Maravi

(ZAMBIANWATCHDOG) Govt owes Zesco $18 million

Govt owes Zesco $18 million

Government owes ZESCO US$18 million in unpaid electricity bills, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy Peter Mumba disclosed on Monday. Mumba disclosed this to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

He told the committee that ZESCO was in a poor financial position and one of the reasons for this was the failure by its customers to settle their electricity bills on time. He said the biggest culprit is the government through its various departments.

He said the various government departments collectively owed ZESCO the US$18 million accrued over a period of time.

PAC said it was unacceptable for government to be one of the biggest debtors to ZESCO and wondered how this money would be collected.

The committee, however, disagreed with the Permanent Secretary’s assertions that one way to improve the company’s balance sheets is by adjusting its electricity tariffs upwards.

Labels: PAC, PARASTATALS, PETER MUMBA, ZESCO

posted by MrK @ 8:48 PM