SICHINGA

By JUDITH NAMUTOWE-
A ZAMBIAN firm has introduced a solar- powered lighting system called Vivid Solar Lamp on the Zambian market which is expected to light up the countryside.
The company, Sun Marvel Power Innovations, has come up with the project at a cost of about US$150,000 (almost K1 million).
The Vivid solar lamp will be relatively affordable to all Zambians and especially to those in the rural area, with limited purchasing power.
Speaking shortly before the launch of the product, Sun Marvel Power Innovations managing director Habatwa Mweene said the lamp was a must-have for all households not connected to the national power grid.
Dr Mweene who is a product of the University of Zambia (UNZA) said a total annual worldwide expenditure on interior light was US$50 billion, while Africa spends US$18 billion.
“Our vision is that every household which is not connected to the grid should have this lamp,” Dr Mweene said.
He noted that more than 1.5 billion poor people worldwide where without proper lighting system because the electricity grid was still far from them.
Officiating during the launch at Lusaka’s Southern Sun Hotel, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Bob Sichinga  said the introduction of the product would significantly contribute to the country’s industrialisation and job creation.
In a speech read for him by his Permanent Secretary, Siakazongo Siakalenga, Mr Sichinga said those were some of the products which could be locally produced in the Multi Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ).
“Countries which have made most spectacular development gains are those which have harnessed science and technology,” Mr Sichinga said.
He said the potential of the Vivid Solar Lamp was immense especially that only 25 per cent of people in the country were connected to the grid.