International power project to gobble $1.2 billion
And Copperbelt Province PF youth secretary Christopher Kalenge has warned NDC leaders not to push their luck too far by perpetually demonising ruling party leaders as they may be forced to react to protect the integrity of their party from political dwarfs who were trying to create a raucus in the province.
Both Northern Province PF deputy elections chairperson Chibwaya Muma and Kasama district PF secretary Aaron Zimba yesterday warned NDC to take its truant behaviour to other provinces and not Northern as it was a no-go-area for disgruntled politicians.
Mr. Muma said the PF was aware that some NDC officials were dangling carrots to woo hungry individuals who were making a living out of politics but asked the party to practice issue-based politics and not politics of name-calling and charac ter assassination.
“They are misleading people that they are gaining ground but where are they gaining ground? In Northern Province, the PF is still intact. Even on the Copperbelt, their target are those who practice politics of the belly from other parties and a few disgruntled former PF members whom we offloaded because they were an excess luggage,” Mr. Muma said.
And Mr. Zimba said Kasama and Northern Province as a whole will never be allowed to be a germinating ground for political rejects who were preoccupied with insulting those in Government.
“This is how Wynter Kabimba started. He was all over The Post newspaper everyday but where is he today? When you look at the people surrounding the NDC leadership, you know that they are only there because they want to eat from their leaders and once they discover that the leaders have nothing to offer, they will desert them.
“Honestly speaking, where have you found a leader who fails to make a grade in his constituency and ends up being voted out, making it at national level? NDC will soon go into oblivion. Those people purported to be supporting the party will soon desert it and go back to their respective political parties,” Mr. Zimba said.
Meanwhile, Copperbelt Province PF youth secretary Christopher Kalenge warned NDC’s Bernard Mwila to watch his step and stop demonising the PF leadership in the province as youths may not continue tolerating his insults anymore.
“As PF youths, we can handle By ANDREW MUKOMA VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina has disclosed that the Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya Interconnector Power Project which will emanate from Kabwe in central Zambia and terminate at Isinya in Kenya via Tanzania will be constructed at an estimated cost of US$1.2 billion.
Ms. Wina said that the project, which will cover 2, 300 kilometres will be constructed thorough the Kabwe-Serenje-Mpika-Kasama-Nakonde-Tunduma-Mbeya- Iringa-Singinda-Arusha-Namanga up to Isinya in Kenya.
Ms Wina said this in a speech read for her by minister in her officeSilvia Chalikosa during the official opening of the Financiers' conference for the Zambia- Tanzania-Kenya Interconnector Power Project in Livingstone yesterday.
She said once completed, the project will link Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) with the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP).
"The commissioning of this project will, therefore, actualise the Cape- to- Cairo electricity highway," she said.
Speaking at the same event, Southern Province minister Edify Hamukale observed the need for investment in research in various aspects of energy.
Dr. Hamukale said that the energy sector plays a critical role in the development of any economy.
He said African countries should invest more in research because there are various types of energy such as bioenergy, solar, hydro power and many others.
"There is a lot going on in the energy sector and it is encouraging that African countries are coming up together and invest in the energy sector," he said.
"We want joint ventures by African countries not bringing investors from outside to come and invest in our energy sector," said Dr. Hamukale.
Meanwhile, PermanentSsecretary in the Ministry of Energy Brigadier General Emelda Chola said that so far, Zambia has accelerated the power circuit from Pensulo substation in Kabwe up to Kasama substation. this kindergarten party without any problem. However, we feel restrained to stoop so low and act like NDC. We want to tell the NDC to have respect for our leaders. If they push us so much, we are more than capable for handling them. In PF we are a disciplined party with respect for leadership.
“Now let me warn this NDC guy Bernard Mwila to watch his step. Any attacks on our leaders is a serious attack on the party and this we won't allow. We know that some of these frustrated people in NDC are more preoccupied to fight the hard working PF and President Edgar Lungu but we are not going to allow selfish individuals to derail the PF from delivering to the Zambian people,” Mr. Kalenge said.