President Michael Sata has observed that the country’s power deficit situation is at a critical stage.
President Sata has therefore directed ZESCO to carry out a feasibility study in the country and establish where more mini power hydro stations can be developed.
He noted that the increasing power demand and the absence of investments in new energy infrastructure over the past years has rendered the
available power supply increasingly limited and unavailable for expansion to areas where people have no access to electricity.
President Sata said this in Shiwangandu, Chinsali district this morning when he commissioned the $4.3 million one Mega watt Shiwangandu mini hydro power station.
He said that although Shiwangandu hydro power station is only 1 mega watt, it shows his government’s commitment to creating a better Zambia for all by bringing electricity closer to the people, especially in rural areas.
President Sata said government working through ZESCO will replicate the Shiwangandu power station by building other mini hydro power stations on various small rivers in the country.
The President was in the company of 1st republican president Kenneth Kaunda, mines, energy and water development minister Yamfwa Mukanga,transport, communication, works and supply minister Chris Yaluma,traditional affairs minister Nkandu Luo and Muchinga province minister Charles Banda.
Others are Shiwangandu MP, stephen Kampyongo, Chinsali MP Christopehr Mulenga, Chinese ambassador to Zambia, ZESCO Managing Director Cyprian Chitundu and traditional leaders among others.
And speaking at the same occasion, first republican president Kenneth Kaunda called on Zambians to fully support President Sata because he has proved to be a man of action.
Dr. Kaunda said the people of Zambia should be assured that they are under the leadership of a president who is hardworking.
And speaking earlier, United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO)Chief for renewable and rural energy unit Diego Masera observed that increasing the share of energy from renewable sources can reduce local pollution, insulate countries from fuel price volatility and improve the balance of payment.
Dr. Masera said without access to modern energy, it is not possible to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
[QFM]
ba KK what is the problem?
Pabwato is on course people please!!! No matter what the haters say His Excellency will deliver big time and not a month before elections but a year before all developmental projects will start to speak for themselves. Man of Action indeed, this what Zambia has been waiting for; economic emanscipation and transformation, uplifting the people’s living standards everywhere irrespective of tribe, or status. The PF Government is committed to lead this country to prosperity through hard work and selflessness. Tribal enclave leaders and fraudulent imposter pastors should learn and not imitate the game.
same rubbish from ukwa. Please deal with the rogue Wynter
What rubbish? The country need energy baba….
Good work let the rural poor people enjoy too….urban dwellers all they know is complain…big up Mr President
Did KK really mean what he said???
Muleloleshafye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He did. The problem with old age is that the brain stops functioning. Its called dementia
# 1 – Sela tubombeko iwe!
That Masera should deported for contradicting by saying Sata’s project are pollutants.
We need power stations agently you are bunning deforestation when peaple a cooking on chaco country wide give us power so that we start use stoves. Sata is not presidencial material KK.
And he says nothing about Kabimba? I guess he must support this mockery of justice if not even be behind it. Shame. The nation wanted change and someone to fight corruption, not endorse it!
I can’t believe what KK says on Sata. surely why is he condoning the behavior lets of Kabimba? come 2016 KK will be back to sq one,
l had so much respect for KK but now l just wonder,l think he need to learn one or two things from his friend nelson mandela about conduct of a former president
1000’s PF kaponyas can create 1megawatt of power if they got off bums and collected all the rubbish in the streets to create combustion electricity.
CNP with grade 3 education does not know what modern technology really is.
Lol; you cracked me!! I don’t agree with you, but its funny!! It will be a long 24 years for you. these 1000 kaponyas will rule for a very long time indeed.
We have two power deficits:one is a power deficit in electricity demand vs supply and the other is a power deficit in terms of visionary leadership we ought to have vs the dull and incompetent leadership we now have.The former is bridgeable while the latter has even KK fooled.
Kaunda shut up! Just go away! If you had not been President Ukwa wouldn’t have been President today. Your Presidency ensured that the bar was set very low for the next President after you. Hence we ended up with rubbish like Kafupi and the current rubbish we have. A first visionary Presidency would have discouraged current rubbish from aspiring for higher office. Now we have a situation where by every fool is saying if that fool can be President why not me? Sad!
I am not Sata’s fan but I dont agree with your rants. You need a strategy to become a president – whether or not you are a presidential material is another matter. That is why HH and the likes of you may never become a presidents – no strategy!
