•PRESIDENT Michael Sata arrives at State House to chair a full Cabinet meeting yesterday. Picture by Thomas Nsama

By KAIKO NAMUSA-
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has said his Government will commission nine grid extension projects implemented at a cost of K84.3 million in five provinces to boost power connection to rural areas.
This will be done through the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), President Sata said on his facebook page yesterday and added that he was determined to ensure Government scaled-up interventions aimed at accelerating rural development.
The President also chaired a Cabinet meeting at State House in Lusaka yesterday.
The power projects implemented from 2012 to date were being undertaken in Southern, Copperbelt, North-Western, Western and Eastern provinces.
“Today, I wish to share with you our Government’s efforts to connect rural communities, which include schools, rural health centres, chiefs’ palaces, local courts, and staff houses for Government employees and other Government facilities to the power grid.
“Our Government, through the Rural Electrification Authority intends to commission some of the grid extension projects that have been implemented from 2012 to date in Southern, Copperbelt, North-Western, Western and Eastern provinces,” Mr Sata said.
Mr Sata named the grid extension projects as Mwanza Kasaka in Monze District of Southern Province, which involved the construction of 67.7 kilometres (km) of 11 kilovolts (kv) overhead line from an existing line at Kaumba Basic School at a cost of K15,235,000.
The second project in Southern Province was the Mbeza grid extension project in Namwala District, involving the construction of 44.4km of 33kv of overhead grid lines from the 33kv line from Choma to Namwala, passing through Niko Rural Growth Centre at a cost of K11,172,000.
In Eastern Province, the project was being implemented at Saint Margaret in Chipata District, and this involved completion of an overhead line to supply power to various institutions at a cost of K5.6 million.
In Chingola on the Copperbelt, the Kang’wena grid extension project involved the construction of 27.8km of 11kv overhead line from the existing 11kv Ipafu and Mutenda lines to electrify Kansoka, Milulu and Muchinshi areas at a cost of K5,951,406.
The Kamwanda grid project in Kabompo District in North-Western Province would entail the construction of a total of 50.7km of 11kv overhead lines at a cost of K11,321,124.24.
Mr Sata said the Sanjongo/Lukolwe/Kambuya project of Chavuma District in North-Western Province would have the electrification of Lukolwe mission, K-Village, Chambi, Mavili and Mandalo primary schools at a cost of K3,724,601.63.
Also to be electrified would be the Kambuya Basic School, in Chief Sefu’s Palace, shops and Kambuya health centre at a cost of K8,990,056.
He said the Chivombo/Kamusamba grid project in Chavuma District in North-Western Province targeted Chivombo, Kamusamba and Kalombo areas, which was being undertaken at a cost of K1,450,000.
The Sihole project in Kalabo District of Western Province targeted the construction of 56km of 11kv overhead line from Kalabo to electrify some rural growth centres between Kalabo and Sihole at a cost of K12,900,000.
The President said in Senanga District in Western Province, the Government would construct 34.3km of 11kv overhead lines from an existing 11kv line at Muyo junction to Nanjucha Basic School at a cost of K8,340,000.