When Energy Meets Ambition: The Rural Entrepreneurs Powering Africa’s Future

When Zeferino Tembo Jr. left his rural home in the Petauke District of Eastern Zambia for the capital, Lusaka, he hoped to find a stable job. But after two years of struggling in the city, he returned home feeling dejected — only to discover that his village had been transformed. A newly installed mini-grid was lighting up homes, schools, and businesses. Suddenly, the opportunities his family had been searching for in the city were right at their doorstep.

Mission 300 at a Glance

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Africans have already been connected in year one, with the goal of 300 million by 2030
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in financing has been pledged

A 100-kilowatt-peak solar site in Kandongwa, Petauke district, Eastern Zambia serving 300-400 homes and businesses. It’s operated by ENGIE Energy Access. (Photo Credit Luke Katemba)

“It’s better to be back home than in Lusaka,” Tembo Jr. says. “Now I can work, earn an income, and help my family right here.”

Zeferino Tembo Sr. echoes his son’s sentiments. For him, access to electricity has been nothing short of revolutionary. Once dependent on diesel-powered generators, his family now runs two oil extractors — one in town and one in their village. Villagers process sunflower seeds and ground nuts in the extractors, paying for the service with the by-products, which the family then sells as livestock feed. The family has also started growing its own sunflower seeds to produce and sell cooking oil and sees opportunities to expand their sales in the future. “Electricity has helped me run my oil-distilling machines, feed my family, and give jobs to young people,” says Tembo Sr.

Zeferino Tembo Sr. loads sunflower seeds into his oil extractor machine in Kandongwa, Petauke district, Eastern Zambia. (Photo Credit Luke Katemba)

On the six-hour drive to Petauke from Lusaka, there are huge swaths of unoccupied land — a reminder of how spread out many Zambian communities are. That low population density is exactly why off-grid and mini-grid solutions are essential to reaching far-flung households, schools, health centers, and businesses.

In the past, Tembo Sr. relied solely on diesel generators to run his machines. The switch to electricity has dramatically cut his costs, making his business much more profitable and aiding his expansion. He now achieves the same output at one-third the cost he paid when using diesel.

The benefits of electrification extend far beyond the Tembo family’s business. The Kanyanga mini-grid serves 300 to 400 homes and businesses. Children now study under electric lights and small enterprises are thriving. The community is also seeing improved agricultural productivity as irrigation systems powered by the mini-grid help farmers move beyond dependence on rain-fed crops. This new resilience is critical in an area that has faced recurring droughts.

Mission 300: Scaling Access Across Africa

Many more communities across Petauke expect to be electrified through Mission 300, which aims to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. The bold initiative is led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with the Global Energy Alliance and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and supported by The Rockefeller Foundation.

Already, Mission 300 has delivered more than 30 million new connections in its first year, with over 150 projects defined and more than $50 billion in commitments to advance Mission 300. Philanthropic partners like The Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance have also pledged over $60 million to ensure rapid execution.

The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, pressed the urgency of this initiative in his remarks at the Energy Forum for Africa in Lusaka in September. Referencing the 600 million Africans who still lack reliable access to electricity, he asked:

Who will agree to be in the other half? When we talk about electrifying 300 million Africans, I ask, who among us is willing to accept being left behind?
Hakainde Hichilema
President of Zambia

A Future Lit with Possibility

The story of the Tembo family is one of resilience, innovation, and hope. Electrification can turn rural-to-urban migration patterns upside down, drawing youth back from urban centers to their villages. It can spur local enterprise, create jobs, and improve education and health outcomes, giving families new and fruitful opportunities.

“The productive use of energy is a game-changer for rural communities,” says Mukabanji Mutanuka, the SEforALL Zambia country coordinator. “It promotes industrialization and job growth.”

As Zambia advances toward its 2030 target for universal electricity access, Petauke stands as an example of what is possible when energy meets ambition. Zambia has emerged as a key mover in Mission 300, taking early action to translate its commitments into tangible results on the ground. By embracing reforms and supporting community-level mini-grids like Kanyanga, Zambia is showing that large-scale electrification is not just possible; it is achievable and already changing lives. For the Tembo family and their community, the future is bright, powered, and full of promise.