By Isaac Zulu
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Kasonde Mwenda says President Hakainde Hichilema pledged to end load shedding within a year of forming government, but he has now betrayed his own promise.
Mwenda explained that the decision to embark on load shedding will severely affect families as well as businesses, thereby negatively impacting productivity in the country.
Mwenda said his party visited the Kariba Dam on Friday March 8 2024 and was astonished to find an abundance of water, contrary to the government’s claims
The Zambian government, through ZESCO, has announced a nationwide electricity load shedding, subjecting citizens to 8 hours of load shedding per day starting today.
But Mwenda says the this decision is a severe blow to families and businesses, exacerbating the challenges posed by a harsh economic climate and the prevailing drought conditions.
He said It was clear that the government’s narrative was misleading, and the real reason behind the planned load shedding was the exportation of electricity to South Africa and other nations, neglecting the well-being of its own citizens.
“The Economic Freedom Fighters, having visited the Kariba Dam on Friday March 8th, were astonished to find an abundance of water, contrary to the government’s claims. Our investigation revealed that this year’s water levels stand at 477.69m (15.22% full), compared to last year’s 477.61m (14.65% full) when no load shedding occurred. The Zambezi River Authority supports our findings. It is clear that the government’s narrative is misleading, and the real reason behind the planned load shedding is the exportation of electricity to South Africa and other nations, neglecting the well-being of its own citizens,” Mwenda said.
He said President Hakainde Hichilema had pledged to end load shedding within a year of forming government, but he had now betrayed his own promise, saying government should reconsider its load shedding plan before inflicting sufferings on the Zambian citizens.
“President Hakainde Hichilema, who pledged to end load shedding within a year, has betrayed this promise, opting for actions contradicting his earlier stance,” he said.
Mwenda has urged the government to reconsider this unjustified load shedding plan before inflicting significant suffering on the Zambian people.
“We demand a re-orientation of priorities, emphasising the interests of Zambian citizens over regional and international commitments,” Mwenda said.
He also said the government should act in the best interest of its citizens, as opposed to making them bear the brunt of “UPND administration’s misguided policies.
Mwenda also said it was crucial for the government to recognize Zambia’s low employment rate and the dependence of many on agriculture and various entrepreneurial ventures.
“The impending load shedding threatens the livelihoods of countless individuals engaged in businesses such as welding, barbershops, hatcheries, refrigeration, and hair salons. This will, in turn, adversely affect productivity in all sectors of the country’s economy. We call on the government to acknowledge its responsibility to the people and act in their best interests, securing a future where citizens do not bear the brunt of misguided policies,” said Mwenda.
