Govt awards US$4.5 billion power contract to Two Thirds Voltcon

Government has awarded a contract worth over US$4.5 billion (about KR25 billion) to Two Thirds Voltcon Limited company to construct a 33/11kv electricity power line to Mangango constituency in Kaoma district of Western province.

Zambia electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Project Manager in- charge of grid extension lines construction Justin Changala said the construction of the Mangango power line will only take a period of 13 months to complete.

Mr. Changala announced this construction project in Mangango when he addressed area Indunas and villagers yesterday.

He said the construction of a power line to the area was being funded by the World Bank.

He said among the areas that will be electrified in the constituency were Mangango mission hospital, Nyango open prisons, Zambia National Service and chief Mutondo’s palace.

And Mangango Member of Parliament, Taundi Chiseke urged Two Thirds Voltcon Limited to use the World Bank funds prudently.

Mr. Chiseke said government workers were shunning schools and rural health centres because of lack of electricity and other social amenities.

He said when his constituency is electrified, workers would be attracted to offer their skills to the people in the area.

And Mangango mission hospital Sister-In-Charge Prisca Madega said the hospital personnel were failing to use some of the equipment due to non availability of power.

Sister Madega said the electrifying of the mission hospital would assist the hospital staff to utilize the equipment fully adding that local people will no longer be forced to bury their dead relatives quickly since the hospital mortuary will be fully functional.

She has since called on Zesco management to quickly construct a substation at Mwandasengo junction so that Luampa mission hospital in Luampa district is also electrified.

Sister Madega complained that the electrification of Luampa mission hospital works stalled over six years ago.

Meanwhile, Kaoma District Commissioner Joster Manjolo assured the people of Luampa district that government will soon complete the construction of a substation so that people can have access to electricity in the area.

Mr. Manjolo said the Patriotic Front (PF) government was committed to ensuring that all the people in country had access to electricity.