AFTER months of load shedding that has left many homes dark and households dancing to the unpredictable beat of electricity cuts, ZESCO Board Chairperson Vickson Ncube has offered a fresh wave of hope, revealing that blackouts will be completely wiped out by December this year.
Appearing on Diamond TV on Tuesday night, admitted that Zambia had been in a tight corner where even utilities like ESCOM of South Africa and EDM of Mozambique could not give Zambia power on credit.
But he assured that the tide is turning slowly, as Zambia gradually regains financial credibility in the energy market.
“The reason why at the height of our load shedding we are in such financial stress is because even our own core utilities could not give us power on credit. We had to pay in advance. That is a very difficult situation to be in,” Ncube explained.
He explained that the country has several power projects lined up, some driven by ZESCO and others by private players, all geared towards boosting electricity generation and easing the current strain.
Ncube said the target set by President Hakainde Hichilema for Zambia to produce 1,000 megawatts of solar power this year was not only achievable but could even be surpassed.
“I share that vision 100 percent,” he confidently declared.
“We are going to achieve this 1,000 megawatts, if not more, as a nation. We have enough pipeline projects, both private sector-driven and ZESCO-driven.”
By George Musonda
Kalemba July 3, 2025
