Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) in Eastern Province has called on government to call for a national indaba to discuss the current country wide power outages.
CSPR Eastern Province Coordinator Maxson Nkhoma has told QFM News that his organization has noted with serious concern the continued increase in loading shedding and indications from Zesco are that the current situation may continue until the next rain season.
Mr. Nkhoma says revelations from Zesco that the power utility campaign is now generating 500 megawatts instead of the normal 1,050 megawatts at Kariba Power station implies that the power electricity company is now generating less electricity by 50% and there is a possibility that this reduction can worsen in few months to come due to lower water levels at the Kariba power station Dam.
Mr. Nkhoma says a national power deficit of 50% has potential to negatively affect the end of year Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to poor production in key sectors such as Mining who are now required to scale down their operations due to rationing of power.
He says power outages will therefore worsen household and national poverty levels as majority Zambians who work in industries where power is key for production may lose their jobs because of non availability of power.
He is of the view that Zesco working together with other stakeholders can find short term solutions that could be implemented with support and Political will from Government to address the current load shedding before it escalates into unmanageable levels.
Mr. Nkhoma says Government should take time and learn from South Africa on how they have been addressing the power deficit which hit that Country in the recent past.
He has asked Government through the Ministry of Energy and Water Development to immediately call for a National Indaba to allow stakeholders provide suggestions on how the Country can holistically deal with the current situation.
He explains that a national indaba will accord Zesco to fully explain the power deficit to citizens and what measures are being put in place to address this issue if there is any.
And in another development, the continuous load shedding of power by ZESCO has inspired local fuel vendors in Kasempa district to increase the fuel price to as high as K13 per litre.
According to Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), the situation has also compelled motorists to also increase transport fares on some routes within Kasempa district from K10.00 to K 15.00.