*ZESCO’s Electricity Export A Shocking Disregard for Citizen Welfare*
*By Daimone Siulapwa*
As we ponder on how to manage the disaster that ZESCO has thrown our country and businesses into, it becomes clear to realize that ZESCO is prioritizing profit over people.
The export of electricity, flaunted as a means to bolster foreign exchange reserves, has become a double-edged sword, plunging citizens into the abyss of load shedding while lining the pockets of a select few.
The rationale behind ZESCO’s export frenzy seems logical on the surface – earning foreign exchange to alleviate the government’s financial woes.
However, beneath this facade lies a grim truth: the relentless export of electricity comes at the dire expense of the very citizens ZESCO is supposed to serve.
Amidst the backdrop of copper production being very low, with revenues evaporating into the coffers of foreign entities, Zambia finds itself bleeding foreign exchange reserves.
This drain is exacerbated by the myopic strategy of prioritizing electricity export over domestic consumption.
It’s a scenario where the nation’s lifeblood is being siphoned off to appease international markets, leaving citizens in the shadows of deprivation.
The conspicuous absence of regular discourse on the state of foreign exchange reserves from the government raises alarming questions about the nation’s fiscal health.
Has prudence been forsaken for short-term gains? Is the government oblivious to the perilous trajectory of our economic stability? These are questions that demand urgent answers.
The correlation between load shedding and electricity export cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence.
While Zambians endure excruciating hours of power outages, ZESCO ensures a steady flow of electricity to foreign shores, where it fetches lucrative returns.
It’s a tale of two Zambias – one bathed in darkness for small businesses, the other basking in the glow of profitable businesses for those privileged with alternative source of energy.
The profiteering from power export underscores a fundamental injustice – the commodification of a basic necessity at the expense of the populace.
While a privileged few reap the rewards of this lucrative venture, the majority are left grappling with the harsh realities of daily life without electricity.
It’s a stark reminder of the gaping chasm between the haves and the have-nots, perpetuated by the insatiable appetite for profit.
As the UPND government charts its course for the next two years, it stands at a critical juncture.
The decisions made today will reverberate through the annals of history, shaping the electorate’s verdict in the forthcoming elections in 2026, will it a one term government or NOT?
The onus is on the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens over profit margins, to reclaim ZESCO from the clutches of crony capitalism, and to restore faith in the promise of a brighter future.
We have been fed hogwash by every consecutive government when it comes to load shedding.
On the expense of our lives, health and businesses, we have been made to believe ZESCO has no capacity to meet our needs, while year in and year out and for over 20 years, millions of dollars have been pumped into ZESCO to improve and as well as create new electricity generation infrastructure. What happened to those millions?
A recalibration of ZESCO’s bloated staff composition is long overdue.
The institution’s inefficiencies and mismanagement have become synonymous with its modus operandi, draining resources and exacerbating the plight of ordinary Zambians.
It’s time to trim the fat, to streamline operations, and to ensure that every kwacha spent serves the interests of the nation, not the pockets of a privileged few.
Furthermore, the Finance Minister’s assertion that the some of the $100 million injection from the World Bank will find its way into ZESCO’s coffers raises troubling apprehensions.
Will history repeat itself, with funds intended for public utility being diverted for ulterior motives?
The echoes of past misappropriation reverberate through the corridors of power, casting a shadow of doubt on the government’s intentions. It’s imperative that every dollar earmarked for ZESCO serves its intended purpose – to illuminate the lives of Zambian citizens, not to line the pockets of corrupt officials.
*We need to do a twenty-year audit on how ZESCO has used all resources that has been allocated to it, give that it keeps making loses, year in, year out. If need be, we will need to recall all past ZESCO CEOs for the last twenty years and make them account for those national resources.
ZESCO can no longer be used as conduit to support political parties through abuse of office and luck of accountability.
The export of electricity at the expense of citizens is not just a policy failure; it’s a moral outrage. It’s time for ZESCO and the government to heed the cries of the people, to prioritize their welfare over profit margins, and to illuminate the path to a brighter, more equitable future for all Zambians.
*Reduce loading shedding time to four hours for now*
*Writting as Chairman for SMEs Association of Zambia (SMEAZ)*
_*Advocating for the Empowerment of Citizens owned SMEs and the Reservation of some Business for Zambian citizens only*_
*For more Info. Smeszambia@gmail.com*
Diamone you have power today because of exported power. Zesco was at its knees after being plunderd by PF. Why to you want to show a lack of throughness in your thought process. You know Vickson Ncube. Why not ask questions to understand instead of trying to Grandstand here?
The Project that the Chinese Contractor had stopped working on because of non payment is near completion, if not complete because money to pay has come from somewhere.
Bane we need to stop being so shallow and thinking that these services have no costs attached to them. As we speak we consume power at cost more than we pay. Where does that difference come from?
Show some common sense instead of being swayed by the daily non sense of politicians.