Kabompo, Manyinga in power blues

——–Kabompo and Manyinga districts in North-western Province have been operating without power supply for a month now following the breakdown of the power generator.

Both Manyinga District Commissioner, Queen Manela, and acting Kabompo District Commissioner, Hendrix Solochi, confirmed the development to ZANIS in Kabompo.

Ms Manela said the districts have been experiencing prolonged power blackouts for several weeks due the faulty power generator that supplies power to the two districts.

She said the most affected institutions are hospitals, schools and water supply points.

And Mr Solochi said his office has engaged Zesco regional office to quickly replace the faulty generator because the prolonged power outage has negatively affected operations in the district.

Zesco regional manager, Isaac Kabangu, said in a statement to ZANIS in Kabompo that the company started restoring power supply to critical areas such as hospitals and water supply points using a single generator as a mitigation measure.

Meanwhile Kabompo District Stakeholders Chairperson, Rogers Chinyemba, has called upon Zesco management to quickly procurement of new generators for the two districts.

Mr Chinyemba said the lack of power has negatively affected the business community in operating their businesses effectively and the community in general.

 Zesco has ordered multi-purpose generators from Dubai for the supply of power to the two districts.

Government has also secured funds amounting to US $163 million to extend and connect nine districts in North-western province to the national power grid.

Only Solwezi and Kasempa districts are currently connected to the national power grid.