Late business tycoon Chivayo at the centre of fresh questions as Zimbabwe approves $650 million solar project

Zimbabwe’s Cabinet has approved the implementation of a $650 million floating solar power project on Lake Kariba, reviving questions over the country’s long-delayed Gwanda Solar Project, which was awarded to the late businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s company, Intratrek Zimbabwe.

Wicknell Chivayo and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. (Image: [Wicknell Chivayo/linkedIn)

• Zimbabwe’s Cabinet approved a $650 million floating solar power project on Lake Kariba with a planned capacity of 600 megawatts.
• The project aims to supplement hydropower, stabilize electricity supply, and conserve water during daylight hours.
• The announcement revives scrutiny over the long-delayed Gwanda Solar Project, awarded to Intratrek Zimbabwe in 2015 but hindered by delays and legal issues.
• Intratrek’s founder, Wicknell Chivayo, who faced controversy over project delays, died in a helicopter crash in 2026.

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The proposed Kariba project will have a capacity of 600 megawatts and is intended to complement hydropower generation, stabilise electricity supplies and conserve water during daylight hours.

As reported by NewZimbabwe, Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka announced during a post-Cabinet briefing that the government is facilitating private sector investment for a 600 MW floating solar plant on Lake Kariba following a presidential directive.

He explained that the project is designed to supplement hydropower generation, stabilize grid output, and conserve water during the day through solar power generation.

The approval comes as Zimbabwe continues to grapple with electricity shortages linked partly to reduced water levels at the Kariba Dam, which have constrained hydropower generation. The new initiative is designed to diversify the country’s power supply while improving the resilience of its electricity system.

However, the latest announcement brings renewed attention to the Gwanda Solar Project, a 100-megawatt plant awarded to Intratrek in 2015 under a contract initially valued at approximately $172.8 million.

” alt=”An aerial view shows the concrete arch wall of the Kariba Dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi River basin. (Image: Dmitriy Kandinskiy/Shutterstock)” width=”790″ height=”573″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/5FVktkpTURBXy82ZDhmMTk0Y2E3NWMwMTI2ZmNjZTYyNWQ1MzliMGRjMC5wbmeRlQLNAxbNAj3Cww” /> An aerial view shows the concrete arch wall of the Kariba Dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi River basin. (Image: Dmitriy Kandinskiy/Shutterstock)

A decade of delays

In April 2016, the Zimbabwe Power Company advanced approximately $5 million to Intratrek for the project, which subsequently became embroiled in prolonged delays and legal disputes.

The stalled development attracted scrutiny over the use of public funds and the failure to deliver the plant as originally envisaged.

Chivayo, who founded Intratrek, died in a helicopter crash in Zimbabwe on September 30, 2026, alongside his wife and other passengers. His death has added another dimension to questions surrounding the future of projects associated with his business interests.

The project’s engineering, procurement and construction cost was reduced from an initial $172 million to $132 million, while the earlier $5 million advance payment remains a central point of controversy.

The Gwanda project’s position is not entirely settled, however. Reports published in September indicated that Intratrek had received a notice to proceed under revised terms, with the company expected to complete the plant within 24 months. Its eventual delivery remains a key issue for Zimbabwe’s power sector.

The Kariba initiative represents another major investment in solar generation, but its implementation will also depend on financing, technical preparations and construction milestones. The government has yet to demonstrate that the project has moved from approval to completed infrastructure.

For Zimbabwe, the challenge is not simply announcing new generation capacity, but ensuring that proposed power projects translate into reliable electricity for households and businesses.