This is amazing, i have noticed that even before UKWA opens his mouth to speak, all people around him are already laughing as though they alraedy know that its stand up comedy as usual. Just check the pic in the story.
But Ba kk, this is MMD project. What man of action?
haters at work on this blog. always thinking negatively even on positive things. marubbish.
Small hydro power stations will also reduce chacoa consumption and reduce deforestation. Well done Mr President
I nid to comment again. The guy smiling is another inspiring young professional George Chellah. This man has grown in his career, and has more contacts and influence than for instance, Gonclaves and Drums of wisdom.
What was KK’s role in this trip? I think Sata is tarnishing KK’s image.People for the past decade have been growing to love the old man and forgetting his 27year rule of Zambia.His efforts in the fight against AIDS have been commendable.Sata shouldn’t drag him into politics exposing him to insults from the majority of people who don’t believe in Sata.Leave KK alone please.
KK is right Sata is a man of action it is just a matter of guiding the old man to direct his actions to beneficial causes.We have seen some actions which are a bit lame like creations of more universities while ignoring the fact that Unza and Cbu needs to be attended to first,
Only people with deficient brains insult others. I wonder what some of you have ever done in your lives to the betterment of mankind particularly Zambia to have such guts, but one thing I am certain of is that you will never be Presidents of Zambia or anywhere near there. If you were standing before these great men would you even have the courage to insult them? Cheap cowards you are. What a shame of Zambians !
Walasa Oga, all I see on this blog are cowards who are cowering with their fingers on a $200 laptop throwing insults at everybody. The point is, such cowardice indicates that they have no guts to do anything apart from condemination. For once I would like to hear some of them point out what they have done so far in Zambia or abroad, or what investments they have put in Zambia. Sad to bring it here, I have heard of people who have been in the Diaspora for more than 10 years and have failed to go back to Zed to visit yet they work 3 or 4 jobs, worst still they have even failed to manage to send a monthly allowance to their parents. So before, you condem check out your own affairs.
What ve you yourself done? you run away from your country leave it a mess and worst still you continue to encourage the mess you left not having a conscience that posterity will suffer
I agree that insults are uncalled for in any situation however to be fair, making assumptions of certain aspects of anyone here , regardless of what they say is heresy. Those of us living abroad chose to do so far one reason or another. Some of us make tangible contributions to Zambia while some of us do not, but unless you have actual proof of either, you can not label anyone as having done so or not. Everyone can rightfully put in their 5 cents constructively preferably. We all see the development in Zambia but at times question it when we consider it’s overall benefit to the people. The ideas from people here are probably more well thought out than what people in gov have as they sometimes develop tunnel vision in their thought process.
Your Excellency Mr Director. Can my house be declared a district, please? I promise to vote PF in 2016! But seriously, how can you direct ZESCO to conduct expensive feasibility studies when only a few days ago ZESCO announced that it was going round abroad looking for billions of dollars because it has no cash. Mr Sata should have first directed all government departments to pay the billions of kwacha that they owe to ZESCO on electricity bills.
But Ba kk, this is MMD project. What man of action? If he was a man of action, Lusaka should have been clean by now. But Lusaka looks like a huge rubish dump.
Did MMD pay for it out of their pocket or is it the Zambian tax payer? Think before you post
Please, leave KK alone. You can’t compare him to Mandela! Only swallow minds can do that. What did Mandela change in South Africa? Why do you think Malema’s message strikes a cord in the majority of South Africans? Let us analyse issues just a little deeper. There was a betrayal of the African Cause in South Africa!!! That country needs a Mugabe to change the status quo!
@ Twali Mwebele – so if you marry a woman who has a 2 year-old, will you refuse to develop that child because it was not borne of your sperm??? Ulichipuba sana – a lot of ppl start things they can not finnish. At least ba Sata is finnishing the good things that others started – the good things that MMD failed to complete in 20 Years, ba sata is completing in just 1 year!!!!
@Ganja. Well said! I have just asked this Twali Mwebele a simple question. Did MMD pay for this out of their pocket or is it the Zambian tax payer that will end up paying for this? When we start appreciating the fact that WE the Zambian people deserve these things and the current Govt at any given time is obliged to provide these facilities only then will we start making our leaders accountable to US the electorate.
Chindamba, You are right. KK is way above Mandela. He is a far better, smarter African than Mandela. See how Zambia did wonders for our oppressed neighbours, while Mandela’s South Africa, under his party is busy killing fellow africans via xenophobia and neglect.
so is leadership and policy a critical shortage but come to think of it everything is..
please letcompanies operate independently.
