Criminals plunge Ndola into darkness

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 10:03:51 +0000

By ROGERS KALERO

MOST parts of Ndola were in the early hours of yesterday plunged into darkness after unknown people burnt feeder cables supplying power to Mushili, Kansenshi, Levy Mwanawasa stadium and surrounding areas.

ZESCO spokesperson Henry Kapata said the burning of the feeder cables near Levy Mwanawasa stadium was an act of sabotage and that it was retrogressive for the power utility company which was trying its best to improve service delivery in various parts of Zambia.

Mr Kapata said in an interview that the money which would be spent on replacing the burnt cables and restoring power to the affected areas would have been used for other projects that would have improved power supply in various areas.

 ‘The burning of these feeder cables is purely sabotage. They burnt the cables feeding Mushili, Kansenshi, Levy Mwanawasa stadium and other areas,

“So most of the residential areas and lodges are affected. They had no power from 02.00hours. We will give them alternative power, but Levy Mwanawasa stadium will remain without power for some time,” Mr Kapata said.

He said acts of sabotage were retrogressive to any economy and whoever would be caught would go to prison for not less than 20 years.

Anyone convicted of sabotage, the minimum sentence is 20 years, while the maximum sentence is 30years. So those engaging in this vice should think twice because one day, they will be caught,” he said.

By press time, workers from ZESCO had already arrived on the scene to start some repair works to restore power to the affected areas in Ndola.

And Copperbelt minister Bowman Lusambo, who rushed to the scene, said the acts of sabotage were being perpetrated by people who wanted to gain political mileage by damaging public property.

Mr Lusambo said some politicians who were bitter and not happy with the leadership of President Edgar Lungu were engaging in destructive activities to try and cause confusion in the country.

“These are acts of sabotage and we know the people involved we will one day catch them. The whole thing is political, but they should know that when they burn down, the infrastructure, they are not punishing PF, but they are punishing Zambians,

“If you have the heart for people, why punish them by damaging public property which they use. This simply shows that somebody is a cruel leader who has hatred and bitterness, “ Mr Lusambo said

However, Copperbelt Police Chief Charity Katanga said she had not yet received the report of suspected sabotage where ZESCO cables were burnt near Levy Mwanawasa stadium.