“MASS POWER BLACKOUTS ARE NOT NEW TO ZAMBIA” – HAMASAKA
State House Chief Communications Specialist CLAYSON HAMASAKA says former President EDGAR LUNGU must be aware that mass power outages are not new to Zambia or the region.
He says even advanced cities like New York have experienced prolonged blackouts, sometimes lasting days before the system is fully restored.
Mr. HAMASAKA says similar events occurred under the late President LEVY MWANAWASA and during Mr. LUNGU’s own presidency.
He says President LUNGU himself was publicly affected by a blackout while watching a football match at Heroes Stadium.
Mr. HAMASAKA says the real issue lies in decades of neglect in diversifying the country’s energy mix and that President HICHILEMA’s administration is currently addressing this.
He says the Former President left the sector in a worse shape and that he burdened the country with significant electricity debt to Mozambique.
Mr. HAMASAKA says that Mr. LUNGU also failed to resolve disputes between Maamba Coal-Fired Power Plant and ZESCO, resulting in costly litigation in London courts.
He says his administration also created chaos in the petroleum sector, failing to remit payments to oil marketing companies despite citizens paying for fuel upfront
Mr. HAMASAKA says Mr. LUNGU’s claims that ZESCO’s current challenges stem from removing “highly qualified engineers” is dishonest.
He said under his leadership, ZESCO payrolls were bloated with ghost workers, including individuals like FRANCIS MUCHEMWA who were paid illegally.
Mr. HAMASAKA says that President HICHILEMA’s government is taking tangible steps to attract investment in electricity generation and supply.
He says that the power projects under implementation are aimed to make electricity one of Zambia’s major exports, diversify energy sources, and support industrial growth.
Mr. HAMASAKA however says that even with these initiatives, nationwide power failures may still occur due to the complexities of interconnected systems.
He said that Former President LUNGU should focus on offering constructive solutions instead of politicizing issues rooted in his administration’s failures.
“MASS POWER BLACKOUTS ARE NOT NEW TO ZAMBIA” – HAMASAKA
