The Zambia Consumer Association – ZACA is disturbed that ZESCO seems to have already initiated load shedding with consumer experiences across the country showing that some areas are already reporting that they are currently experiencing prolonged load-shedding and inconsistence supply under the guise of maintenance works.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZACA Executive Secretary Juba Sakala says electricity from the power utility ZESCO sometimes goes the whole day from 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs and at times in different areas goes from 17:00hrs to 23:00hrs, a situation ZACA has attributed to poor planning systems by the power utility company.
“All this is because of poor planning they do not plan for eventualities operating like “katemba” that is what the system is all about.” Sakala told ZBT that the situation being experienced in most areas across the country is disturbing in the past one week as there has been no proper explanationare saying its because or it only happens during the rainy season in most cases but its too frequent and too much.
“We are very disturbed as we do not know if we are going to have power and as we speak some areas of the country have no power and no proper explanation has been given by the power utility company ZESCO.” He remarked.
Sakala explained that, “messages may come today that you may not have power but all the sudden there is power and then two days after that is when you lose out power, sometimes for the whole day without a proper reason or notice being given.”
Meanwhile ZACA Executive Secretary Sakala has challenged the power utility company to take up the responsibility and apologies to the nation as the situation is disrupting businesses. “ZESCO should plan in advance as they are aware that during the rainy season they normally have challenges if they are to suppress this challenge which has been there year in year out.”
He challenged the power utility company ZESCO to be proactive and should not be reactive to the concerns of the general public. Minister of Energy Chibwe Kapala has announced that Zambia will initiate load shedding for about six hours a day from 15 December 2022.
Howwever, there are indications that load sheddding has already began as some areas have been getting eratic supply for the past few weeks with the ZESCO sending messages to customers that they are undertaking maintenance works. But the frequency and schedule for these maintenances have been too frequent.
