Economist Manasseh Siwila has urged Small and midsize enterprises – SMEs to brace themselves for the effects of the 21 hours’ load-shedding, by partnering with other likeminded entities in a bid to survive the harsh economic times.
Recently Energy Minister Makozo Chikote announced that the Kariba Dam only has a generation capacity of below 10 percent, and henceforth the hours of load-shedding will be increased from 12 to 17 hours effective September 2024 but ZESCO has now effected a 21 hours loadshedding resulting in the power supply of only 3 hours per day.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT) Siwila said the SMEs sector are mostly likely to suffer major shocks due to the lack of power and therefore the only way to sustain themselves to combine skills and resources.
“This is high time we started working together, for instance if one business is highly affected with the same load-shedding, or even many other aspects, let us be Zambians that embrace each other, we must bring about business partnerships, where we can partner and agree on one or two terms, and what is important is that our businesses continuing going amidst the challenges, as it stands we can collaborate and go back to the normal setting when nomacy returns,” he said.
Siwila challenged ZESCO to be proactive in the handling of the power rationing schedule by ensuring that they adhere to the time table, as the Country and SMEs included will only be having 7 hours of electricity per day.
He echoed that the Government must be prudent to fulfill the measures and pronouncements made in the interest of the energy crisis.
“There has been a problem in terms of adherence by ZESCO, because even if they say power will come back at this hour, it will exceed one or more hours, and this affects the businesses, there must be a change in this area, let there be prudence and aspect of honesty by the Government and people have been following every statement given in that regard and it’s them who are failing to make thing better,” he said.
