ZESCO Limited has claimed that the leaked document suggesting that the power utility has upward adjusted electricity connection fees and separation of meters was concocted.
Featuring on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk Show on Tuesday; Zesco Public Relations Director Dr. John Kunda said the firm has not adjusted fees for electricity connection fees or separation of meters.
Over the weekend, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) described as null and void any change in ZESCO’s connection charges in whatever form or structure, as reported on various media platforms.
Dr. Kunda said the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) is the only body that can approve any tariff or connection fee adjustments.
He described the recent controversy surrounding the alleged upward connection fee adjustment as ‘just an internal memo’ issue.
Dr. Kunda said electricity connection fees are determined by many factors.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kunda says Zesco will clear the current backlog of over 60,000 applications for new connections before the end of the year, some of which have been piling up since 2017.
He said the poor utility is currently mobilizing funds to ensure the current backlog is dismantled and that clearing will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Dr. Kunda said Zesco was aware that the demand for both domestic and commercial power supply in Zambia has continued to expand and in that connectivity remains key to influencing human settlement and growth of economic activities
“When we come to the issue of connections, when you apply for a connection, what happens is that we send a team to assess the requirements. The quantum of materials that are required and we are going to quote you based on that and that has not changed. It remains the same. When we issued a statement after we had seen it all on social media, we made it very clear that nothing has changed. There is no adjustment to the connection fees and that is our official position. And we even said we halted the processing of non standard quotations until we are guided by the Energy Regulation Board and that statement is in the public domain,” Dr. Kunda said.
“I hope that clarifies, currently there is no increase, no increase whatsoever, we even halted the issuance of you know standard connection processes but in terms of what you are paying if you are in Avondale and you decided to get a connection, there was a man who called from Avondale who was building, he was charged somewhere around K5, 000 and that was based on the scopes of work. The scope of work will determine and they will vary depending on what you need. If you need 100 meters of cable you will be charged differently, if you require a pole the charge will be different with someone who requires a pole but the fact of the matter is that this is how we have been doing it and we base on market value and we will say that in the system,” he said.
Dr. Kunda added:”When you leak the document without other supporting documents and then scream that they have increased, all you need is to go and apply, see the process that is being used and then you can say how come? I think it has changed from the process you were following before. Then we can explain to you but we have not released a statement to the effect of having increased any tariff. It was a concoctional document, speaking to how we operate and how we are going to operate. Zesco Limited is a corporate entity and we know what the provisions are for us to effect any changes to tariffs and that is known. So when you are dealing with planning documents, they are planning and internal.”
Sometimes it’s better not to say anything, especially that this matter has been dealt with at Ministerial level. The Minister himself was misled when he first sided with you, could have his sentiments been based on a leaked document? Whom do you think will believe that? Let me end here, I could’ve told you what I think of you but it’s alright
Leaked internal memory = concocted ?
Dr. Kunda also said ERB can’t tell Zesco what to do on this matter because it has nothing to do with energy tariffs. He down played the regulator’s notice on radio while he was justifying the hikes two weeks ago.
Today he blames the internal correspondence. How uncoordinated this whole thing turns out to be! God help us
Marubbish corporate LIARS
Zesco, you are embarrassing yourselves. Bu chipantepante bwachilamo.
Your so called communications team is hopeless and needs to be replaced. You can’t keep changing positions everyday.
Isn’t this the same guy who was lecturing zambians that electricity doesn’t fall from heaven like manna?
LT
Moderating what?
Whatever UPND smokes is stronger than what Sinkamba has been proposing to grow. How many lies can one party tell? I was beginning to give you the benefit of doubt but have given up. Only few people believe whatever spills out of your mouths. Not even your beloved youths trust you any longer. Clearly you don’t trust yourselves either. 2026 is too far to have such incompetent liars in public offices.
What The F..?
Ba Dr, Kunda, have you also joined the UPND bandwagon of liars starting from the highest office in the land? Do not forget about the importance of integrity that the Catholic Church taught you whilst training for priesthood. Ubufi bulabwela ba mudala ka!
But how can you leak a document that was not there? Where is the CEO of ZESCO these are the people who should be coming to the media ,,,,this is why they become arrogant.
Internally, cleaned up PF maffias first
IMF
Kikikikiki yaba…and if you read between the lines….fees have been hiked….check where he mentions about someone from Avondale being charged K5000….so in short it’s now based on what you want but you will pay more…before that K5000 charge used to be K1700 …Chipante pante Government even worse than PF
This chap is quiet arrogant he behaves like a spin doctor
#11 mathew I wonder why he hasn’t been replaced….or maybe they still looking for one to replace him.
Dr. J. Kunda, how was the document leaked, when you physically appeared on some local television confirming
the increase even blaming the previous regime of understating the real cost of electricity pricing in Zambia.
Come on John you can better
Except for a few mistakes in communication,it’s always a tariffs setting methodology to apply energy equity principles and hold public hearing for review of comments to ensure the social and economic aspects are well taken into and like such are clarified to ensure effectiveness and methods of recticulation There is doubt on the technical competency in planning and executions of connections but it can not be recovered in one connection charge over some rate of return though above cost to most lowly per capita
The social economic responsibility of regulatory must be now be critically observed apart from the power tariffs structures but also in oil and gas pricing methodology and market structures because the cost could be high on the economic development for productivityintensity sectors
@Dr Kunda?
This man is useless and should be fired. Does he know what a PR person is supposed to do? The fella is dull useless and is not supposed to be doing that job.
We are nit dummies – this chap thinks telling lies is a PR job.
Is he saying the was telling fibs, lies as well. That chap should just resign, he does not his job. Useless man.
We warned you that this party was not ready to rule. Look at tarino looking f00Iish after he encouraged and misled Zambians to vote for an incompetent party
“He said the poor utility is currently mobilizing funds to ensure the current backlog is dismantled and that clearing will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis”.
Whether the word poor should have meant power doesn’t matter since either words suite Zesco.
IMF is bad news….the entire UPND makakas are confused starting with their demagogue President HH
So who got sacked? Nobody? Then YOU should get sacked! What an amateurs!
And with the Lake Kariba levels being a lot lower than this time last year (because Edgar China Lungu kept the lights on in the run up to the election) the LOADSHEDDING will start a lot earlier and last longer!
Just be truthful and tell the nation that IMF demands and an increase in tarrifs thro removal of subsidies. Soon will learn why PF never got the IMF loan.
Lies, why has ZESCO cancelled so many connection applications when you check the status on their website
This man thinks he is dealing with children. I think he doesn’t value his job. We the people his employers will show him the door if he is treating us like fools.