President Edgar Lungu has directed the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to accelerate the connection of electricity to the newly created Mushindamo District near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
REA Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Musonda told ZANIS in an interview that the Head of State wants the new district which is 130 kilometre from Solwezi District to also benefit from the country’s ambitious rural electrification programme.
Mr. Musonda said REA will spend about K30 million on the project to connect the area to the national electricity grid so that they can have access to reliable energy source.
He said among the facilities to be connected is the Kipushi border post housing the Immigration and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA offices, Kilumba and Mushindamo rural health centres, over 10 primary schools including Mushindamo Girls Technical School, government departments and some residencies.
Mr. Musonda said about 50 kilometres of overhead power lines have already been constructed out of a stretch of about 130 kilometres and all the materials have since been moved to the site.
He added that REA has also constructed a substation from which it will tap power from ZESCO to feed the grid extension that will take power to Mushindamo district and Kipushi border post.
Mr. Musonda further explained that the remaining works have since been segmented into four lots and will soon be awarded to contractors to expedite the completion of construction works before the commencement of the rain season.
And North-western Province Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga said government was happy with the progress made to electrify rural areas such as Kipushi border post.
Mr. Malupenga pointed out that President Lungu is desirous of developing Mushindamo district and Kipushi border post by ensuring that power is connected and a good road linking the area is constructed.
He said President Lungu further wants the vast economic potential of the area to be exploited in order to improve the livelihood of the people and contribute to the national economic development.
Mr. Malupenga said road works have already commenced adding that government will by 2016 upgrade the Solwezi-Mushindano road to bituminous standards under the link Zambia 8000 project.
And you wonder why Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is in disarray when you have lazy dull fooli$h politicians like Edgar interfering when elections are around the corner with silly Presidential Directives who use it as a tool for campaigning.
Genius.
“Let there be LIGHT” and there was light.
50 years after Independence and you are still talking about Rural Electrification!!
Please direct the Kwacha to be stable so that oil prices are not adjusted upwards. Zesco has threatened to shut down because we are using power when they restore. they have asked us to import solar panels from China, but the dollar is too expensive and the oil for generators is also expensive.
And you wonder why Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is in disarray when you have lazy dull politicians like Edgar interfering when elections are around the corner with silly Presidential Directives who use it as a tool for campaigning.
This really demonstrates just how dull this moron in State House is!
When the whole of Zambia is suffering from NO ELECTRICITY to put into the EXISTING powerlines his priority is erecting NEW powerlines. What is the F00L thinking?? Where is the elecrticity going to come from?
Jamesoni has seriously damaged his brain!
2016 is too long to wait. Lungu and his Pathetic Failures must go now!
Even our new district MAFINGA has no electricity. I have never seen a Rural Electrification Authority vehicle there
“Mr. Musonda said REA will spend about K30 million to connect the area to the national electricity grid so that they can have access to reliable energy source.”
Reliable? What national grid is that?
30 million to be connected to LOAD shedding!
And these PF clowns call that “development” !!!
Are we really that stupid to believe that?????
We are already experiencing power deficit as a nation. So where is power going to come from fro this extra demand? Another case of forming/creating universities when the two big ones we already have are in a deplorable state.
pliz appreciate development, those who againist the program are in town and posting things on the net.
Political and very timely indeed! Period.
This guy is a scum. How you even talk about electrification of more places when the country cannot have enough electricity. Do not subject small districts to load shedding they don’t need that agony. I am sure that they are happy with their way of life as it is. They don’t need the Lungulisation of their lives.
You have 10 children and can hardly feed all of them. You then decide to put them on a rota, half of them will eat lunch and the other half supper. Those who eat lunch dont eat supper and those who eat supper dont eat lunch. Breakfast is unheard of. Meanwhile, you and your wife take three square meals per day. And then you decide to produce more children to add to the existing suffering lot!