ZESCO Limited recently announced that, the current power load shedding in Zambia would worsen because the electricity firm has lost an additional 150 megawatts (MW) due to the shut-down of the Kafue Gorge Power Station to allow for repairs.

“The energy deficit has been compounded by the general power deficit that is being experienced in the Southern African region as imports are not available,” the statement says. ZESCO immediately increased load shedding to take care of the 150MW loss.

The new power cuts affects all customer categories: residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial and mining.

“We would like to reassure our customers that ZESCO engineers and the contractor are working round-the-clock to rectify the problem. ZESCO will provide an update on the repair works as soon as more details become available.”

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Speaking on arrival at Lusaka International Airport on his arrival from Madagascar, President Mwanawasa says the interests of Zambians will remain paramount in the dispute mining companies have raised over the revised mining tax regime because citizens are merely asking for a fair share of their own wealth.

Dr Mwanawasa was concerned that the mining companies were criticising Government for asking for a fair share of the country’s resources when the people who voted Government into power have welcomed the new taxes.

“At the beginning of my administration, I said where there is conflict between the people of Zambia and something else, the interests of Zambians will be paramount,” President Mwanawasa said. “I am unable to understand how they can criticise us when we are asking for a fair share of our resources.”

The President said his was a listening Government and he was, therefore, inviting the mining companies to meet the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Ng’andu Magande, and Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Kalombo Mwansa, to discuss the matter.

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