MUCHINGA PROVINCE FUEL CRISIS DEEPENS AS MPIKA DISTRICT RUNS DRY-Nakonde and Kasama-bound traffic stranded – Kasonde Mwenda EFF-President
November 15, 2024.
The fuel crisis in Muchinga Province has reached alarming levels, with Mpika District—Zambia’s TAZARA headquarters and a critical node in our Northern Circuit’s trade and export routes—running completely dry. This catastrophic situation has left buses and trucks destined for Nakonde, Kasama, and Mpulungu Harbour stranded, as they scramble for fuel at the only operational filling station in Mpika out of ten.
This is not an isolated incident; it is a glaring manifestation of poor leadership and inept governance by the United Party for National Development (UPND). The Ministers responsible for Trade and Commerce, Transport and Logistics, and Energy—Messrs. Chipoka Mulenga, Frank Tayali, and Makoza Sichone, respectively—continue to handle this escalating crisis with a lack of urgency, as if they are oblivious to the economic and social harm caused by their incompetence.
The EFF is appalled by the UPND government’s continued mismanagement of Zambia’s energy sector. Despite repeated outcries from both local and international stakeholders, the country continues to face a crippling fuel shortage. Prices have been unjustifiably hiked, yet the commodity remains critically scarce, plunging businesses and citizens alike into uncertainty and hardship.
The decision to close the Indeni Oil Refinery—the nation’s only refinery—and to leave the TAZAMA Pipeline underutilized is emblematic of the UPND’s reckless approach to governance. These actions have forced Zambia to rely on costly and inefficient road transportation of imported fuel, instead of leveraging our existing infrastructure to ensure stable and affordable supply.
This mismanagement is a betrayal of the Zambian people. The government’s aloofness in the face of this crisis demonstrates a lack of empathy and strategic foresight. Zambia cannot afford a government that gambles with the livelihoods of its citizens while key sectors such as energy, transport, and commerce falter under its watch.
Our Demands:
- Immediate Action on Fuel Supply: The UPND government must urgently address the nationwide fuel crisis by restoring operations at Indeni Oil Refinery and fully utilizing the TAZAMA Pipeline to stabilize supply and reduce costs.
- Accountability: Ministers Chipoka Mulenga, Frank Tayali, and Sichone must take full responsibility for their failures or step aside to allow competent leadership to take over.
- Proactive Leadership: The government must present a comprehensive and transparent strategy for Zambia’s energy sector to restore confidence among stakeholders and the public.
The Economic Freedom Fighters stand resolute in our commitment to fighting for a Zambia that prioritizes its people’s needs over incompetence and mismanagement. The fuel crisis is a national emergency, and it demands serious, decisive action—not the dismissive attitude currently displayed by the UPND government.
On behalf of the suffering Zambians, I call on the government to wake up from its slumber and deliver on its mandate. Enough is enough.
Wherever we want to go our feet will take us there at.
Kasonde Mwenda C
President, Economic Freedom Fighters – EFF
Date: 15 November 2024