The Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) President Leonard Hikaumba has urged the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) not to increase the electricity tariffs.
Mr Hikaumba has instead suggested that the Electricity company should consider supplying power to unconnected areas so that it can improve its revenue.
He charged in an interview with ZANIS that the power utility firm is losing out huge sums of moneys in terms of
revenue in non-connected areas.
He said ZESCO could realise alot of revenue once it connects the areas.
Commenting on the proposed 66 percent electricity tariff hike, the ZCTU president said the increase will have a negative impact on the already impoverished public service workers especially civil servants.
Mr Hikaumba has since advised government to heavily fund ZESCO so that it can complete rehabilitate its machines that are allegedly old.
He said allowing ZESCO to increase its electricity tariffs would be a mockery to the public service employees saying it will have a trickle down effect on essential commodities such as mealie-meal, sugar and clothes.
Recently the ERB Chairperson Sikota Wina said his organisation has not yet made a decision on ZESCO’s proposed 66 percent electricity tariffs as alleged by some media reports.
Mr. Wina said ERB will follow the legal procedures before it can approve or reject the proposed tariff increment by ZESCO.
He explained that ERB is committed to adhering to the legal process as outlined in section 8 of the Electricity Act, which provides for a consultative process among the consumers.
Meanwhile, the Rural Electrification Authority (ERA), says that the K98 billion allocated for the authority will enable it to meet its goals in the year 2009.
ERA Public Relations Manager, Justine Mukosa, said this in a statement to ZANIS this today.
Mr Mukosa said that the implementation of 25 grid extension areas in all the nine provinces at an estimated cost of K70 billion will cover the selected projects in the nine regions.
He said that ERA will mop all the projects that have been outstanding for a long time, ensuring that all the provinces of Zambia receive a share  of available resources.
He said that the procurement, delivery and installation of solar energy for lightening and water pumping at identified social institutions in remote areas is on course.
Mr Mukosa said that the feasibility study on Chavuma falls mini-hydro project on the Zambezi river in Chavuma district, designing packaging of Chikata falls mini hydro projects in Kabompo district of Northwestern Province was also under way.
ZANIS/ENDS/ISS/EB
Nambala 1
100% support
Quality of life will never improve in Zambia. Imposing higher charges is not the way to make profits. The more customers you have, the more revenues you get. Zesco is in a better position to diversify, introduce more products and create more jobs. All this can only happens when the men and women running the corporation are ambitious and visionaries.
Hikaumba has been disconnected several times for non payment himself. Raising tariffs will lead more people like himself in the dark. Kosapo mwandi.
Salaries should go up by the same margin. So if one’s monthly bill was k100,000, the tarrif hike will result in one paying K 166, 000! This will negativly impact on the economy. The cost of production, among others, will rise leading to an increase in prices of goods.
This was my proposal a few days ago Mr Hikaumba when ZESCO argued that they would be attracting investment by screwing the tariffs up. I am happy you have hit the nail on the damn head. Zesco should contribute to the development of this country by lightening up those areas that have been dreaming of electricity supply in the country. These areas are plenty and yes revenue would increase. I wonder which advisors Zesco is feeding so as to come up with that nonsense I read a few days ago. ZESCO SHOULD START UPGRADING THESE AREAS FIRST!!
Prepare for hard times ahead.
Zesco should not forget the troubles the country is going through already. so far the price of melie meal is not even affordable to most civil servants. And if you increase the electricity tariff by that huge magin, who do u think is going to pay those bills anyway. Are the the people going to sacrifice food for electricity. Be realistic guys. my suggestion would be that you even reduce the tariff.
And by the way, can someone tell that man living illegally in the state house to keep away from Fr Frank Mwewa of Radio Icengelo. Instead he (the so called banda) should focus on coming up with policies that can help the country manage through this financial crisis period.
Amalaiti indaba nayo yashupa ku Zedi.
ZCTU’s idea could be a viable avenue if given a try. It makes sense on second thought.
I commend organisations of such calibre who come up with ideas instead of just antagonising issues.
Picture shows like Hikaumba is praying for God to soften the heart of RB
I think Zambians need to put a limit to the term of ZCTU president, I mean, just for how long will this chap be president? Its like FTJ, he was there for donkey years and when he moved to State House, he wanted to grow some roots there too called third term until Zambians declared ZWAAAAAA!!! Watch this Hikaumba too.
Hikaumba ‘s reasoning is not making any sense at all. I expect this man to mount pressure on the government so that they adjust civil servants’ emoluments accordingly. Whether he likes it or not ZESCO will still proceed and hike the tariffs so that they meet the costs of maintaining the infra structure and improve the service delivery. ZCTU has lost direction under Hikaumba’s leadership.
Even if they increase nothing will be solved. how many times are they going to increase tariffs?
Let just the GRZ fund this chaps.
But why?
It makes no sense for Zesco to take this route. At the moment what is needed is stimulating economic activity through manufacturing and increasing tarrifs now works exactly opposite to that goal. More so now when metal prices have taken a tumble and mining companies are busy looking for ways to reduce their production costs, this is definitely not the time to be talking of 66% increase in any factor that directly affects costof production. I wonder if Zesco understands its strategic role in terms of economic development, and Sisala has definitely outlived his usefulness, that is if he was ever useful!
Hikaumba has become so irrelevant as a union leader. What constructive criticism can he offer when he is on govt payroll?
If ZESCO has a deficit of 650MW of power on existing customers, where will it get excess power to give to its new customers?Of course, this is an emotional issue, but we mustn’t take emotions into reason. Companies like Airtel and MTN can make more money by reaching more customers and bring down the rates, but not ZESCO, because it can only generate so much power.