By Muyambango Ngumbele
Ministry of Mines and Energy has allocated an amount of N$17.8 million for Zambezi region for the 2024/2025 national budget.
This was announced by Hon.Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy during a courtesy visit to Zambezi Governor , Lawrence Sampofu on Monday.
Honorable Alweendo who is currently visiting Zambezi region, said that his ministry is willing to electrify the flood prone areas as well as the schools but the main problem are the limited resources which the ministry seems to have at hand and once the resources are enough, the plan is to use them effectively in such a way that it brings something better.
He added that there is a budget to be given to each and every region of the country and in that budget Zambezi region will be given an amount of 17.8 million dollars to develop rural electrification. This engagement is already set and should be agreed on how to use that amount of money in Zambezi region.
“I hope we quickly came up with that decision and started to implement that because we do not want a situation where suddenly we have more resources but we don’t use them” he explained.
At the same occasion, Zambezi Governor Sampofu who explained the condition of the region in terms of drought and natural disaster specifically on flood prone areas which are seemed to be delayed in terms of energy supply and he also touched on schools which need to be electrified mostly in the Kabbe North Constituency.
He added saying electrifying these areas of schools will bring a brighter development and might increase the passing rate of those schools , as learners will study during the night and for those in flood prone areas can stay in schools during the flood instead of going back home which can cause another problem.
The Zambezi Regional Council’s Chairperson of the Management Committee, Hon. Matengu Simushi also came in to add on the topic saying the was project to electrify areas from Masambo to Omega and this ended up in complaints from the Barakwena community members of Ndoro saying that the project must be extended to reach their area as well, one of the complaints was that the team is busy providing electricity to other communities and the same need to be done to them also.
“We have to provide good services for the Barakwenas because they are an indigenous group of people , who came first and occupied this land but still they don’t have access to clean water and electricity ” he stressed.
Honorable Matengu Simushi also touched on the issue of the flood prone areas where he said that he has almost five (5) schools in Kabbe South which are not electrified.
He therefore encouraged the team that if possible they can start working in recent coming days due to the fact that there’s no flood this year and only three months left , the rain might start and this can cause another delay.
“We don’t want solar energy we will wait until that time you provide us with electricity ” Simushi responded boldly from mines and energy minister Alwendo’s proposal of solar energy.
Simushi defended his view saying that Zambezi region normally receives more rainfall per annum, which sometimes the rain takes three to four days and this means it will be cloudy over and the energy will not supply power as it depends on the sunlight. On this regard , people with electrical appliances such as refrigerators , TVs and etc including some businesses will be much affected.
However, responding to Simushi’s comment about the delay , energy minister admitted the delay in saying there are some projects which the ministry had started but unfortunately failed.
“I am really hoping that from now we will finish what we have started and also start what need to be started” promised the minister of energy.
He however justified in saying this will work in a way that they start all projects at once and finish in the next financial year to cut some other costs.
Alweendo further concluded saying that people need to look at other alternative way which seems to be faster to electrify their community and this can be only solar energy which is faster and easier in installation though it’s not 100 percent but at least it can help.
NORED Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Toivo Shoveleka also shared his views regarding the matter of flood prone areas of which he said the matter was communicated earlier between NamPower, Zambezi Regional Council and NORED where they looked at that issue and he said NORED is ready to start the project with no objection but the holding up part is flood which seems to be right this year.
“I am sure as we hit this, we are busy communicating with NamPower to say we can go on with the project”
NamPower’s Senior Manager for Rural Electrification Mr. Benny Hanghome alluded that “I think we are getting somewhere on the country’s needs”.
He pointed out that in the last meeting with NORED and the Zambezi Regional Council they agreed that there is a place somewhere they can continue working in flood prone areas and this is when they will use the off-grid way because it might be difficult to repair a broken pole during rainy and flood season.
Ends…
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