Friday, March 29, 2024

Kambwili reveals that ZESCO has written off all bills incurred by Luanshya residents

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MINISTER of Sport, Youth and Child Development Chishimba Kambwili
MINISTER of Sport, Youth and Child Development Chishimba Kambwili

The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has written off all electricity bills incurred by Luanshya residents who were affected by the closure of Luanshya Copper Mine.

This came to light yesterday when Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili addressed a public meeting in his constituency at Chaisa complex grounds.

Mr. Kambwili explained that the move came about after a thorough discussion with the Energy Minister.

He noted that at a time the mine was closed, a lot of people were out of employment making it difficult for them to settle their electricity and other bills.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Kambwili was, however, quick to urge the residents to pay their outstanding bills as the mine is now open and people have gone back to work.

[pullquote]Mr. Kambwili also directed ZCCM to ensure that all the people who bought mine houses are given title deeds by September this year.[/pullquote]

He also emphasized on the importance of people paying their electricity bills saying it enables the utility firm run efficiently.

Mr. Kambwili also directed ZCCM to ensure that all the people who bought mine houses are given title deeds by September this year.

ZANIS

92 COMMENTS

  1. Please proof read before posting news ba LT naimwe! “Kambwili reveals that has ZESCO written off all bills incurred by Luanshya residents” wrong english… that should read “Kambwili reveals that ZESCO has written off all bills incurred by Luanshya residents”

  2. No wonder Zesco will sink one day,it’s high time it was actually privatised so politicians can lay off it,year in year out successive companies milk that company by borrowing for their projects and party campaigns and they don’t pay back plus all these cancellation of debts just add to the many cashflow problems Zesco has been facing for years.

  3. @shuga, where have you been? Since 20 september 11, it does go together in our communist state. We are back in 1975.

  4. Ok so if you loose your job, then ZESCO starts generating electricity for free? What kind of logic is that? People have their jobs back and why no put them on a repayment plan.

    Certainly this qualifies as Abuse of Power to gain political mileage, particularly that the ministry of energy does not fall under his jurisdiction..and why his constituency residents and not the rest of Zambians who don’t have jobs.

    This is bad precedent and borders on corruption. Can the Minister tell us what powers he used to secure the debt write off so that we can all use the same law to have our people who don’t have jobs in all MMD strongholds have their bills written off?

    Am waiting.

  5. And where will the money for operations come from? Writing off all debts is a bad move, what you could have done was to offer incentives like issue credits on the next bill so instead of paying 1million, the user only pays half. Bad bad move. Thats why companies go bankrupt.

  6. We were warned about TOAD FACE and his friends but we went ahead and voted for them.Kambwili is probably the waste of the lot.

  7. #6 Y ou started off so nicely, but then got off the mark when you said “….. our people who don’t have jobz in all MMD strongholdz…..”. There are a lot of ZAMBIANZ ( not just from political groupingz), with the Luanshya experience and perharps even worse off, in need of GOVERNMENT (not one off MP solicited “help”) long term permanent solutionz to their numerous illz.
    However, Kambwili must be commended for hiz dezire to serve people in hiz constituency, who am sure are not all just PF.

    • YOU LISTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE BILL .THING IS THEY WERE STILLING MONEY FROM PEOPLE ANY WAY THANKS TO KAMBWELI.ANY WAY I CAN SAY MUCH COZ AM NOT IN ZAMBIA.

  8. So who is really gonna pay these debts that have been ‘written off’? Couldn’t ZESCO have agreed a payment plan with these people? These chaps are trying to run Zambia like a communist country – it’s time politicians were kept far away from parastatals so that businesses can be run like businesses, not charitable organisations.

  9. corruption arrest the energy minister and the ZESCO MD there is somthing fishy they recieved kick backs.To the MD you should never try to justify the increase of tarriffs after you are writting off debts who consumed that power?

    • those residents were not going to pay anyway. this is just a very business move. I hope the work writing off exist for bad debt

  10. But me I was waiting for a job for 90 days but I still dont have one – so does that mean for as long as I unemployed I dont have to pay ZESCO? If that is the case, then I might as well stay jobless if govt will be paying for my light. Whilst we are on the subject, does it mean I wont have to pay for water and access free services from ZAMTEL? Why not make everything free for those of us who dont work? We can receive monthly hand outs from the govt so that we can buy things like tujilijili and kapenta at the market.

