Maravi

Zesco isn't for sale - Levy

Zesco isn't for sale - Levy
By Brighton Phiri and Christopher Miti in Chama
Wednesday May 21, 2008 [04:00]

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa yesterday maintained that the government will not privatise Zesco because provision of electricity services to rural areas will not be realised if the company is sold. And Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika said Malawi has the capacity to generate 1,500 Megawatts of electricity and that it was ready to share the power with Zambia. During the commissioning of the electricity project connecting Chama district in Eastern Province to the Malawi national grid in Chama, President Mwanawasa said if the government had accepted the proposal to privatise Zesco, the rural population would have been deprived of power supply as the private sector could have asked for increased tariffs beyond their reach.

"My government opted to commercialise Zesco as opposed to concessioning or privatising it because of its strategic national importance. Zesco is a vehicle for economic and social development of our country and it is the intention of government to ensure that Zesco continues to play its role of providing essential services which in turn will enhance economic developmental activities," President Mwanawasa said. "Electricity plays an important role in stimulating industrial and economic activities and Chama is bound to benefit from the project as it is blessed with abundant natural resources such as large tracts of fertile soils for farming, good climate, good rainfall, mineral deposits and wildlife."

He also said there was evidence of oil and copper deposits in Chama which could be explored now that the district had been connected to hydro electricity supply.
President Mwanawasa urged Chama residents to take full advantage of the electricity to increase food production.

He further appealed to Chama residents to look after the Zesco infrastructure and exercise responsibility by settling their electricity bills promptly.
President Mwanawasa said the project cost the Zambian government about US$200,000.
And Dr Wa Mutharika said electricity was an important factor in the social transformation of the people.

He said Chama was the second district to benefit from the Malawi electricity grid after Lundazi which was connected in 2004.

He said his government readily supported the project because Zambians and Malawians were one people sharing similar hopes and aspirations.
President Wa Mutharika urged Zambians in Chama to take advantage of the cross border electricity supply to boost the district's tourism potential.

He commended Zesco and Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) for the completion of the project.

"I share with you the joy that Malawi and Zambia are getting closer each day. We are united in promoting the prosperity of our people. I am impressed with the brotherly relationship with President Mwanawasa. We will work together and consult in order to serve," said Dr Wa Mutharika.
The commissioning ceremony was characterised by traditional dances from both Malawi and Zambia.

Also involved in the dances were MMD cadres and Malawi's ruling Progressive Party supporters.

Earlier when he addressed MMD supporters at Lundazi airstrip, President Mwanawasa assured the people of Eastern Province that the contractor for the Chipata-Lundazi Road would be on site by next Friday.

On Monday, President Mwanawasa blasted the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for failing to pay local farmers on time when the government had been giving it a lot of money.
Addressing a public rally in Vubwi Constituency in Chadiza, President Mwanawasa challenged FRA to explain why they were failing to pay peasant farmers when they collected people's maize and sold it.

"Why is it that salaries for Food Reserve Agency workers are more than what we pay in government? This year FRA has to demonstrate that the money that is given to them is growing," President Mwanawasa said. "If it will mean that we will scrap FRA on account of failing to fulfill their mandate, we will do it. You collect produce from peasant farmers and sell it and government gives you subsidies, you deposit and later you borrow money from the bank and deposit in your account and you fail to pay for the maize that you have collected from the farmers. Why can't you delay paying workers and pay the farmers first?"

President Mwanawasa said his government had broken its back for the people of Zambia and not for very few individuals in FRA.

He said the government would continue with the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) and had directed FRA not to close any of its satellite depots.
And earlier when he addressed Chewa chiefs Mwangala, Mulolo, Zingalume and Pembamoyo, President Mwanawasa asked them to utilise the vehicles they received from the government for the benefit of their subjects.

He told the chiefs that he was delighted to see some of the traditional leaders applying for tractors and vans, which would benefit their subjects.
"I hope the vehicles will not be bashed before the loans are cleared," President Mwanawasa said.

He assured the chiefs that Chadiza hospital would be completed.
On the MMD leadership, President Mwanawasa directed provincial chairman Kennedy Zulu to engage the ward development committees in planning and strategising on issues of national development.

He said the exercise should be extended to district committees so that they could have an opportunity to meet with him as Republican President in person to discuss and share with him their proposed action plans.

"I will come with at least 10 Cabinet ministers and the secretary to the Cabinet here to the Eastern Province to sit as a Cabinet to consider the grievances of the outstanding committees from the competition," said President Mwanawasa.

Labels: CHIEFS, MWANAWASA, NEOLIBERALISM, PRIVATISATION, ZESCO

posted by MrK @ 3:38 AM