“Cut Off My Finger If Load Shedding Doesn’t End By March 2021” - Energy Minister

Energy Minister Matthew Nkhuwa has offered to have his finger cut off if load shedding continues beyond March 2021. 

Speaking at a PF mobilisation meeting in Bemba on Saturday, the energy minister told crowds that work was underway to upgrade the national grid in time for next spring.

“By December this year, we would have commissioned the Kafue Lower and by March next year, all the five machines at Kafue Lower would have started running and that will add plenty of energy to the grid effectively ending load shedding and if this is no done, you can cut off my finger,” he said.

In June however, Mr Nkhuwa promised that load shedding would be substantially mitigated by December this year and that the Kafue Gorge would be generating electricity by August. 

Two weeks ago the minister admitted that Zambia still faced a power deficit of 810 megawatts, with an average generation of only 1,846 megawatts. 

Speaking at the same event on Saturday, Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo told Chingola residents that production at KCM would improve once potential investors are finalised. 

Mr Lusmabo said there were a number of interested investors but that the coronavirus pandemic had hampered discussions with potential new owners.