By BARNABAS ZULU
BANGWEULU aspiring Independent parliamentary candidate Reuben Chama has opposed the possible privatisation of Zesco, the national power utility, warning that if the company is unbundled and sold, ordinary Zambians will be pushed into poverty.
The controversy follows claims by Citizens First president Harry Kalaba who revealed that the government is in talks with a United Kingdom-based firm regarding the unbundling and eventual sale of Zesco.
However, Mr. Chama has voiced grave concerns about the proposed move, stating that such a sale would lead to higher electricity tariffs, making it unaffordable for the majority of Zambians.
“If the rumour of the sale of the national utility company (Zesco) is true, I would advise the government to rescind its decision, as this action will have a negative impact on the common man,” Mr. Chama said in an interview yesterday.
Mr. Chama emphasised that once Zesco is privatised, the new owners are likely to increase electricity prices.
He argued that the new firm would justify the hike by claiming that Zesco has been operating at a loss.
“The moment Zesco is privatised, the first thing the new investor will do is to increase tariffs, and they will argue that the company has been making losses.
Look, government cannot be run like a business that must always focus on profit-making. The government is there to protect and serve the interests of the common man. It’s there to offer services, even when losses are incurred,” Mr Chama said.
He pointed out that the increase in electricity prices would trigger a domino effect, raising the cost of living for Zambians.
“The increase in the price of power has a chain reaction, as it will automatically cause the prices of essential commodities to rise. Let’s not lose control of Zesco.
Instead, it needs recapitalisation and should avoid being used to fund political activities, as we’ve witnessed in the past,” he said.
He insists that the government must retain control of Zesco, stressing that public services like electricity should not be subjected to the profit-driven interests of private corporations.
The debate over the future of Zesco has sparked fierce discussions across the country, with many fearing that privatisation could lead to a rise in living costs and economic hardship for the average Zambian.
