Energy minister Makozo Chikote says he was getting the news from Diamond TV journalist Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya when asked if he was aware that the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) made a commitment that the utility company, Zesco, would supply at least 7-hours power supply daily to consumers.
Responding to the specific question posed to him on the same matter, Chikote said: “Well, that is what I am getting from you, because what I know from what we have been exchanging, we had a systematic way of explaining things. We never jumped from four days’ load shedding then they said we are jumping into 7-hours.”
But asked a follow up question if the same was not tantamount to chaos, where the ERB made a commitment of 7-hours per day, and the minister was not even aware, yet the citizens were expecting his Ministry to manage the energy situation in the country.
In response, Chikote said the country was moving towards that, hence mentioning about some of the power projects that were currently on course.
First of all, it’s puzzling that the minister could indicate ignorance about such a serious matter affecting his own Ministry. If he was genuinely not aware about the move by the ERB, then Zambians should generally worry about the capabilities of the person running the Ministry of Energy, especially at this critical juncture when we can safely say that the country is going through a crippling energy crisis.
However, we don’t believe the minister is unaware about the emergency tariff hike by the ERB and the conditions attached to the same, which includes provision of at least 7-hours of electricity to the consumers. Seeing the minister’s responses, one may be moved to conclude that he was ducking, trying to run away from answering the specific questions about why the government had failed to provide the electricity promised to the people. He failed to answer why the blackouts have continued despite people being forced to pay more for the electricity but with fewer electricity units from the same amount of money spent. The minister cannot explain why the electricity is only being provided to the consumers at midnight by the utility company.
The minister kept on referring to the cost-reflective tariffs during the interview. Perhaps it will be wise for the minister to explain the real intentions of introducing the same emergency tariff in the first place. Was it really done to navigate the country through this critical period of “low water levels” at our major hydro-power stations, and thereby necessitating the importations to cushion power shortages? Or was the same emergency hike introduced as sort of a ‘pilot project’ to test the waters for its permanent safe landing, in keeping with the ‘cost reflective’ proclamation?
But Zambians are watching. If you are going to promise people that you would charge them more for the electricity they will be buying in order to enjoy a bit more electricity, you surely have no right to gaslight them once your wish has been effected. Zambians deserve more actually from the huge amounts they are spending on energy. And we urge every Zambian, regardless of their political party affiliations to demand the fulfillment of what they were promised by their government.
By Daily Revelation Editor
Energy minister Makozo Chikote says he was getting the news from Diamond TV journalist Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya when asked if he was aware that the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) made a commitment that the utility company, Zesco, would supply at least 7-hours power supply daily to consumers.
Responding to the specific question posed to him on the same matter, Chikote said: “Well, that is what I am getting from you, because what I know from what we have been exchanging, we had a systematic way of explaining things. We never jumped from four days’ load shedding then they said we are jumping into 7-hours.”
But asked a follow up question if the same was not tantamount to chaos, where the ERB made a commitment of 7-hours per day, and the minister was not even aware, yet the citizens were expecting his Ministry to manage the energy situation in the country.
In response, Chikote said the country was moving towards that, hence mentioning about some of the power projects that were currently on course.
First of all, it’s puzzling that the minister could indicate ignorance about such a serious matter affecting his own Ministry. If he was genuinely not aware about the move by the ERB, then Zambians should generally worry about the capabilities of the person running the Ministry of Energy, especially at this critical juncture when we can safely say that the country is going through a crippling energy crisis.
However, we don’t believe the minister is unaware about the emergency tariff hike by the ERB and the conditions attached to the same, which includes provision of at least 7-hours of electricity to the consumers. Seeing the minister’s responses, one may be moved to conclude that he was ducking, trying to run away from answering the specific questions about why the government had failed to provide the electricity promised to the people. He failed to answer why the blackouts have continued despite people being forced to pay more for the electricity but with fewer electricity units from the same amount of money spent. The minister cannot explain why the electricity is only being provided to the consumers at midnight by the utility company.
The minister kept on referring to the cost-reflective tariffs during the interview. Perhaps it will be wise for the minister to explain the real intentions of introducing the same emergency tariff in the first place. Was it really done to navigate the country through this critical period of “low water levels” at our major hydro-power stations, and thereby necessitating the importations to cushion power shortages? Or was the same emergency hike introduced as sort of a ‘pilot project’ to test the waters for its permanent safe landing, in keeping with the ‘cost reflective’ proclamation?
But Zambians are watching. If you are going to promise people that you would charge them more for the electricity they will be buying in order to enjoy a bit more electricity, you surely have no right to gaslight them once your wish has been effected. Zambians deserve more actually from the huge amounts they are spending on energy. And we urge every Zambian, regardless of their political party affiliations to demand the fulfillment of what they were promised by their government.
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