FOR The sake of catching up with the rest of the world, I believe President Edgar Lungu was ultimately correct when he said that Government was considering the promotion of alternative renewable energy technologies that do not depend on rain water for electricity production, such as solar, wind, geo-thermal and biomass.
Admittedly, if we are to be on an equal footing with the rest of the world, we have no other choice but to forge ahead with the President’s mission.
In fact, Zambia’s alternative sources of energy development pathway could not really have come at a more opportune time.
Worldwide, the cost of two of the primary means of generating renewable energy – solar and wind – have dropped considerably. One estimate suggests that the purchase price of photo-voltaic cells (the components in solar panels) and wind turbines have fallen 75 per cent over the past five years.
Furthermore, the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon launched a ‘sustainable energy for all’ initiative that underscores the idea that renewable energy is a viable prospect for poor countries, even though start-up costs are comparatively high.
But with the UN’s backing, support for renewable energy projects is more easily obtained from the donor community and the development finance institutions.
What is particularly interesting about Africa’s energy and power conundrum is that Africa, thanks to the African Union, is the only continent that can negotiate with the international community with a virtually unanimous voice. This enables Africa to obtain funding from a number of sources such as the Special Climate Change Fund, the Least Developed Country Fund created by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; the Adaptation Fund under the Kyoto Protocol; the Global Environment Facility; the African Development
Bank, the World Bank and various other international institutions.
Having established the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), Zambia could leverage funding through these sources, recognising that one of the biggest challenges in implementing its non-hydro –based energy strategy would be access to finance.
REA could be the centre piece of Zambia’s green energy financing plan and would work to leverage private investment for either hydro or non-hydro  energy initiatives. There’s huge potential to attract private investment – both domestic investment and regional and global funds – focusing on green economy investments.
Mubanga Luchembe

Poor water supply irks Ndola resident

Please allow me to raise my concern over the water supply by Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company to Chifubu and Ndola in general.
The pressure is very low and the water itself is very dirty, this is unhealthy and people are forced to draw water in big buckets and allow the dirt to settle before the water can be used for drinking.
Please Kafubu Water and Sewerage look into the problem.
Concerned Citizen

Times poem columnist wins kudos

I HAVE noted with great admiration that you are so consistent in your contribution to the art of poetry which is seldom availed its deserved attention in our society.
Going by what I have come across so far in the dailies (Times of Zambia, particularly) I am tempted to surmise you have a huge collection of good poems. On that score, I say, “hats off”.
Do you have some form of agreement with the Times or you just send the poems to the editor as an ordinary contributor?
Secondly, I would like  to find out if there are any Poetry Societies or Associations here in Zambia that you belong to or have heard about?
I also have a deep passion for poetry.
Please keep the flame burning!
TIMES READER