What a sad ending for KK.
Zambians we need to grow up and arise against non-by partisan rhetoric on issues of national development. Besides credit has to be given were it is due. The saddening part in Zambian politics is that, there are too many imprudent and power hungry folks who just want to be in the state house to amass wealth out of the impoverished Zambian couffers. President Sata do what is best for your country and pay no attention to the fool across the street.
Sometimes I wonder whether it is a question of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. On one hand the president is encouraging ZESCO to electrify rural areas through small hydros and yet the REA is doing the exact opposite. The REA intends to electrify rural areas though grid extension despite the existence of numerous falls where electricity can be generated. Any body who knows something about rural electrification knows that grid extension is very expensive compared to decentralized electricity supply through small hydros.
Although the commissioning of the 1 mega watt min hydro power station is commendable, particularly considering that its adverse impacts on the environment are somewhat less than fuel powered power stations, Zambia should not lose sight of hydro power stations’ dependence on adequate water supply which may be compromised in times of drought. UNIDO chief’s song of full utilisation of renewal resources could not have been sung in a better key. The situation on the ground reveals that climatic conditions particularly in Africa are rapidly changing from bad to worse leaving solar energy as the only reliable source of energy. The govt must therefore embark vigorously on exploiting solar energy to the maximum.
lilya kawa, elyo mwa sensela. Population and industrial growth demands more energy resources and you are acting like it just happened suddenly.
@28 AND 28 I totally agree with you. South Africa and Mandela have betrayed the African cause. They have the biggest african economy, but what notable sacrifices have they made to the african continent compared to what they themselves recieved during the struggle. They have butchered African migrants and when Mugabe needed support for reclaiming land from the White settlers S.A turned against him putting him in a difficult situ. Mandela now plays to the Western gallery the same people who oppressed him. Had it now been for the sacrifices made by their fellow africans like late Nyerere, Samora, kaunda etc the western world would not have given up S.A. They have even introduced the Yellow fever vaccinations on Zambia a thing we dont need and is killing our tourism. They are thankless fellows
VIVA ba Sata and ba shikulu ba KK ,we are behind you all the way.Dont be discouraged by detractors like the former pastor.
Leave Mandela alone. Mandela is a Democrat. You cannot compare him to the autocrats who have impoverished Zambians. KK and Sata have been part of that misrule. Both can go to hell.
#28 thank you my friend for your logic. There are lots of people here who dont know their history and are quick to point fingers without applying any thoughts. Indeed KK and the Zambian people in general sacrificed lavish life styles to help their neighbours. Refugees from southern africa got free education and accomodation from the generous Zambian people during the struggle and yes had that money been used to build sky scrappers, lusaka would have plenty of them today but that was not paramount then.
#38 can you define IMPOVERISH, for me please?
@ichi-chipula-chair? point well made. the other question to be asked is how does ZESCO know how much to ask for if they have not yet done any feasibility studies. These studies have already been done and ZESCO and the Ministry of energy already has the data. For example the increase in tariffs was a result of a study which showed that to attract private investment, we needed to increase the tariffs. Surely such a study should have identified potential sites for development. then there is the rural electrification master plan which has also identified potential sites. I how all these studies have look at the feasibility of developing the identified sites
@Turnerac.Solar energy is not the solution. The use of solar energy connected to mini grids is still in its embryonic stage although I understand there is a pilot scheme in Samfya. As for now it is mostly used to supply a home hence the name solar home system and PV is limited to low-power applications such as lighting and powering radios and black and white TVs. It has also the disadvantage of not producing electricity at night. It can therefore not be used as a substitute for hydropower. Zambia should turn to thermal power stations as a fall back and supplement during droughts. If South Africa can generate all its 40,000 MW using coal why can’t Zambia pollute the world also “ukufilila musenga”’
all those fool calling sata ukwa must be mad. the so called educated are most stupidity people the world always regret to have.they are to smart to do easy and simple work. okay if u say the MMD started what do you want him to do u shallow minded educated people. let him do his part and your time will come for u as well. i use to hate Mr Mwanawasa calling him cabbage but did u see what he did from the day he died up to today i don’t under rate any person so stop doing that to sata. kabimba has his chance to correct himself before being judge by mr sata just wait u will c what will happen
The problem with old age is that the brain stops functioning a condition called dementia. Clearly KK has reached that stage
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