Mwinilunga District Commissioner (DC) Webster Samakesa says government will be pleased to see local people in IKelenge and Nyakesaya benefit from the Zambezi rapids hydro power station.
He was speaking during the opening of the public hearing forum organised by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) in Ikelenge today.
Mr Samakesa said government will be happy if the local people will be supplied with electricity once the distribution of electricity is commenced.
He noted that it will be saddening to learn that only a few individuals will have access to electricity when the power station was built for the community.
“As government we will be pleased to see that all the communities near the power station benefit. What will be saddening is to learn that only a few individuals are accessing the electricity,” he said.
Mr Samakesa said ZESCO alone cannot supply the whole country with power hence the need for the private sector to come on board and supplement the efforts of government by putting up hydro stations.
The district commissioner pointed out that development cannot take place in the absence of stable electricity supply.
He noted that with stable electricity supply, investors can be attracted to invest in the district and create wealth and employment.
Mr Samakesa explained that investors will shun to invest in any area of the district were there is no power.
However, he was optimistic that with the power to be generated at Zambezi rapids hydro station, investors will be wooed to invest in the area.
And ERB Economics and Regulation Director Dr Mushiba Nyamazana said the organisations role is to ensure that service providers charge responsible tariffs.
He explained to the forum that bills charged by the service providers should always reflect the costs incurred during the generation of power.
