Namibia: Rural Communities Told Solar Electricity Is Not a Second-Class Solution

What the report says

Namibia’s deputy minister of industries, mines and energy, Gaudentia Kröhne, used remarks at the 29th annual Tulikongwe Cultural Festival in Choi village in the Zambezi region to argue that rural communities should not regard solar electricity as a lesser option than grid power. According to The Namibian, which AllAfrica distributed, she said solar home systems and community mini-grids can deliver many of the same basic services, especially in remote areas where extending the national grid can be slow and expensive.

Kröhne said solar can support lighting, phone charging, radio and television, internet access, refrigeration, security lighting, water pumping and small businesses, often at lower infrastructure cost. She presented it as a practical way to bring electricity to scattered households while grid expansion continues. Her comments were made during a cultural event hosted by the Mashi Traditional Authority under chief Mfumu Mayuni III, whose theme focused on protecting culture.

The minister also pointed to the government’s broader electrification plans, saying Namibia aims for universal access to modern electricity services by 2040 and has set aside funding for the 2026/27 programme. She said parts of the Zambezi region, including Mashi areas, have been allocated money for service connections. Mayuni, for his part, said electricity remains a major barrier in rural life and should be treated as a basic service because of its role in communication and small-scale enterprise.