By CHILA NAMAIKO  –
PARLIAMENTARIANS have called on Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to roll out a larger segment of the earmarked 7,000 kilometre (km) grid extension programme to light up rural-based constituencies unlike those in the urban set-up.
Members of Parliament (MPs) whose constituencies were in rural areas are hopeful that enhancing the rural electrification programme will boost economic activities in remote areas leading to poverty reduction.
Second deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mwimba Malama said yesterday at a symposium organised for MPs by REA on ‘Powering Zambia 7, 000 km project’ that rural constituencies deserved to benefit more from the project.
Mr Malama, the Mfuwe Patriotic Front (PF) MP, said many rural constituencies were underdeveloped as a result of absence of electricity compared to those in urban areas.
“As somebody representing a rural constituency, I would suggest that rural constituencies deserve to benefit more from this 7,000km grid extension programme,” Mr Malama said.
He said once the project was implemented, the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority would deliver the much-needed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in rural schools.
This will go a long way in improving the quality of education and, subsequently, the lives of the people in such areas.
National Assembly deputy clerk – administration Roy Ngulube said the roll-out of the rural electrification programme was an important segment in the economic and social life of the country as the project would contribute to poverty alleviation in rural areas.
Dundumwezi UPND MP Edgar Sing’ombe said his constituency was not connected to the national grid and bemoaned that it was missing on distribution and transmission projects under the 7,000 km project.
Chifunabuli PF MP Ponde Mecha wondered why Chishi Island was left out on the master-plan while Kasempa UPND MP Brenda Tambatamba was concerned that an excellent Government’s boarding secondary school and a farm bloc were also not connected.
Energy Minister David Mabumba and REA chief executive director Geoffrey Musonda, however, assured MPs of addressing their concerns.
Mr Mabumba said the Government’s focus was to take electricity to all corners of the country without leaving anybody behind in its development agenda.
Mr Musonda said the symposium was important as it enabled the lawmakers to appreciate many successes and the roadmap of REA in its concerted efforts to connect every house through its master-plan and assured of including many rural areas.