Mwinilunga residents ask Rupiah to deliver on promise

Mwinilunga residents ask Rupiah to deliver on promise
By Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Tue 01 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

MWINULUNGA residents have asked President Rupiah Banda's government to honour its promise to have the district connected to the Lumwana Mine power grid.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Mwinilunga district commissioner Webster Samakesa said the residents wanted to know what had happened to the promise the late president Levy Mwanawasa made to them.

"During a community meeting I had with them (residents) they wanted to know what has happened to the promise late president Mwanawasa made to them to, have the district connected to Lumwana. I told them that it is not only Lumwana the district can be connected to. Even Copperbelt Energy (CEC) can solve the problem," he said.

Samakesa said people in the area were concerned about the constant breakdown of the diesel propelled generator leading to blackouts in the district.
"Last week I had a meeting with the residents, they talked about a lot of issues. One of the issues was the procurement of the generator, the current one is obsolete," he said.

Samakesa said because of not having a generator which was not in good condition, the district suffered blackouts from time to time.
"Because of this we cannot effectively carry out our duties, not only us but those in the private sector are also affected," he said.

Samakesa said currently the district only had one generator which was operational while the other broke down and was being worked on.
He said due to non-availability of reliable source of power, many investors were shunning to go and put their investments in Mwinilunga.
Samakesa also said Mwinilunga residents demanded that the government expedite the construction of the hydro-power station in the area.

"But I told them that that project cannot be done on a short term. It is a long-term project and feasibility studies are going on. I asked people to be patient. Unless the issue of the hydro power is done, we are not going to attract investors," he said.

Samakesa said he had been informed that the construction of the hydro-power station may commence next year.