Staff Writer
EcoCash Holdings Zimbabwe (EcoCash) says it invested ZWL261 million towards green energy financing during the year 2024 reflecting its commitment to promoting sustainable energy solutions and reducing its carbon footprint.
In its latest annual report, the group said it has taken steps to address climate change through green energy financing, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable transportation.
The leading mobile financial services provider announced significant progress in its climate action initiatives.
The group said following Cyclone Idai in 2019, the Higherlife Foundation implemented a range of efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe’s preparedness and response to disasters.
“In 2023, 872,000 people in disaster-prone communities were trained in disaster risk reduction to bring a total of 1.8 million people capacitated to date,” EcoCash said in its annual report.
It added that a key outcome of the work in disaster relief and preparedness was the construction of the National Emergency Operation Centre which will play an important role in any future disaster, by bringing together key decision makers and stakeholders in one location to coordinate response efforts and make collective decisions.
On agriculture, EcoCash said by the end of 2023, the Higherlife Foundation had trained 1,250 extension officers, supervisors, trainees, specialists, and support staff across 13 districts.
It said the training enhanced the understanding of how climate-smart agricultural practices can improve or maintain crop yield in the wake of increased rainfall variability.
During the period under review, VAYA Mobility, a subsidiary of Ecocash, took a proactive approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by incorporating electric vehicles (EVs) into its fleet.
“On VAYA Mobility’s decision to incorporate EVs into its fleet aims to promote positive environmental impacts. Through its introduction three partners purchased EVs during the period, further contributing to the company’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality as more people choose cleaner mobility,” EcoCash said.
