The multi million Kwacha ‘Big Concession’ electrification project in Mumbwa may become a white elephant because public institutions and the other beneficiaries have not met the target of conducting internal wiring of their structures.
This came to light yesterday during a sensitization stakeholders’ meeting held in the office of the District Commissioner.
Rural Electrification Authority (REA) Community Mobilization Officer Naomi Sidono expressed concern that some public institutions such as schools and health institutions have not met the requirement of doing internal wiring of their structures despite the project nearing completion.
Mrs. Sidono said the jointly funded European Union [EU] and government project agreed with public institutions that REA would only drop the service cable up to the shackle while the wiring will be done by the beneficiaries.
She wondered how the institution will manage to meet the monthly electricity costs if they were having difficulties to raise funds to do electrical wiring of their buildings.
Mrs. Sidono also expressed concern at Zesco’s alleged failure to educate the electricity beneficiaries in the farming block on the procedures and amounts involved for one to be connected.
But Mumbwa District Medical Officer Christopher Dube said Kaindu Rural Health Centre had already been wired while the remaining health centers will be completed by end of March this year.
The meeting agreed to involve investors in the farming block to help the Ministry of Education to wire the buildings.
The schools that need wiring are Kaindu, Big Concession, Kashinka, Kabwanga and Kalenda.
ZANIS
See what happens when you elect class 7 leaders? They can’t implement projects of such complexity. I wonder if Sata even knows what the real meaning of “white elephant” is.
Tumbuka,please have some respect for the president.Who told you that everything has to be done by the president,even wiring a building.Stop expressing your ignorance and bitterness in public!
Tumbuka Pride son of an illiterate *****
When will Zambians stop looking up to the Presidency and the government, even for simple issues that could be sorted out locally
Tumbuka pride, don’t expose your parents that they did not bring you in uncivilised manner. Behave yourself.
hahahahaha..indeed ..you right Tumbuka pride..!lol..he needs someone to explain to him..lol
Ptsssss!!!
I have a question for Mrs Sidono, as the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) Community Mobilization Officer isn’t it your responsibility is ensuring that the rural centres are do their part? Is it not your responsibility to report the reasons why some institutions have failed to put in the wires? If not you then who?
“She wondered how the institution will manage to meet the monthly electricity costs if they were having difficulties to raise funds to do electrical wiring of their buildings.”
Aren’t there supposed to be reports and studies to give you an idea of these rural centre’s ability to do so? Did the government make these funds available to them, if so who is responsible for them being “misappropriated”? SOMEONE ANSWER ME!!!!