  11. WTF – if I lose my job, does that mean I get free electricity? No wonder ZESCO wants to jack up its prices for the rest of us!

    Seriously, even if those who lost their jobs due to the closure of Luanshya Copper Mine deserve compensation (?), I can’t begin to understand why this is being given retroactively in the form of free electricity. This is not only an attack on the financial independence of ZESCO, but as Bootlicker says, sets a bad precedent and bordering on corruption.

    And another thing – what on earth is Kambwili doing making this announcement? Is he soon to be renamed Minster of Youth, Sport, and Energy….. not to mention Minister of Title Deeds for those who bought houses from ZCCM?

  12. If Kambwili was head of state, we would have recieved 100% salary increases 6 months ago. Viva Kambwili

  13. Free Electricity also to my Ndola residents who lost their jobs, I bet also kitwe, Chingola and other towns in the country should cry for this “write off” as they were similarly affected economically by lose of their jobs. 

    Hahaha I see kambwili reversing this pronouncement as it will bring out cry by other Zambians, especially that ZESCO is raising the tarrif

  14. Oh please haters…jes give credit where its due! we all know what people from luanshya went through after closure of the mines!! & u cant say since the mines have been opened they can draw up a repayment schedule…what of the widows & the orphans, have u thought about all that??? i think this is a great move & it is not abuse of power because all stake holders where consulted! Thank-you PF, well done…some of us can see you working

    • @PIXXY, mafi yobe..you’re very dull!! Its not only the people of luanshya who suffered.. did you understand that pipo in kabwe continue suffering since the mines were closed!! Should they too have their bills written off??. Politicians should think through ramifications before making decisions!! This can be spiral effect and can affect Zesco cash revenues and continued existence! So everyone says I wont pay becoz I have no job…dont you think zesco can collapse??
      To you pf is working….but they are just doing things haphazardly and shouting loudested like they did during campaigns!! Typical pf!

    • What you are saying happened all over the country – why should people of Luanshya get special treatment? What about villagers who have never had electricity in their lives or the people of Gwembe who were moved from their homes but still have no access to electricity? Where do you draw the line and who is going to pay for this in the end – is it not other Zambian families who are also struggling?

  15. By the way who was it who worked hard to get the mine re-opened? Was it not RB working with the Chinese ‘infestors’ who have now become our great friends?

  16. pixxy be serious.
    you think only luanshya is in zambia and faces job loss problems.
    These are the thing that boggle others where there is not even electricity – like barotseland.

  17. Is that really his face? If it is then am not surprised at his reasoning.What about Maamba residents who lost jobs when Maamba Colleries closed,what about,Kafue textiles,Dunlop,Kapiri Glass,Mulungushi textiles,Mansa Batteries and other companies too numerous to mention.I now see why Chitundu was brought back.

  18. So Zesco has incurred a loss, Govt should have settled part of the bills to reduce on the loss on Zesco. The way forward for that place is 100 % as the mining industry is very unpredictable. Finally, ERB must not approve Zesco tariff increase application; it seems they have enough money. Anyway what do you expect if the Zesco boss was appointed by a presidential pronouncement, would you expect him to say NO to the presidents inner circle minister?

    • I agree, except on ERB you may recall it was dissolved (with immediate effect) about a week after PF came to power. 

  19. Thank RB for working so hard to have the mine opened… takonzere aononge okha…tubatwalile abene bakaionawile…

  20. You fools, grow up. whats wrong with ZESCO writting off bills for those suffering families in luanshya, thousands were lost jobs because chiluba and HH sold the mine and shared the money, How much have u recoverd from CHILUBA, HH, DORA, BANDA….. the politicians are busy stealing and all you can do is complian over such petty issues, Kambwili is a hard working MP and he wants resources to be shared equally which eva method. Lets be realistic.

