Rural Electrification Authority (REA) Board Chairperson Johnstone Chikwanda says the authority is significantly motivated to continue pursuing government’s mandate of taking electricity to the rural areas in the country.
Mr Chikwanda said the authority has a mandate to provide clean, affordable and sustainable energy access for all by 2030.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Mazabuka Acting District Commissioner, Timothy Mulenga, Mr Chikwanda said inspecting and monitoring ongoing projects is part of the authority’s mandate.
He stated that the authority has been using the Electrification Master Plan document which was rolled out in 2018 and runs up-to 2030 to guide and mentor their works.
He informed the acting DC that the board team will be visiting Manyaana Grid extension project and then proceed to Pemba, Choma, Sonazongwe and Kazungula Districts.
“Places that are expensive to connect to the National Grid, we are opting to use a powered solar system which works well and still benefit the rural people. It is being piloted project in Ngabwe District,” he said.
And Acting Mazabuka District Commissioner Timothy Mulenga commended REA for their great works in trying to improve the lives of the rural people by providing energy.
Mr Mulenga said the Manyaana Extension Grid project by REA in Mazakuka has allowed nearby schools to connect to the national grid.
He highlighted that the Manyaana project has helped pupils learn computer lessons in schools.
“If we look at the Ministry of Education, they have introduced computer lessons in schools. It is cheaper for schools to conduct those lessons when using power unlike using generators which are expensive as they use fuel,” he said.
He urged REA to consider expanding their operations in other parts of Mazabuka so as to cater for the remaining 24 schools in Haanjalika Chiefdom that need to be connected to the national grid.
The program has done well in my village.
This organisation is a sham …it has been ongoing for the last 40 years. It has no project completion
I agree with #2 Tarino Orange, aka the Jay Jay. These guys have been rather slow to implement this project. This initiative has been funded by the donor community and there’s nothing to show for all these years. Isolated pockets here and there when they were supposed to cover the entire country by now. The motivation shouldn’t have to come from the government… it should come from fulfilling the mandate of and objectives of your job; and the money you are being paid. I thought I heard the Zambian civil service introduced performance review, this dude right here should receive ‘not meets expectations’.
Johnstone Chikwanda is the most CORRUPT chairperson around and should be INSTANTLY replaced and investigated for malpractice. He “designed” many projects and got in on the supply side. ACC where are you???
Jigga Kayama Sim…. – This REA would have been completed by now if it was aligned with solar power in isolated areas but these people are stuck with the old adage of connecting everyone via the national grid but we know that connecting to the national grid comes with lucartive contracts to supply wooden poles and subcontracting labour.
No Corruption Zambia – Yes you are correct Johnson Chikwanda is another one who should never be on that board as he is the most compromised person on that board. He used to applaud everything the PF did in the energy sector just to hold to such positions.
I am hereby appealing to the Minister of Energy to dissolve this board and this corrupt Chairman…have you forgotten the rubbish this guy was saying in the media during load shedding just google his name
Lies and hoodwinking to keep positions should stop. Talking of some small projects here and there when they were receiving huge amounts of donor monies. The entity was politically warped and so was their delivery. Let them share the project values of what they delivered across the whole country.