Southern Province Acting Permanent Secretary Engineer Gift Monde has called on the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to revisit an abandoned electrification project at Chief Shezongo’s Palace in Itezhi-Tezhi District, saying the palace remains without electricity despite the availability of materials at the site.
Engineer Monde said the project, which was initially under ZESCO, was handed over to REA in 2016 but has yet to be completed.
He was speaking when REA Chief Executive Officer Alex Mbumba and the authority’s board paid a courtesy call on him.
Engineer Monde also noted that the government was yet to provide Starlink connectivity to all schools and health centres, stressing the importance of solar power and reliable electricity in improving service delivery in rural communities.
Meanwhile, REA Chief Executive Officer Alex Mbumba disclosed that the authority had invested approximately K200.3 million in electrification projects across Southern Province from 2022 to date, with about K135 million channelled towards grid extension projects.
Mr Mbumba said that under its 2022 and 2023 work plans, REA completed eight projects in Monze, Kazungula, Itezhi-Tezhi, Namwala, Gwembe and Choma districts at a cost of K82.9 million.
He said the authority had also completed and commissioned two solar mini-grid projects at Moyo Mini Hospital in Pemba District and Nkandazovu in Kalomo District, while the Lumba Solar Mini-Grid in Zimba District remained under implementation.
Mr Mbumba added that REA had completed solar installations at 32 rural health centres and commenced biodigester projects at Njase Girls Secondary School in Choma District, Canisius Secondary School in Monze District and Namwala Boarding Secondary School in Namwala District.
He further disclosed that REA had recorded 13,286 electricity connections against a target of 10,000, comprising 11,901 household connections and 1,385 other connections.
The connections represent approximately 24.5 per cent of the reported national total of 54,224.
By Helga Chibwe
