Inyankuni Solar Plant Seeks New Investors

The City of Bulawayo has rescinded its five-year-old resolution to engage Williams Engineering for the Inyankuni Pump Station Solar Plant after the company failed to deliver a mandatory feasibility study that was a condition of Cabinet approval. The Financial Director advised Council to revoke the authorisation following Williams Engineering's unsolicited proposal to supply electricity to the pump station and subsequent inaction on the study requirement. Management says it issued a notice revoking the conditional approval after concluding the company could not satisfy the feasibility condition.

The proposal had been submitted to the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency for review and received conditional Cabinet approval, which required Williams Engineering to fund or complete a full feasibility study before signing a Public-Private Partnership agreement. Council records show Williams Engineering did not undertake or fund the study despite repeated engagements and clarifications about the condition. That failure has left the Inyankuni Pump Station Solar Plant stalled and prevented the PPP from advancing.

The Solar Plant was intended to improve the reliability of power supply to the Inyankuni Pump Station and support continuity of water pumping operations at the citys critical water infrastructure. Council highlighted that interruptions to electricity can disrupt pumping schedules, reduce water availability and affect the operational efficiency of distribution. Those operational risks are central to the municipalitys case for pursuing a dedicated supply for the pump station.

With the revocation in place, Council is now seeking alternative investors and has authorised Management to identify suitably qualified partners under applicable procurement and PPP procedures. Any new engagement will require a full feasibility study, evidence of technical and financial capacity, and the necessary approvals before implementation. Council framed the next phase as an opportunity to prioritise technical feasibility and financial sustainability in selecting partners.

City officials say the proposal remains a potential entry point for private investment in Zimbabwe's municipal renewable energy sector, but they stressed the need to convert approved proposals into bankable, implementable projects. The administration emphasised stronger project preparation and credible financing arrangements as prerequisites for future investor engagement.