REA LIGHTING PEOPLE'S HEART

 

BY CYNTHIA NKHATA

 Electricity is a commercial form of energy that significantly contributes to meeting human energy needs in agricultural production/processing, household uses, industrial processes, transportation and social services. The importance of electricity compared to other forms of energy can be gauged by the relative diversity of energy needs electricity can meet. 

In rural areas or areas away from main cities and towns, access to reliable and affordable electricity has the potential to improve the provision of social services such as health and education. Electricity could facilitate provision of health services on a 24-h basis. In schools, students could spend more time on their studies. Access to electricity could also reduce the time and effort individuals, particularly women and children, spend on collecting firewood and other fuels. Instead, the time could be spent on economic activities and going to school in the case of children.

Availability of electricity could help stimulate agricultural production and processing, enhance tourism and facilitate small-scale mining operations in rural areas, thus creating employment and reducing poverty levels. The Rural Electrification Authority of Zambia (REA), created by an Act of Parliament in 2003, has a mandate to provide electricity infrastructure to all rural areas using appropriate technologies. REA which is part of the government and falls under the ministry of lands and Energy and water Development, its aim is to increase the electrification rate to 51% by 2030, and thereby enhance living standards and productivity, while improving quality of life for all Zambians.

In the next few years, REA is the focal point of a number of initiatives – including capital subsidy support, solar, mini-grid and hydro projects – that will enable new and existing energy service providers to reach thousands of new customers in rural and peri-urban areas.

The Rural Electrification Authority – REA revealed that they plan to electrify about 15,195 households in the current year 2023. This marks a huge milestone in making electricity available to rural folks, a key catalyst for driving sustainable local development.

REA Chief Executive Officer – CEO Eng. Linus Chanda said a total of K1.97 billion which include the committed funds and other funds coming from cooperating partners is currently available for the 2023 projects.

"About K362 million representing 43.6% of REA’s 2023 capital budget, has been allocated to grid development projects which include grid extension, grid intensification and grid densification. This allocation will translate into sixty-two new projects (62) targeting sixty-five (65) rural growth centres, which will in turn result in at least 12,000 connections," Eng. Chanda, said.

Meanwhile Mbabala Member of parliament Joseph Munsanje says he is looking forward to the completion of the of the project at simaubi ward in Choma constituency where Rural electrification is connecting the new Simaubi secondary school and the primary and the clinic and as well as about 200 plus surrounding houses.

'We are very happy with this project about this REA project because this is going to  open up the area that had no  electricity all together so we are very excited because it is going to impact on a lot of things such as improving education outcomes for our children who are now going to be able to access computers and also increase the studying hours for them especially that it is a secondary school they have lab tests to be done and they have got exams in science that will need electricity and then in the clinic we have premature births and a number of operations which will need electricity at the clinic  and in the community it will reduce on charcoal burning which is of our challenges in our communities usng fire hood will reduce on carbon emission to the country and preserve our forest and the quality of life will improve for our communities because houses can watch TV and be informed to what is happening in the country,"Honourable Munsanje said.

Speaking in an interview Hon Munsanje said he is looking forward to other four wards to be connected by the rural electrification authority

The Rural Electrification Authority is implementing 85 projects, 62 are Grid Development Projects while 23 are Off Grid Renewable Energy Projects.

The projects target to connect a total of 15120 beneficiaries comprising 161 Schools, 161 Rural Health Centres, 26 other public facilities 18 Markets, 98 Chief's Palaces and 14738 Households.

In the continued effort to increase access to electricity to rural areas, the Zambian Government, through the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), has been implementing the rural electrification programme to ensure that all rural areas in Zambia have access to electricity by the year 2030.

In tezhi Tezhi district the community in Chief Chikaza Munyama's area is happy that Rural Electrification Authority has answered their cries after so many years of not having electricity.

The community is looking forward to the new beginning of drinking cold water thanks to Rural Electrification Authority as they will soon say buy to the dark old days of not having electricity in their homes, schools,clinics and at the police station .

Zero access to electricity in rural areas perpetuates the poverty cycle. Rural electrification is key to unlocking the potential in these communities and provides a canvas for innovative and creative ways to plug in ordinary people.

Government through the ministry of finance need to allocate more money to the rural electrification Authority so that even those who have been left out can also see the potential benefit of electricity as they say love is like electricity sometimes; it may shock you anytime, yet you cannot live without it.