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Hichilema blamed for Zambia's recent electricity blackout
26 Nov 2024 at 20:12hrs | Views
Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has criticized his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, for a nationwide power blackout on Sunday that left hospitals and other critical institutions without electricity.
The power outage, which struck shortly after 8 PM, also affected neighboring Zimbabwe, as both countries continue to grapple with energy shortages caused by low water levels at Lake Kariba, a key source of hydroelectric power.
Zambia's power utility, ZESCO Limited, confirmed the blackout was caused by a system disturbance, but Lungu attributed the crisis to what he called the government's "mismanagement" of the energy sector.
"A Once Vibrant Utility in Ruins"
In a strongly worded statement, Lungu accused Hichilema's administration of dismantling ZESCO through political interference and the removal of skilled personnel after the 2021 elections.
"The national power blackout we experienced last night is an ultimate manifestation and clear confirmation of how ZESCO, our national utility company, has been driven into complete ruins by the New Doom government," Lungu said.
He claimed that professional and experienced staff had been purged for political reasons, leaving ZESCO poorly equipped to manage the country's power needs.
Impact on Lives and Businesses
Lungu suggested the blackout may have led to loss of life in hospitals reliant on electricity for critical medical equipment.
"At what cost in terms of lost lives and businesses will this government take such matters seriously and act to ensure that the lives and businesses are protected?"
Comparing the current crisis to his time in office, Lungu said the Patriotic Front (PF) government never allowed load-shedding to exceed 17 hours. Under Hichilema, he claimed, outages now stretch beyond 48 hours in some cases, severely affecting households and businesses.
Political Blame Game
Lungu's comments reflect the growing tension between Zambia's ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) and the opposition PF, as the country faces mounting challenges in its energy sector.
President Hichilema has not yet responded to Lungu's remarks, but his government has previously blamed the ongoing energy crisis on years of underinvestment and natural factors such as drought.
As the blackout's effects continue to ripple across Zambia and Zimbabwe, the debate over accountability and solutions for the region's power woes intensifies.
The power outage, which struck shortly after 8 PM, also affected neighboring Zimbabwe, as both countries continue to grapple with energy shortages caused by low water levels at Lake Kariba, a key source of hydroelectric power.
Zambia's power utility, ZESCO Limited, confirmed the blackout was caused by a system disturbance, but Lungu attributed the crisis to what he called the government's "mismanagement" of the energy sector.
"A Once Vibrant Utility in Ruins"
In a strongly worded statement, Lungu accused Hichilema's administration of dismantling ZESCO through political interference and the removal of skilled personnel after the 2021 elections.
"The national power blackout we experienced last night is an ultimate manifestation and clear confirmation of how ZESCO, our national utility company, has been driven into complete ruins by the New Doom government," Lungu said.
He claimed that professional and experienced staff had been purged for political reasons, leaving ZESCO poorly equipped to manage the country's power needs.
Impact on Lives and Businesses
"At what cost in terms of lost lives and businesses will this government take such matters seriously and act to ensure that the lives and businesses are protected?"
Comparing the current crisis to his time in office, Lungu said the Patriotic Front (PF) government never allowed load-shedding to exceed 17 hours. Under Hichilema, he claimed, outages now stretch beyond 48 hours in some cases, severely affecting households and businesses.
Political Blame Game
Lungu's comments reflect the growing tension between Zambia's ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) and the opposition PF, as the country faces mounting challenges in its energy sector.
President Hichilema has not yet responded to Lungu's remarks, but his government has previously blamed the ongoing energy crisis on years of underinvestment and natural factors such as drought.
As the blackout's effects continue to ripple across Zambia and Zimbabwe, the debate over accountability and solutions for the region's power woes intensifies.
Source - pindula
