Siavonga MP demands power for locals

IT’S unfair for the people of Siavonga to continue lagging behind in terms of development when the area houses the country’s biggest power station, says Member of Parliament Darius Mulunda.

Mr Mulunda has urged the Rural Electrification Authority through the Ministry of Energy to help connect the villages in the area to electricity.

He noted that while Siavonga is home to the biggest power station in the country, many rural households are not electrified.

Mr Mulunda said the local people in the area sacrificed a lot by paving way for the construction of the Kariba Dam hydroelectricity scheme which is the country’s main source of electricity and the Southern Africa Power Pool.

“When the Lake Kariba Dam was being built, one of the things promised to those who were displaced from the lake area but up to now that commitment has not been actualised,” he said

Mr Mulunda also called on the minister of Energy to engage Zesco on the lighting of the central business district.

He said the district needs street lighting and this can only be achieved if Zesco could come on board and provide lighting at no cost.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Peter

Kapala says Zambia and Namibia are next month expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a gas and oil pipeline from Windhoek into Lusaka.

Mr Kapala disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call on Siavonga District Commissioner Geoffrey Jakopo.

Mr. Kapala said the gas will be used for power generation while the oil pipeline will help reduce the cost of petroleum products in the country.

He disclosed that the project, which is expected to take three to four years to complete, will have its main gas and oil power station in Lusaka.