ENERGY and Water Development Minister, Ms. Dora Siliya, as Special Envoy of President Edgar Lungu, this morning held a meeting with South Africa’s President, Mr. Jacob Zuma during which she delivered a special message from the Zambian head of state.
Speaking after the meeting which lasted over 40 minutes and held at Mahlamba Ndlopfu in Pretoria, Ms. Siliya said she expressed Zambia’s desire to import 300 megawatts of power from South Africa.
Mahlamba Ndlopfu is the official residence for the President of the Republic of South African.
“After I presented the letter containing the special message from President Lungu to his brother, President Zuma, I spoke of our interest to import about 300 megawatts of power from South Africa,” Ms. Siliya said.
The Minister pointed out that President Zuma indicated that it was important for “neighbours to help one another in times of difficulties.”
She said President Zuma later instructed his Minister of Energy Ms. Tina Joemat-Pettersson to hold a separate meeting with her at Mahlamba Ndlopfu.
The Minister later held other meetings with South Africa’s International Relations Minister, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and her counterpart in charge of Water and Sanitation, Ms. Nomvula Mokonyane.
Ms. Siliya was accompanied to the meetings by Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba, directors in her Ministry, Mr. Oscar Kalumiana for energy, and Ms. Viola Mtamila for Planning, and Zesco director of transmission Mr. Webster Musonda.
Keep on dreaming Dora. This will never materialize especially with your broke PF government
When we confront the PF about load shedding, they tell us that it’s everywhere in the region, including South Africa. Today they tell us that they want to import 300MW from South Africa, the country they say faces similar power shortages! What a load of bulls!t.
South Africa has been experiencing power shortages for at least 5 years, mainly of their own making because of inability to project manage new coal power stations and inability to work with Botswana to produce power for its industry. Don’t expect any power from South Africa. I hope Zuma is not as stoopid as Lungu to be PFooled about helping neighbours when your own people are in darkness and starving.
Just 6months ago we used to supply power to Namibia and other countries. And is SA not needing more power itself?
While Ethiopia is building a giga watts power station we are doing 300 kilo watts here, 40 there, another 25 here. No vision.
Why are you guys so negative? Please do not comment on issues you do not understand. Most of you are just broke and frustrated in foreign lands.
The problem I see in these LT bloggers is that they rely so much on social media for news and other information. Imagine if you are being fed by the post or zwd what positive contributions can you make? Lesson no. 1 never ever underrate ECL, he is a lawyer who graduated with a distinction from UNZA, a former military cadet officer, a former insurance officer, a former banker, a former UPND member and now the President of the Republic of Zambia under the Patriotic Front government.
we were told load shedding is a regional thing because of the weather with SA also suffering, now you want power from SA ????? PF are either lying about load shedding being regional issue or are too dull and have forgotten SA also is affected by the same weather.
South Africa has recently commissioned a huge coal powered power station in the northern part of the country which has resulted into South Africa stabilizing their power problem which they have been experiencing in the recent past. It appears most people commenting on this matter have no clue of what has been going on in this region and they simply want to negatively comment for the sake of it.
We were once told that even in South Africa there is load shedding. So where has that surplus come from. If its global as Hon Kabwili stated then we can also import. What has changed really—
We are always being told that the energy problem is regional if not “global” by govt particularly one Hon Kambwili. How come our friends in SA habe excess which they can even export to us? They planned or somebody is hiding their incompetence in “global”
This is what we call dullness by our ministers. The late president Sata said my ministers are dull. Asking to import electricity from South Africa proves that they are professional lairs, who have no shame to lie to the national. They have been lying that the all region is load shedding because of low rainfall. If South Africa is passing through the same problem with Zambia, how can South Africa export power when it needs? It is technical incompetency by the government adding 380 generator at Kariba North Extension to the existing generator that has caused low water level resulting in terrible load shedding. Report on Load Shedding by the Engineering Institution of Zambia is very clear that Load shedding is due to incompetency, and the ministers do not accept that. It is foolish to pray…
The PF Govt. from the time they took over the governance of this country have never taken full responsibility of their failures…..so this is not a surprise. I remember Hon. Kambwili telling the nation when he called on live program on Radio Phoenix and said that LOAD SHEDDING is also in South Africa but today they are talking of buying power from SA…….Ba PF just admit that you r CNPs..’CHIMBWI NO PLAN’
Let be serious!! South Africa cannot afford to sell 300MW to anyone. South Africa is struggling to avoid load shedding at the moment and most electricity intensive programs are on hold. The Medupi power station expected to alleviate the energy crisis is behind schedule. South Africa imports energy from Mozambique’s Caborrabasa and is intensely investing in alternative energy like solar, wind and nuclear to avoid being solely depended on a wasting resource like coal. I would expected Dora to have discussions on how to have a good electricity mix in Zambia to avoid relying solely on water resource which we do not have direct control. Lets stop wasting the meagre resource the country has and start investing wisely. Just the other day Dora was quoted as saying :”Zambian needs USD1.2 billion…
The PFoolish Zambian govt does not know all that. That’s why they went to RSA to beg for power and display their ignorance.
Just a way to make easy money from middlemen..import electricity from abroad dock the ship in Cape Town. …increase the price before you sell to Zesco. .easy profit. Why do you honestly think Dora is in the forefront. ..visiting other corrupt vermin like Jacob Zuma.
Suntwe wa Suntwe, look at picture no. 3. What do you think is going on in JZ’s and Dora’s minds at that time?
Ba LT Write YOUR Captions properly. The above is a mishmash that just confuses the reader
Where is RSA going to get power from since it imports power as well…please someone needs to investigate this …this how these thieves make easy money!!
Deal could be sealed by energy minister fm zambia and energy minister in SA, why does it have to involve the heads of states…….
They want to steal…why do you think Dora is there…they do not look for value for money. Think about it RSA imports from all over and have also invested in the largest solar power plant…they still have a deficit.
It’s really painful that these shameless thieves are 24/7 looking for ways to profit from this issue….where are they getting the money from since tariffs are not cost reflective?
Zuma will be on fire from Julius malema. Kikikik.