Nagging electricity power outages making Zambians destitute, laments GLZ’s Lance Sannie

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By Saeed Simon Banda and Derrick Sinjela

GENERATION Lead Zambia (GLZ) Media Director Lance Sannie Banda is concerned over the nagging status of power outages in the country.

According to a Wednesday, 18th January, 2023 Press Release on ‘The Impact of Load-shedding on The Cost of Living’, Mr. Banda held a view that mostly ongoing power outages affect the overall economic as no one is spared from the staggered 12- hour- black outs implemented by Zesco Limited.

As Zambia depends on the hydro power as a means of turning the production and services sectors wheels of commerce, Banda sought a lasting solutions from Central Government through Minister of Energy, Peter Chibwe Kapala.

“The economy of this country cannot survive with the current power outages that the Zambia is experiencing especially if production is low and demand is not met.
Different economic players such as millers, welders, metal fabricators, etc are failing to meet their production demand due to these outages and much worse that the Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO) limited is failing to follow the schedule it produced and not heeding to the 6hours in 6hours out method,” cried Banda.

Citing a recent Generation Lead Zambia survey some parts of the country, Banda grieved that ZESCO Limited is load-shedding certain areas more than the formerly agreed to 12 hours, which initially had been a daily 6 hour blackout.

“As a movement we feel that Government should practically intervene in this matter as opposed to the lip service that we have seen being given to the Zambian people. This load-shedding is stalling up any economic progress the country might have made and is a great cost to the Zambian people as well as the government,” said a hurt Banda.

At a cost of sounding like a broken record, Generation Lead Zambia implored government to treat the nagging power outage with a deserving sense of urgency, before citizens and Industry start experiencing ripple effects such as high cost of basic needs; mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar and wastefulness with regard to fresh vegetables and meat products due to inconsistent refrigeration.

Due to these power outages, Banda laments that millers are resorting to using generators which require diesel fetched at a high price, consequently pushing the price of mealie meal, a staple commodity beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

Further, Generation Lead Zambia (GLZ) Media Director Lance Sannie Banda is concerned over the nagging status of power outages in the country.

According to a Wednesday, 18th January, 2023 Press Release on ‘The Impact of Load-shedding on The Cost of Living’, Mr. Banda held a view that mostly ongoing power outages affect the overall economic as no one is spared from the staggered 12- hour- black outs implemented by Zesco Limited.

As Zambia depends on the hydro power as a means of turning the production and services sectors wheels of commerce, Banda sought a lasting solutions from Central Government through Minister of Energy, Peter Chibwe Kapala.

“The economy of this country cannot survive with the current power outages that the Zambia is experiencing especially if production is low and demand is not met.
Different economic players such as millers, welders, metal fabricators, etc are failing to meet their production demand due to these outages and much worse that the Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO) limited is failing to follow the schedule it produced and not heeding to the 6hours in 6hours out method,” cried Banda.

Citing a recent Generation Lead Zambia survey some parts of the country, Banda grieved that ZESCO Limited is load-shedding certain areas more than the formerly agreed to 12 hours, which initially had been a daily 6 hour blackout.

“As a movement we feel that Government should practically intervene in this matter as opposed to the lip service that we have seen being given to the Zambian people. This load-shedding is stalling up any economic progress the country might have made and is a great cost to the Zambian people as well as the government,” said a hurt Banda.

At a cost of sounding like a broken record, Generation Lead Zambia implored government to treat the nagging power outage with a deserving sense of urgency, before citizens and Industry start experiencing ripple effects such as high cost of basic needs; mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar and wastefulness with regard to fresh vegetables and meat products due to inconsistent refrigeration.

Due to these power outages, millers are resorting to using generators which require diesel fetched at a high price.

Banda predicts loss of business for Small Medium Entrepreneurs operating welders, barbershops, salons, metal fabricators, chicken breeders, to name but five, on account of failing to meet clientele demands as alternative sources like generator are expensive to procure and do not guarantee efficiency.

“As Generation Lead Zambia, we foresee loss of employment and income by an average Zambian working in the industries as production has to be lowered to meet the number of hours, when electric power is available,” reiterated Banda.

Prodded Banda: “We advise government that in a short-term period, they must find a way on how they can make use of the solar power plants, which were installed in most parts of the country by the previous Patriotic Front (PF) Administration and connect this additional alternative energy to the ZESCO national power grid”.

Generation Lead Zambia is equally urging Government through ZESCO to cut down export of power to neighbouring countries, till domestic needs are met.

In a long-term period, Banda urged the Zambian government consider setting up a nuclear power plant and other renewable energy sources, so as to nip load-shedding in the bud.