In Zimbabwe’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape, a new generation of green-tech startups is proving that innovation doesn’t always begin in a lab, it can also rise from sawdust, plastic bottles, and the city’s overflowing landfills. Across the country, waste-to-energy solutions are gaining traction, led by local innovators determined to solve Zimbabwe’s energy and environmental challenges in sustainable, practical ways.
Fuel Flip Technologies
One such example is Fuel Flip Technologies, a startup with roots in Mutare that has expanded to Harare and Bulawayo. Co-founded by Tichaona Matte and Tendai Chipatiso, the company is transforming sawdust waste into charcoal briquettes branded as “Xero Charcoal.” In a country where many households still rely on wood or paraffin for cooking, these briquettes offer a cleaner, more affordable alternative. The company has perfected a model of turning by-products from sawmills into an energy source that burns longer, produces less smoke, and reduces deforestation.
But Fuel Flip isn’t just about selling briquettes. The company also offers consultancy services for renewable energy systems, including biogas and biomass-to-energy models. In some rural areas, they have piloted biogas-powered irrigation systems and clean cooking units, helping reduce reliance on harmful fuels. However, scaling such solutions remains a challenge. Fuel Flip relies heavily on grants and donor support due to high local interest rates and limited access to startup capital. Despite these hurdles, their work continues to inspire a growing network of green entrepreneurs.
The Pomona Waste-to-Energy Plant
In Harare, a much larger-scale operation is underway. The Pomona Waste-to-Energy Plant, operated by GeoPomona Waste Management (a subsidiary of Dutch company Geogenix BV), aims to turn the capital city’s municipal waste into electricity. Designed to process over 1,000 tonnes of waste per day, the plant is expected to generate up to 22 megawatts of power when fully operational. The electricity produced will be fed directly into Zimbabwe’s national grid, providing an urgently needed supplement to a country plagued by power shortages.
This project, part of a public-private partnership between Harare City Council and Geogenix BV, has already begun operations on its sorting plant, with the energy-generation phase expected to be completed by late 2025. The Pomona initiative has also created more than 300 jobs and helped modernize the city’s waste management fleet with new refuse trucks and waste bins.
However, the Pomona project hasn’t been without controversy. Some residents and civic organizations have raised concerns about transparency in the contract award process, and there have been calls for a full review of the agreement. Despite this, city officials maintain that the project is essential for modernizing Harare’s waste management and creating long-term energy security.
Zambezi Ark Technologies
At the grassroots level, Zambezi Ark Technologies is showing that innovation can also be small-scale and community-focused. Their “Chigubhu Lantern Initiative” turns discarded plastic bottles into solar-powered lanterns. These lanterns are designed for off-grid communities and are built by young people trained in recycling, electronics, and sustainable design. In 2024, the initiative won top honors at the TotalEnergies Startupper Challenge for Best Circular Economy Project, solidifying its status as a shining example of youth-led innovation.
Together, these ventures paint a promising picture of Zimbabwe’s future. They prove that local problems energy shortages, environmental degradation, and youth unemployment can be tackled with local solutions. What binds them is a shared vision: to build a cleaner, more resilient Zimbabwe powered by innovation, resourcefulness, and community collaboration.
As Zimbabwe looks to the future, these startups offer more than just business models they offer hope. Hope that waste isn’t just the end of a cycle but the beginning of something new.