  21. Not this BUFFOQN Kambwili again, this man should have been out of the job already, doesn’t he know that he is also a cabinet minister and not just a mere member of parliament for Roan…this is abuse of office; would an MP from opposition have the same leverage? Who is ZESCO going to pass those costs incurred to??  this bill is going to be passed to the rest of the other users who are also struggling in the country. At least those miners have jobs others are not so lucky but are paying their bills.
    BUFFOQN Kambwili  is a foot soldier and a halfwit who shouldn’t have been allowed in any government department in the first place, statements like these whether true or false are irresponsible and will cause problems for ZESCO.

  22. If woke up and discover kambwili is my father…. I would immediately go to sleep and wish to never wake up again.

  23. Here comes Kambwili again! “The Unguided Missile”.

    I have said before that this chap appears confused to which ministry he belongs having been reshuffled from one ministry to another. If anything it’s the Energy Minister that should be making this announcing, computing how they pulled this action & deed.

    There was money left in the bag, which Luanshya Mines should used to compensate the miners to settle their bills and not push this burden on ZESCO. Who will be next to ask for write offs from ZESCO?

    This is what led to Zambia Airways go bust. “UNIP & Its Government” abused the company by just turning up and getting air tickets and failed to pay the over due monies. The end result was the nation finding itself in an embarrassing situation.

  24. I repeat… If I woke up and discovered that kambwili is my father…. I would immediately go to sleep and wish to never wake up again.

  25. I hope this is not true, the best the govt would have done is to pay this bill on behalf of the affected families. This is the begining of the end of a free economy. Soon we shall return to one part state, and communist approach to doing business. Can someone please talk to these people what is needed is creation of wealthy through employment creation and support for small scale business. It is a bad way of putting money in people’s pockets as it is not there in the first place.

  26. Bad business decision: so zesco you have alot of money to spare, don’t increase tarrifs and extend gesture to other unemployed/retired pipo. Anyway its also confusing-which outstanding bills are they supposed to pay when their debts have been written off. times of zambia/LT improve on your reporting

  27. I think I must join politics, there is really work to be done in Zambia. Such decesion are populist and I think PF is a communist party.

  28. INDEPEDENCE OBSERVER 

    What seems to be the matter my dear friend, today you are speechless, its not like you is it? 
    Isn’t there any data showing on your 5 monitors today at your workplace.

    As for the article the people on the ground say its just false.. 

  29. Zambians don’t be so dull when a company goes into administration or liquidated all stake holders lose their money.it’s a normal practice to cancel any debt this is not political you chaps.Luanshya people are also tax payers and as such they are intitled to tax layers money.Why should a common man not injoy the fruit of his labour you chaps? MMD gave a lot of concession to foreign companies at the expense of the poor people shame on you who does not support such a cause. well done PF and viva hon. MP

    • And which area is exclusively for non-tax payers that have not lost jobs due to closures of companies and mines? Do you hear yourself?

  30. Shame on you graduates who can not make an impact to hell with your useless degrees who is more honourable ? The. Lord does not look at that you will be led by grade sevens period

  31. ZESCO need to price energy properly as an essential commodity, so that people can afford to pay for it. The second thing is to set up effective collection methods, such as the pre-pay meter system they are installing.
    They should also ensure that commercial institutions are charged profitably to companies and to ZESCO. Furthermore, they must stop funding political parties.

  32. So apa to him KAMBWILI thinks he has pulled a fantastic deal. Yaba! – these illiterates should go mwe…this is too much. Is this the change people voted for????? Going backwards! To be honest even KENNETH KAUNDA could have done better than SATA’s Pointless Fools (PF).

  33. With due respect to Mr We what Peace, does this mean these are the only people in this country whose company is under receivership or administration or liquidated. I bet you are aware that such approaches are retrogressive. What the PF govt should do is to ask ZESCO to for go all debts from unmployeed citizens of this land. That will be fair. But this cannot work right, hence selecting only those perceived to have voted for PF to ensure support even when campaign promises are not met. In other words this is day light corruption of its waste kind. No wonder Mmembe can walk out of courts, he knows the carliber of leaders in control.

  34. I am also not in employment but I have been paying my bills to Zesco in time. Please baKambwili come to my rescue let Zesco refund me for paying them when I was unemployed I need my money back after all I am also a Zambian who needs the money just like the Luanshya lucky ones. I like the Chief Fimofmo Bootliker analysis. I end here!

