Dr SCOTT

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA  in Ithezhi tezhi –
VICE-President Guy Scott has said Zambia is poised for a boost in investment following the increased hydro-electricity generation capacity.
Dr Scott said when Zambia offers investors cheap, safe and liable hydro-power, it would be a positive move which would attract more investments.
“To be able to offer investors cheap and liable power will become a very big draw for investment and to get rid of load shedding,” Dr Scott said.
Dr Scott said this in Itezhi tezhi when he commissioned a  33/11 Kilovolts Katuba substation, a ZESCO water treatment plant, and a 100 Kv back up diesel generator.
The vice-president also toured a 120 mega watts Itezhi -Tezhi Power Corporation plant currently under construction by ZESCO in partnership with Tata International.
He said the commissioning of the generator at Kariba North Bank by ZESCO would also be a big addition to the national generation capacity.
He said the construction of the Itezhi tezhi power corporation and the rehabilitation of the Mongu-Itezhi tezhi road which had been estimated at K290 million would also boosts tourism in the district.
“There is need to restore the tourism potential of this district with these infrastructure developments which would also lead to employment creation and increase in foreign exchange,” he said.
Dr Scott said he was happy that the Itezhi-Tezhi Power Corporation that had been on the drawing board for a long time dating back in the 1980s was finally in progress.
And ZESCO Managing director Cyprian Chitundu said 120 mega watts Itezhi-tezhi power corporation project was a public Private Partnership with Tata International.
Mr Chitundu said the project was a  50-50 percent partnership in line with Governments vision to bring on board the private sector to help with development of the country.
He said the project was estimated at a cost US$ 250 million with a duration of 41 months and starting from June 2012 to September 2015.
He said the project was 45 per cent complete and that the contractor was right on schedule to complete the remaining works  by September 2015.
He said once completed the district  would have reliable supply as it was currently getting it power from Choma which was unreliable.
“Once the project is complete, 0.5 percent of the income would go towards social responsibility to the community in Itezhi tezhi,” Mr Chitundu said.
And area Member of Parliamnet Greyford Monde was happy with the project and the commissioning of the water treatment plant stating that it would provide water for the people in the district who never had tap water since independence.
He also appealed to the Vice-President to engage the Ministry of Finance to expedite the release of the money for the Mongu-Itezhi Tezhi road which was important for agriculture.
And Central Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta was happy that the project had employed more than 500 youths in the district.
And Mines, Energy and  Water Development Deputy Minister Charles Zulu said his ministry was undertaking 80 projects with ZESCO to improve electricity access in the country.