Council Chair appeals to government to connect rural schools to power grid

By ANDREW MUKOMA
SINAZONGWE Council Chairperson Cliff Siachibweka has appealed to the government to consider electrifying some of the schools in the district which in turn will benefit the learners.
Mr Siachibweka has charged that 80 per cent of the schools in the district are not electrified, making it a challenge to attain the required knowledge learners are supposed to have in ICT.
He said that if technology subjects are to be taught in schools particularly for those in rural areas, there is need for government to connect such schools to the national grid.
“To tell the truth, 80 per cent of the schools in Sinazongwe are not electrified and you know government is pushing that technology subjects must be taught in schools but it is a challenge to schools that are in Sinazongwe,” he said.
“I want to appeal to the government through Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to consider connecting some of the schools with power,” Mr Siachibweka said
He said that it was disturbing that the electricity was generated from Kariba Dam which affected many people and yet the area was not benefiting from it.
Mr Siachibweka said that it was imperative for government to connect the schools with electric as a way ploughing back to the community.
“As it is, it is difficult for the pupils to learn computers without electricity. Very few schools are connected with power especially in Mweemba chiefdom,” he said.