Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 18th March, 2025.
Lusaka, Zambia.
The government of Zambia has sharpened its focus on energy sector accountability, with Energy Minister Makozo Chikote issuing a firm directive to ZESCO Limited to strictly comply with the established seven-hour load management schedule. This call for discipline comes amid rising public frustration over unpredictable power cuts disrupting homes, businesses, and essential services nationwide.
Speaking after a high-level meeting that brought together ZESCO’s entire leadership, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), and newly appointed Permanent Secretary for Electricity, Arnold Simwaba, Minister Chikote emphasized that public trust in the power utility hinges on reliability and transparency.
“ZESCO must uphold its commitment to the announced schedule and enhance communication with consumers. The era of casual service delivery is over,” Chikote stated, warning that inefficiency and complacency within the utility will not be tolerated.
Beyond enforcing load management consistency, the Minister made it clear that energy decisions must remain technical, not political. He called for professionalism in every aspect of ZESCO’s operations, highlighting the New Dawn Government’s unwavering support for long-term energy solutions that include investment in alternative energy sources and critical infrastructure upgrades under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.
The meeting also zeroed in on Zambia’s ambitious plan to add 1,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid by the end of the year — a key target set by President Hakainde Hichilema. Minister Chikote instructed ZESCO to accelerate project delivery and committed to personally engaging independent power producers (IPPs) to fast-track private-sector contributions to Zambia’s energy expansion.
While imports from regional partners will continue as a temporary stabilizing measure, Chikote reaffirmed that self-sufficiency in power generation remains the government’s long-term objective. He further cautioned ZESCO to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to security installations and institutions critical to public safety.
ZESCO Board Chairperson Vickson N’cube and Managing Director Justin Loongo expressed full alignment with the Minister’s directive. Loongo assured that all new projects would be completed on schedule and that ZESCO was committed to enhancing generation capacity, improving operational efficiency, and maintaining open communication with the public.
Minister Chikote concluded by stressing that sustained collaboration between the government, ZESCO, and private energy players will be essential to building a stable, reliable energy future capable of supporting Zambia’s economic growth.
The Agency.