Midlands Christian College (MCC), a private and internationally accredited school in Gweru, has installed a 300-kilowatt solar plant to power its entire group of schools, in a move hailed as a model for sustainable energy solutions in the education sector.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Principal Director Pastor Daniel Pswarai said the solar project is not only about power generation but is central to the school’s vision of self-sufficiency, innovation, and community impact.
“Scalability was a key factor. We needed a solution that could meet our growing power demands – from food production to laundry services and education infrastructure,” he said.
The solar plant – which cost over US$518,000 – replaces the school’s previous power infrastructure, which included three transformers and incurred annual power bills of over US$270,000. It is supported by a 350 kVA automatic-start generator and allows digital real-time monitoring.
Pastor Pswarai revealed that at the time of his speech, the system was generating 227,660 watts while consumption stood at 213,033 watts, with batteries at 97% full.
“This is the first time in the school’s 44-year history that we borrowed money for a project,” he said. “But it made economic sense. In two years, we will have recovered the investment.”
The plant was developed in partnership with Solar Energy Projects, who will also support the school with remote monitoring services. Pastor Pswarai praised the partnership, saying the system met five critical criteria: scalability, suitability, performance, quality, and economic viability.
Although the school is currently not connected to the national power utility ZESA, it has already generated excess power through a process known as net metering – a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid.
“True independence is not just when you can produce for yourself, but when you produce for your neighbour. We look forward to a time when the surrounding community can also benefit,” he added.
MCC runs several self-sustaining projects on its campus, including vegetable farming, poultry production, and a bakery – all of which depend on consistent electricity supply.
The solar project has also enhanced the academic experience. “Our science students no longer have to imagine how electricity is generated – they see it in action daily,” Pastor Pswarai noted.
The school’s Board of Trustees, represented by Mr. Levendell, was commended for approving the investment. Pastor Pswarai closed his remarks with a biblical reflection from 2 Timothy 1:7, saying, “What I see here is not fear of the challenges we face, but a spirit of power, love, and sound thinking.”
Midlands Christian College is part of the ATS-CHISZ Schools group and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and has been offering holistic education since 1987.
