My Snippets on ZESCO, Mental Health and the UPND Blame Game
By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
1. ZESCO has increased the charge for both standard and non-standard electricity connection jobs to K6,930.00.
This is the second increase after it adjusted from K750 to K1500 in December 2021.
My comment; Electricity is an economic right. It is for this reason that cooperating partners and the World Bank fund rural electrification.
The increase of base charge from K750, to K1,500 and now K6,930.00 makes electricity a commodity for the privileged few.
Further expect increase in cutting of trees as those that can’t afford power will increasingly resort to other means such as charcoal for their energy and cooking sources.
2. Secretary to Cabinet, Felix Nkulukusa says Zambians may not afford the electricity tariffs increase whose reflective cost should be about 11 cents per kilowatts.
My Comment; The IMF Staff-Level Agreement with Zambia will go to the IMF Board in June 2022.
The failure to remove direct or indirect subsidies on both electricity and fuel will jeopardise its approval.
Government is sitting on hard place on one side and a rock on the other.
If they increase the cost of fuel and electricity, Zambians will be adversely affected.
If they don’t, IMF Board may not be pleased as government will be viewed as failing to raise domestic resources and continuing with funding poorly targeted subsidies.
3. ZESCO Management has invited all members of staff that feel were previously marginalised or side-lined to apply for promotions or upgrades. This is according to its memo to all employees dated 11th February 2022.
ZESCO CEO must know that reverse tribalism or regionalism is as bad as tribalism or regionalism itself.
My Comment; What ZESCO needs is a transparent and professional recruitment of Directors and senior staff starting with the CEO.
This is one of Africa’s largest utility that has been treated like a milk kantemba, in the past and now.
4.ZICTA Board has fired five Directors including the Acting Director General Mwenya Mutale.
My comment; the purge continues.
5. The suicides;
My comment; Social-media is both a wonderful tool and a menace. Let us use it to promote mental health and mental health awareness. Let us pay and invest in mental health as we have done in physical health.
Check out on that friend who could be struggling. Let love reign….not ridicule and gossip.
6. Praise Team- It’s good to see thought leaders such as Dr. Chanda Mfula, and Mr. Musa Mwenye SC and others recognize this cancer.
My comment: We have the “Kaunda wamuyaya” syndrome that has perverted the politics and its followers.
Many people expected the New Dawn to recognize that the praise and worship in the PF promoted arrogance, unrealistic perception of themsleves and encouraged selfish-delusion.
The numerous mistakes being made or repeated by the new government require quick correction, instead of the absurd encouragement from mostly paid keyboard warriors, or a paid cyber brigade.
Many well meaning supporters of the New Dawn Government recognise that diverse opinion ought to exist.
But the blind praise singers have been joined by some educated colleagues. This is worsening the public perception of the Government and its leaders.
6. Obsession with the Patriotic Front- UPND leaders constantly start their sentences with condemnation of the PF, and end with the PF, blaming the PF for anything and everything.
My Comment; PF inadvertently promoted Mr. Hakainde Hichilema by making him a constant subject of their communication and discourse. PR gone wrong!
UPND is repeating the same mistake.
Zambians want President Hichilema to get on with the work.
You won the love of the woman called Zambia, let us see results, make her pregnant. Don’t talk about her Ex everyday.
You are perpetually importing the Ex in your conversation and in your life.
She chose you, give her a life. Share your life together.