President Edgar Lungu has directed the Ministry of Energy to prioritise power supply to hospitals and health centres starting midnight today.
The President has further directed the Ministry to prioritise power supply to water supply operations in the country to avert shortages in water supply.
President Lungu said this is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly saying the inability to have adequate water, generate adequate power, grow enough food have all been greatly caused by the effects of climate change.
In his state of the nation address under the theme, “accelerating sustainable development for a better Zambia amidst the impact of climate change”, the Head of state said as he sometimes drives around the city, he has seen more areas of darkness due to load shedding because dams that generate power have no water.
He acknowledged that small businesses are dying and food going to waste and some hospitals being load shedded due to low supply of power to the people.
Meanwhile, the president has further directed the ministry of lands and natural resources and the ministry of water development, sanitation and environmental protection to take lead in ensuring that water sources and the land adjacent to these areas are not adulterated by corporate entities or individuals in the name of development.
He urged the two Ministers and their Permanent Secretaries to ensure that the Zambia Environmental management Agency, and the water resources
management authority re-aligns themselves to effectively carry out their mandate and produce the required results immediately.
President Lungu said from today henceforth, he should not see a house or a factory being built adjacent to a water resource, depriving the majority of other Zambians of usage of this resource.
Come to Garneton, Kitwe and speak to residents on Zircon Avenue and surrounding areas, Nkana Water and Sewerage Company religiously shut down water supply to us beginning in August to January every year for 5 years now.
Your statement below will mean a lot to us, otherwise it is just empty and wasted words:
‘Meanwhile, the president has further directed the ministry of lands and natural resources and the ministry of water development, sanitation and environmental protection to take lead in ensuring that water sources and the land adjacent to these areas are not adulterated by corporate entities or individuals in the name of development.
He urged the two Ministers and their Permanent Secretaries to ensure that the Zambia Environmental management Agency, and the water resources…
The ministry might be styupid and follow the Presidential directive and forget about electricity to Mortuaries.
“If CHILDISH were President, there would be no power shortages,” INCOMPOS.
Are you for real bwana Lungu? Your ministers just recently shared plots in Forest Reserve 27 which is a ground water recharge area and also feeds the river systems in the Chalimbana area. Where were you when this was happening? Probably even Findlay has a plot there.
He is a joker I don’t think he even appreciates what is contained in this speech how come his government is ready to fight Harrington over Forests 27 and 42 ….his own ZAF/ Government approved development on a major aquafer that was not approved by ZEMA??? Ba Lungu please take your Presidency seriously …one company suspected to have connections to him already given over 1000 hectares of Forest reserve PLEASE lekeni ukutu t@mba ku Mano twapapata tushenimo Bakateka …it’s better u never even mentioned these things in your speech
@Shameless, it’s no longer funny. SCARY!!
HH was chased away when he wanted to donate a genset to a health facility….PF and its ego and inhumanism
We are not in a war time.
Decrees and commands don’t work what of the barbershop guy the saloon lady, the welder the dj the furniture maker.
What this joke is saying is more like never buy fruits for someone when they are well but rather do so at their hospital bed.
Empty directives based on deficits and debts cannot work.
I blame backward, barbaric and uneducated South Africans for all Zambia’s problem.
The president has advised and encourages back yard gardens which is a good idea.
However it is not tenable because the water bills from say LWSC are not affordable for the majority. They will mercilessly disconnect customers and derive pleasure in their lack of the commodity.
Better too late than never, ai
Awe aba beenaa awe…big loss!! Is this how one can open Parliament which will be discussing a budget without setting a theme for it? Now he wants ZESCO to supply power which is not there instead of telling us how the deficit created by drought will be met so that we have power 24/7? His govt has beaten the record for disrespecting the environment snd degazetting forests! If he means well, let him halt all forest mutilations that are going on! Big joker,taking us for a ride!
Ba opposition, especially imwe ba mumbwe in UPND, you have ever wanted President Lungu to address the nation, now that he has done so you still not satisfied, what on earth are you here for? Just noise makers! Learn from Elias Chipimo, he sensed that he couldnt connect with the people and threw in the towel, ba HH you have light years to connect with the employers (voters) and the best this you could do is to step aside and let someone in your club to try his luck otherwise I see this club called UPND prolonging its perpetual stay in opposition as long as you cling to that position, people dont just trust and believe you.
By the way, HH you used to laugh and bully Mr. Sata that he was too old for Zambia, do you realise that you are too old yourself in 2019 and you will even be older in…
@ Malinso hold tight to the wall or your perch otherwise you’ll be dropped by a sling shot (amalegeni)! Those calling the president to address the nation is traditionally holding a press conference so that the press can openly interact with him bringing to his attention through questions what issues they encounter as they criss cross the country needing addressing or clarification by the president for the benefit of the citizenry! Addressing parliament is different as no MP will question the president even on an issue arising from his speech! President has to address the citizenry through the press!
Iwe Malinso, you think what’s happening in Zambia is normal. The once war torn Rwanda is doing better than us, next people will be going to DRC for holidays! Be serious guys!
Thanks for all your comments I hope your lives are now better off. The two people you are busy propping ECL or hh will sleep well tonight, have three square meals, drive the latest car, dress well and above all can manage without your backing in life….can you say the same about yourself?
I develop breathlessness whenever I hear our kateka speaking so I did not bother to listen! It’s more of the same expensive rituals!
lmfao @ malinso walipena, ati ba mumbwe. I haven’t heard that in ages.
balikwikatisha boi ati deformation of shani shani… kaili you’ve set a precedence. na bene balakwikata ati balitwita ati ba mumbwe.
what is mumbwe btw, is it a hyna or what?
Climate change is the new scapegoat for ECL and his PF`s very poor performance. ECL is a very incompetent President ,a bad pretender and a very lousy comedian.
For sure…….climate change is the new excuse for this utterly incompetent president………
Some 5 years ago South Africa was deep into load shedding. Same as Zambia, They took action while lungu was busy dancing and looting and today we are looking at importing power from them….and lungu is still blaming climate change.
Even 5 years from now this president will still be blaming climate change for load shedding and shortage of maize meal. You wait…..
So, if someone had not thought of donating power backup gadgets, this political directive would not have come! It now makes one wonder whether we do things because it’s the right thing to do or we just have to do things to counter someone’s good will gesture.
As someone who owns a Health Facility, Power backup gadgets are still a must! ZESCO power may still fail so you need emergency lighting especially when you have someone who comes bleeding! You still need emergency light to be able to see! My only advice to Mr Chagwa is to be magnanimous enough to allow his subjects who wish to donate something to do so regardless of motive! Let him be as magnanimous as the late Levy Mwanawasa who never shied away from implementing ideas from the opposition and ultimately he got the credit! Let…
Let citizens donate freely irrespective of their motive. Zambia needs the input from every citizen including opposition leaders! Put them to good use. Be like a father and friend to them. They are not to be treated as enemies! Love establishes a Throne! RB made many donations but the people are wise enough to know when to do a “don’t kubeba.” If it benefits the people, allow it! No need to waste resources sending police to prevent a citizen from interacting freely with fellow citizens! See now how you have benefited from the opposition revelation that clinics were operating without power!