Government committed to end load shedding-Chikote

Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote has assured Senior Chief Kopa that the government is working hard to address the load shedding situation in the country.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Kopa this morning ahead of this year’s Chinamanongo traditional ceremony of the Bisa people of Kanchibiya District, Mr Chikote said his Ministry is implementing various interventions to resolve the power challenges faced in the country.

He said he is aware that load shedding affects all Zambians adding that the relationship with traditional leaders was cardinal for the government, describing them as partners in development.

Mr Chikote stated that it is for this reason that the government is working tirelessly to ensure the issue is addressed in a bid to ensure traditional leaders live in a conducive environment.

The Minister said the country’s electricity generation capacity had dropped from 3,800 megawatts to 1,100 megawatts due to reduced water levels, while the national consumption stood at over 2,500 megawatts.

Mr Chikote explained that the government is putting various interventions in place to ensure load shedding becomes a thing of the past.

“Eighty percent of our energy is hydro. The administration is trying to find alternative sources of energy to address this challenge,” Mr Chikote said.

He indicated that there has been increased power usage in the nation through activities such as agricultural irrigation and mining.

Mr Chikote also added that he is aware of the role traditional leaders play in creating peace and unity in the country.

“The royal highnesses are working hard to deliver to their subjects and us as government we are doing the same. There is need for peace and unity, and the government wants traditional leadership to continue encouraging peace and unity in their various Chiefdoms,” he said.

Mr Chikote emphasised the need to work as a team, saying the government had tried to push the agenda of decentralisation, hence the need for chiefs to get involved.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief Kopa, through his representative who is also spokesperson of the Bisa Royal Council, Silvario Kanjela, commended President Hakainde Hichilema for supporting traditional ceremonies.

He said the ceremony was about eating, enjoying and promoting unity among the Bisa people which he said President Hichilema is in support of as it has been seen through the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

He said the increase in CDF had been well received, adding that the government had done a lot that had been noticed in his chiefdom.

Mr Kanjela said the skills development component under the CDF has also been appreciated, with many young people now able to access education.

Meanwhile, various traditional leaders, heads of government departments among others have already arrived at Senior Chief Kopa’s palace ahead of the ceremony.