North- Western PS commends ZESCO

North- Western PS commends ZESCO

Solwezi, June 26, ZANIS……North-western province Permanent Secretary, Augustine Seyuba has commended Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) for initiating subsidized electricity connections for only KR 150 to communities in selected low cost areas in the province.

Mr. Seyuba has since implored ZESCO to intensify sensitization campaigns so that many people are connected under the project which is funded by the World Bank.

The Permanent Secretary said the project is very significant in a province such as North-western where there is limited access to electricity.

He said the project will raise the socio-economic profile of many households towards improving their livelihoods.

Mr. Seyuba said with a dominant mining industry emerging, many people in the province have opted to diversify their activities to include small scale food processing, power electrical works like welding, metal fabrication, lodging and others that require electric energy.

He said the project will increase the profile of small and medium enterprises that will in turn provide vital support services to the province’s rising mining industry.

The Permanent Secretary added that the project will improve the well-being of people in terms of health as fewer people will use charcoal and wood that may cause lung related ailments. 

ZESCO has selected 19 low cost areas qualifying for the subsidized electricity connections in Solwezi district, 10 in Zambezi, 10 in Kabompo, four each in Mwinilunga, Kasempa and Chavuma while Mufumbwe has been given three areas.

The utility company has already connected over 130 customers under the project while about 700 applications are being processed.