously have judges who include investors from the international scene, local investors from the region, as well as Zimbabwe.
So, this creates a pipeline of bankable projects that attract global international investment into the various regions. It is a call to project developers and promoters to say: here is your opportunity to meet and be in the deal room and meeting rooms with these investors.
At the same time, for institutions looking to ensure they are seen as organisations lending in line with the various policy agendas in this regard—climate-resilient, eco-friendly infrastructure that is sustainable—there will be this pipeline of projects which you can obviously have the opportunity to look at, judge and consider when it meets your usual requirements.
It is a very exciting arena, which I think will create a lot of traction in terms of putting forward the agenda to build a greener Southern African environment.
NS: Just to add, some submissions will be closing this week on Friday, so there is still an opportunity to submit. As Lindah said, the website is southernafricaecoinfra.com, southernafricaecoinfra.com.
Q: I have also had the opportunity to look at your programme. I understand that there is going to be an exhibition. What sort of exhibitors are you attracting? Are they only from Zimbabwe or from the region?
NS: Not at all. Not only from Zimbabwe. We have attracted exhibitors from within the region itself: Southern Africa, Botswana, and Zambia especially. If you have any projects you want to showcase, or products you would like to profile within the exhibition space, there are still exhibition spaces left.
Q: So, this exhibition is aligned to the summit. Can it be just an exhibition on any other things that do not fall within the ambit of the summit?
LM: Yes, certainly. The exhibition is open to everyone. Obviously, the summit objectives point to where a high number of investors will be, which covers your solar, your green, eco-friendly infrastructure, real estate, and infrastructure summit.
But it is an opportunity because these eco-infrastructure, sustainable ESG issues are global and economic. So, all organisations now need to show that they are participating in and supporting these UN Sustainable Development Goals—the relevant goals in terms of their organisations—because it may be related to supply chain issues.
So, it is open to everyone, not only solar, infrastructure, real estate, energy, climate, environmental, or non-profit organisations. It is a matter, as we started out saying in the discussion, that affects everybody, right down to their own internal home, how they are living, and how energy and the environment are being treated and impacting them.
Q: Most of the delegates who are coming from outside Zimbabwe will obviously make direct flights to Victoria Falls or will have made their own flight arrangements, but for the locals, what sort of convenience in terms of travel are you offering?
NS: We are partnering with local airlines within the region, and we do have a charter flight we could make arrangements for. Again, if you go to the website, there is a lot of information regarding travel arrangements, including what to expect and accommodation. We have made provisions to ensure that at least we have a bit of a discount.
Q: Is this going to be an annual thing? Are we looking at you changing the venue so that every country in the region gets the opportunity, or are we just looking at Zimbabwe because Zimbabweans are very hospitable?
NS: The concept of this event is to showcase the Sadc region and the beautiful places that we have—looking at Botswana, South Africa, the DRC and Zambia. So, it is an annual event. Stay tuned for next year, and we will see where the next event is. As Lindah said, we are also looking at promoting tourism within the Sadc region.
Q: From your perspective, Lindah, where are we in Zimbabwe in terms of pursuing this climate-resilient development agenda?
LM: Zimbabwe has made great strides. Definitely, congratulations to the policymakers and the government in terms of ensuring that this climate resilience and these ESG frameworks are being adopted in the country.
We understand that frameworks around building codes and certification are already in progress. This is going to be a mandatory issue, and this is what shows how serious the government and the green institutions are about this.
We have already seen in the host country, so to speak, a lot of developments—how financial institutions are aligning strategic objectives with ESG and a lot of climate-resilience frameworks. We have already seen some buildings lined up by the Green Council having met all these requirements.
So, some of these institutions have a chance to come and tell their story because this summit is all about changing the landscape in the right trajectory in terms of energy efficiency, climate reliance and sustainable infrastructure.
So, we are very excited that Zimbabwe is starting to take it seriously. Zimbabwe is not just saying ‘building’, but how we are building, ensuring that everybody is involved and understands.
So, Zimbabwe stands to be an infrastructure hub in that regard—promoting a green Southern Africa region, joining the global platform in this serious conversation, and showing that we are ready for finance in this regard.
Q: And Nicola, your last words?
NS: We are just looking forward to having government, organisations, participants and delegations join us at the summit next (this) week.