Maravi

MP sees Sioma Falls as WP power source

MP sees Sioma Falls as WP power source
By Edwin Mbulo in Shangombo
Wed 29 Aug. 2012, 10:11 CAT

SINJEMBELA member of parliament Njulu Poniso says the Ngonye-Sioma Falls in Shangombo has the capacity to produce electricity for the whole Western Province. And tourism and arts minister Sylvia Masebo has appealed to the Shangombo community to approach the government through the district commissioner's office to see how they can source funds for various programmes.

During the launch of infrastructure development of Ngonye-Sioma Falls by Masebo, Poniso appealed to the government to consider building a hydro-electric power station at the Ngonye-Sioma Falls in Sioma.

"Power can be generated from the Sioma Falls, the district accommodates power lines to the province but has no electric power. We request the government to consider building a power station here for us to have power," said Poniso.

Zambia has a huge hydro-power capacity considering the abundance of its water resources but lacks investments in the industry due to their costly nature.

So far, the government has planned to develop mini-hydro stations across the country to increase generation capacity to mitigate load shedding brought about by increasing demand for power.

And Masebo said the major problem between the people and the government was lack of communication on how they can source government funds.

"The PF government and I personally will work with you as I have seen that you have the initiative to help yourselves. Until we jointly start educating communities that the natural resources do not belong to President Michael Sata, Masebo or Zawa but that these belong to the communities, we will not conserve them," she said.

Meanwhile, Induna Inandunko of Sitoti village in Shangombo said the PF's aim to eliminate poverty through tourism and arts showed that its government was for the people.

Mulala Mubita Kamutumwa said the launch of the infrastructure development programme to the Ngonye-Sioma Falls was an eye-opener and that it did not come by chance.

Labels: HYDRO POWER, SHANGOMBO

posted by MrK @ 2:41 PM