  35. LET US PRAY FOR OUR PRESIDENT….
    “Republican President Michael Chilufya Sata has been flown back to India. It is not yet clear why but sources have indicated to ndolatimes that it is in relation with medical health. Barely a week has passed since he came back from India on a “Private” v

  36. .
    Kambwili again! “The Unguided Missile”. Actually, I’m starting to enjoy his rants.

    I have said before, this chap appears confused to which ministry he belongs having been reshuffled from one ministry to another. If anything it’s the Energy Minister that should be making this announcing, computing how they pulled this action & deed.

    Cont..

  37. People always want something to talk about. And the issue of the President’s health, it is not something which is new. I am sure some of you were part of those that were writing before the elections that ‘Oh, Mr Sata had collapsed in Western Province’. ‘Mr Sata has a very grave disease he was not going to live, he was going to die’,” Dr Kaseba said….

  38. “So we have become used, it just shows that people are idle and if they had something to do they will be able to concentrate on what they are supposed to be doing. But there is a lot of idle time and I guess it is a challenge to start looking for work for them. But there is plenty that can be done apart from talking about somebody’s health. Let’s rejoice in people’s health, let’s rejoice in people’s successes and let’s learn to hold each other’s hands when somebody is down.”

  39. Michael Chilufya Sata has been flown back to India. It is not yet clear why…
    Lt,just publish all my posting,you know it’s true!!!!!!!

  40. …it is not yet clear why but sources have indicated to ndolatimes that it is in relation with medical health. Barely a week has passed since he came back from India on a “Private” v

  41. Why does Kambwili always look constipated?? Too little roughage from the garden? Somebody please pass him the duclolax before his eyes pop out !!

  42. If anything ZESCO should be refunding the countless businesses that are affected daily via the loadshedding schemes thats the only way they are going to pull up their socks. Not this claptrap this BUFFOQN Kambwili is ranting about…how are we going to move forward with the likes Chishimba.
    Please Sata move this man to the PF H/Q place him in an isolated office very deep in the basement filing folders and signing membership forms to make him feel important.

  43. I seriously think this was a bad debt that ZESCO knew the miners would not repay so they had to write off the bill instead of spending too much money to collect a small amount of money. Writting off bad debt is common practice in business. Kambwili is only trying to take advantage of a simple business decision to gain political advantage. 

  44. Kabwili will be fired again over this. And is the Energy Minister the Managing Director for ZESCO? Who is that minister who can’t be smart enough by following Dora Siliya’s case?

  45. ABUSE OF AUTHORITY YATAMPA. Kambwili negotiated with Energy Minister to order Zesco cancel the bills.

  46. Kambwili talked about 100% salary increase to health works, it turned out to be false. I hope this is not belated April fools day. If its true Kabwe residents where one of the first people to have lost livelihood when the mine was closed, can Zesco refund all Kabwe residents from the time the mine was closed. Mansa Batteries is still closed please cancel bills in Mansa. What about Kapiri Glass factory, Mwinilunga Cannery, Mongu Cashnut factory the list is end less. Some Zambia Airways, Zambian Airways, Aero Zambia and many other companies have been closed what will Zesco do. No Tarrif increments this year due to this one act of Kabwili. God save Zambia.

  47. Kambwili misquoted yet again, the first been the 100% salary increment for health workers and now ZESCO writing off electricity bills for Luanshya residents. This cant be true seriously!

  48. What about Mansa Batteries, Kapiri Glass, NIEC, UBZ, etc employees whose benefits were never given to date? This is corruption and ZESCO has no right to right off bills for a few. This is the problem with this government. Just look at the sick being paraded on TV? The sooner did they start parading patients than the queue became long, and they failed to provide services to all that need it. The law will visit these pathetic fools.

  49. Guys I am at a lose is this man really normal. Please let me understand this. His eyeballs are always outside their sockets – is this normal to have a person who is ever annoyed or terrified. I am now thinking that we voted into power wrong guys. Ni mwayi wao nabeve maybe but the cost is just too huge for the country to have wrong chaps in power. I end here!

  50. Does it mean that the so-called affected people (the ones who’s debts is being written off) do not have electricity? Becoz if they do then it is very unfair. They should not be allowed to have electricity if they have failed to settle their debts. 

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