ELECTRICITY FOR ALL

ELECTRICITY is a core component of development in any country but sadly, Zambians in rural areas do not have adequate access to power.
And it is a known fact as established by Zambia Statistics Agency that majority of Zambians are rural dwellers.
In reality, this proves that majority of Zambians do not have access to electricity.
We appreciate that Government in 2003 set up the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) with the primary purpose of providing electricity infrastructure biased towards rural communities.
Although REA has made a positive change by concentrating on providing electricity to rural areas, much remains to be done – and new initiatives are thus welcome.
Lack of electricity leads to a decline in the quality of life, and human technological progress is slowed.
Electricity has shaped and made better people’s lives.

People in rural areas largely use electricity to light up their homes. Electricity powers up domestic appliances such as stoves, fridges, television sets among others.
In other countries, electricity has been used to power up electric trains and other forms of transportation.
Electricity has also revolutionised the medical field with medical equipment such as X-rays depending on it.
It is pleading therefore that Mr Peter Mumba, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy admit that low access to electricity in rural areas impede development and so there is need to address it. It is a move in the right direction.

According to Mr Mumba, only 33 percent of rural areas have access to electricity, leaving a deficit of approximately 66 percent.
Rural areas have a lot of potential which can only be fully realised if electricity is available.
We thus encourage government to continue investing in electricity generation in rural areas.
With the drought which the country is faced with, Government could do with investing solar energy, or wind energy or other alternative sources away from hydro-power.
Zambians in rural areas are a hard-working lot and with the availability of electricity, they could immensely add to the development of the country in many sectors and enhance food security.
We thus welcome the establishment of the Zambia Energy Demand Stimulation Incentive (ZEDSI).
This initiative is meant to positively impact the livelihoods of over 100, 000 people, with a focus on enhancing energy access in underserved rural communities.
As part of its agenda, ZEDSI is expected to deploy solar mini-grids to 105 priority sites, impacting about 30, 000 households directly and improving the quality of life for those in some of the most remote and underserved areas of the country. We call on the private sector to seize the moment and contribute to making electricity available to rural areas.
Making electricity more accessible to a majority of people in rural areas will also help in the fight against deforestation as it would reduce their dependency on charcoal and firewood for domestic use.
Electricity is not a luxury but a necessary product that should be available to every Zambian throughout the country.