Econet’s innovative smart meters, designed to transform water and energy management while driving sustainability across Zimbabwe’s key economic sectors, stole the limelight at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show last week.

The cutting-edge e-M2M (Machine-to-Machine) integrated solution leverages advanced sensors, digital connectivity, and intuitive cloud-based software to provide real-time monitoring of crucial parameters, including temperature, humidity, location, energy consumption and water usage – all of great utility value in efficient resource management in critical sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and mining. 

“Our smart meters – also known as the Cold Chain, Water and Energy Management Solution – are a transformative solution designed to empower businesses, public enterprises and local councils to optimize their operations, create efficiencies by minimizing waste and promote sustainability. 

“We believe that this technology can be a real game-changer across multiple sectors of the economy,” said Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s Chief Operating Officer Kezito Makuni.

During the weeklong exhibition, Econet’s stand was abuzz with activity, drawing in commercial farmers, industry leaders, government officials, policy makers and individual consumers – all eager to learn more about the groundbreaking technologies the company was exhibiting. 

Makuni said the smart meters offer substantial benefits for both water utilities and their customers. 

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“This powerful water monitoring solution enhances water management, reduces waste, improves customer service and supports the efficient and sustainable use of water resources, essentially modernizing water infrastructure management and ensuring communities have access to clean water,” he said.

The introduction of smart meters comes at a critical time for Zimbabwe's agricultural sector, which remains a cornerstone of the nation's economy. Water management, in particular, is vital for agricultural productivity, given the sector's heavy dependence on a reliable and consistent water supply. 

With Econet’s smart meters, farmers can monitor water consumption in real-time, detect leaks instantly and optimize usage, thereby ensuring crops receive the necessary amount of water without any wastage.

“Our solution allows farmers to make informed decisions about water use, helping them to conserve the precious resource while maximizing crop yields. It’s about creating a sustainable future for Zimbabwean agriculture, and guaranteeing food security,” Makuni said.

He added that other water-intensive industries, such as manufacturing and mining, also relied on effective water management in maintaining sustainable operations. 

“By exposing these sectors to detailed insights on water use, our e-M2M solution supports conservation efforts and drives significant cost savings,” Makuni said, stressing that the solution was not limited to one industry.

He added that efficient energy management was also a critical feature of the solution, allowing businesses to track and optimize their energy usage, reduce costs and contribute to a more sustainable environment. 

“In an economy, like many others in the region, where energy costs and supply issues still pose significant challenges to industries, the ability to monitor and manage energy consumption in real-time provides a competitive advantage and supports the creation of a resilient, efficient, and sustainable economy,” Makuni said.