ZAMBIA WILL SAY BYE TO LOADSHEDDING THE MOMENT WE TAKE OFFICER – KALABA
CITIZENS First president Harry Kalaba has declared that Zambia’s prolonged hours of power cuts will end immediately if his party forms government next year, insisting that the current crisis is a result of policy choices rather than lack of capacity.
Kalaba said it makes no sense for the country to continue exporting electricity to neighboring states while citizens endure up to 21 hours of load-shedding daily. He argued that Zambia should prioritise its own energy needs before honouring regional power sharing commitments.
Speaking when he appeared on Emmanuel Mwamba Podcast, he stated that his administration would suspend power exports to Namibia and South Africa under the SADC power pool arrangement until domestic supply is stabilised.
“We will make sure that when we come into government, we begin to industrialise this country. There is no way we can be exporting power to outsiders and we ourselves remain without power,” he said.
“Government cannot expect economic progress when citizens and industries only have a few hours of productivity each day.”
Kalaba also pledged to fast track the completion of the Chinukula power plant, saying the facility has the potential to significantly boost national generation capacity. With increased output, he said, the country would not only meet its own demand but eventually have surplus power to export on its own terms.
According to Citizens First leader, Zambia will only resume electricity exports once the local market is fully supplied
“When we finish that chinukula power plant facility, we will have enough energy in this country, enough to export to DRC and they can come and thank us all they want. We will only start exporting power when the market is saturated with enough energy.”
Kalemba
Some of the export power contracts where contracted during PF era. Why didn’t Kalaba speak against them at that time ?
The simple truth is that ZESCO sells power to residential consumers at a loss. To reduce that loss, they export to neighbouring countries who pay us in US dollar at a better price than us residential consumers.
The same mathematics is used in maize export.
When you are a spectator, you think you see all the moves the players should make. It is a different story when you eventually start playing on the pitch.
We have heard such simple and basic stories from Politicians that when elected they will do this and that, even resurrecting the Dead. They don’t know how stupid they sound. Only the gullible Voters believe their simple lies.
If ending loadshedding is by having you, voted into power is your only campaign message. I am sorry it won’t work as people are looking far, more than loadshedding. If it was that simple pf would still be in power. Your message is good for kindergarten going kids. Tell us how you will grow the economy. You are wasting too much time on cheap rethoric. This cheap talk is not growing your political base, instead its erroding people’s confidence in you. It would be a huge risk for the Zambians to vote a new party into government. All opposition leaders have the same cheap message “if you vote me into power” I will do this and that. This is a very weak campaign message as no normal Zambian would listen to it. This has been heard before, for decades such that it has lost its meaning. The upnd have proved beyond expectation that they mean business. I cant see anybody beating hh and upnd next year. I am sure by the next elections loadshedding will be history. What are you going to talk about.
Dont just say we will do this. Tell us how.
Mr. Kalaba is lying through his teeth. Even without exports, you cannot end loadshedding. From 21 hours to zero? Kusabaila fye nomba.
The desperation of Mr. Kalaba is on full display here.