ZESCO is a valued partner in the country’s economic development crusade and this is why the Patriotic Front (PF) Government attaches great importance to its operations.
A huge challenge squarely lies on the shoulders of the power utility company that is trying its best to invigorate the country’s economy.
Zesco is seen to be playing a major role in Zambia’s electrification programme which the PF Government intensified upon coming into power three years ago.
Among the notable projects the Government is undertaking is the Rural Electrification Programme that seeks to link all the country’s regions to the national power grid.
Apart from this, there is another programme to rehabilitate and construct more hydropower stations like the Batoka and Kafue Gorge projects.
All this is aimed at increasing the country’s power generation capacity which will also reduce or completely curb incessant load-shedding which is detrimental to industrial development.
With the Government plans to spread industrial clusters throughout all the provincial centres already on cards, efforts being made by Zesco under difficult circumstances need to be fully supported by all the stakeholders.
Zesco is Zambia’s electricity life blood whose lack of support will spell doom to the country’s socio and economic advancement.
This is why the Government should be commended for allocating K600 million in the 2015 National Budget to the power utility company to improve power generation, transmission and distribution.
Out of this, a total of K71 million has been set aside solely for enhancement of the rural electrification programme.
Success of the anticipated industrial clusters fully depends on the availability of enough power to these potential investment areas.
Some of the potential industries that need enough power are agro processing, mining and manufacturing.
Once there is enough power, the Government will be assured of massive Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) to these regions which have in the past been shunned due to a lack of facilities such as good roads, communication and electricity.
The result of these electrification projects being undertaken by the Government through Zesco will accelerate Zambia’s industrialisation process and improve people’s livelihoods through employment creation.
In addition, increased manufacturing and other economic activities in these earmarked areas will improve Zambia’s Non Traditional Exports (NTEs) and help to strengthen the Zambian currency as the country will earn more foreign exchange on the international market.
Zesco needs more financial and material back-up to guarantee rapid and accelerated economic development.