Confusion reigned in Shangombo district today when residents protested against Zesco’s attempt to move a power generator from there to Chavuma district in North-western province.
The residents foiled the move by Zesco management to transport one of the power generators to another province.
Sinjembela Member of Parliament (MP) Mubika Mubika confirmed the development to ZANIS in a telephone interview today.
Mr. Mubika said a Zesco vehicle which was carrying the equipment, has since been detained at Shangombo police station.
He expressed disappointment with Zesco management for attempting to take away one of the two generators from his district to another especially that the area has had no electricity for many decades now.
Mr. Mubika lamented that he was not informed about the move by Zesco to take away the generator from his area to Chavuma district.
He wondered how his area would develop without electricity, which he said was a driving force to attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mr. Mubika said power was vital to Shangombo district because of the ongoing developmental projects in the health, education, agriculture, tourism and local government in the area.
He said it would be irrational for Zesco to take one generator away especially that the two pieces of electricity generating equipment were not yet operating well.
Mr. Mubika, who is also Communications and Transport Deputy Minister, castigated Zesco saying he would lose his political stability if electricity supply was interrupted.
“ZESCO should know that Shangombo district is growing at a faster rate because of the developmental projects embarked on by government in my area and it is for this reason that government is pumping in a lot of funds to Shangombo district to spearhead development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zesco has since instructed its engineers to stop the decision to remove the generator from Shangombo.
Zesco Public Relations Manager Lucy Zimba told ZANIS in an interview that in the interim, the company would look for an alternative way to provide Chavuma district with a generator.
Ms. Zimba said even though one generator was removed from Shangombo to another district, it could have been on short term basis because the other generator in the district was capable of supplying the entire area with electricity.
“Shangombo has got two generators and getting one of the generators was done in the short term basis because we realise that Shangombo has got a few customers. We have rescinded the decision to remove one of the generators from there to Chavuma district,” she said.
Chavuma and Shangombo districts are among the districts in the country that are run by thermal power generator.
Government, realising the cost of fuel has embarked on the rural electrification programme to connect Chavuma and Shangombo districts to the national grid.
ZANIS
why are they removing it?
This is stupidity by Zesco in its highest. Who even thought of this idea? Whats wrong na Zed kanshi. Circus, after circus, after circus!!!
why why why why should the people of shangangombo be denied electricity? It does not make sense to me at all!
Uko
Now we are even fighting over a generator!!! Iye. Consult Sipanje Airways for cheap fuel source!
Well ZESCO is used to finance elections for the MMD when do they get money to repair generators!?
Power is vital to every person. these generators are temporary measures, eventually we should connect to National Grid. Bo Mubika what happened to the generators at the Refugee Camp they were very adequate.
wonders shall never end…but what is really wrong with Zesco management? can’t Zesco buy a generator from the money we pay for the services other than removing it from one place to another? is this how Zesco solve problems????
#8 MAMA G, when you see Rupiah galavanting, its Zesco or Zamtel money. Working in Zesco management is political. You have to be a robust bootlicker. Pathetic!
#9. Then Zesco should remove the generator that suppy electricity to State House since Bwezani has decided to lay his hands on Zesco’s coffer to fund his fruitless trips!!!
Ha Ha Ha. And y’all keep refering to Shangombo for font-een cases. They gotcha this time . ha ha ha Awe mwandi naumfwa bwino lelo. Next is they will demand for arcades shopping mall and maybe even a mimic of RB’s bond. sorry i meant Rest House oops…. sorry again State House
ZESCO should give a chance to small districts like Shangombo to develop also. Mind you, the people in Shangombo district too deserve better incentives just like anyone else in the urban set-up. Imagine, ZESCO is pondering to increase its tarrifs by 66 percent – God forbid!!!
we demand that more power utility firms come to the aid of Zambians – Ala twafwa ukuchula!!!!
I find it very sad to read comments from people who hardly know the issues or merely depend on hearsay, and then armed with that scanty information insult others. Insulting ZESCO management day in day out is not going to help any one, you have no idea the conditions under which these staff members operate to make the system work and supply power. if you feel you can make a positive contriubition get into the system and do it, not just sitting back and condemning from your “armchairs”. I suppose its a case of the student syndrome were you think you know it all. I will say this again lets avoid insults, we are not children who have limitations in the way that we express ourselves.Lets display some level of maturity as we discuss issues even if we are responding to emotional topics.
I echo the sentiments of of jule.let us respect zesco management and i think hon mubika was over stepping on zesco by impounding that transformer.zesco has qualified engineers who have a choice to make and should not be hindered from carrying out their tasks because of mob influenece.SHAN’GOMBO is an emerging district we can not paralyse chavuma just because we are anticipating a boom in shangombo.