REA'S ELECTRIFICATION DRIVE: MOUs FORGE BRIGHTER FUTURES IN RURAL ZAMBIA

It is a well-known fact that the Rural Electrification Authority-REA whose overall mandate is to provide electricity infrastructure to rural areas using appropriate technologies has since its inception in 2006, implemented a wide range of projects using grid extension, solar home systems and mini-grids. 

 

This was initially aiming to raise rural electricity access from 3-percent to 51-percent by 2030, but the target has now been revised  and is expected to be achieved by 2026.

 

While questions may arise regarding its achievability, it is crucial to note that REA's mission has received indirect reinforcement through the Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) it has been signing with local authorities nationwide.

As of November 16, 2023, the Authority has collectively signed 73 MoUs with various local authorities across the country. 

This initiative aligns with the recent government's directive for all Local Authorities to allocate 1 million kwacha from the Constituency Development Fund-CDF towards electrifying identified public institutions crucial for socio-economic development in rural areas.

 

By entering into MOUs with rural constituencies, REA which is regarded as a special purpose vehicle to increase access to electricity in rural areas, is either providing technical support or some funding to implement the projects in these areas while each constituency is required to identify what is called Priority Rural Electrification Projects-PREP.

Justin Mukosa 

According to REA Corporate Affairs Manager, Justin Mukosa the Authority was targeting to sign Memorandum of Understandings with 80 constituencies by the end of 2023 while aiming to electrify 64 development projects in rural areas.

Mr Mukosa indicated that "the Authority is however, hopeful that looking at the pace at which things are moving there is a possibility of this target being surpassed."

 

 "At present [16 November 2023], REA has signed 73 Memorandum of Understandings with local authorities," Mr Mukosa disclosed.

 

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the parent ministry for the 156 councils dotted across the country, views these partnerships as integral to the decentralization agenda under the UPND administration, poised to foster substantial development in rural areas.

 

 "We are actively advancing decentralization, channeling resources to the local level and empowering decision-making within communities. This progress is pivotal in realizing our decentralization objectives," Ministry Permanent Secretary Mambo Hamaundu said.

Ps Mambo Hamaundu 

 Highlighting the critical need for electricity in local communities, Mr Hamaundu recounted the challenges being faced by various social amenities especially health facilities within the local authority's jurisdictions.

The Permanent Secretary said the coming of electricity would go a long way towards motivating civil servants to work in rural areas.

 

 "A number of health facilities operate without a reliable power supply, posing risks to disease treatment and medication storage, significantly impacting the health sector. Additionally, the absence of electricity in certain areas hinders the administration of Information Communication Technology examinations, affecting the functionality of computers. These challenges within local authorities will be mitigated by the coming of electricity resulting from these MoUs,” Mr Hamaundu said.

 

This development has evoked joy and brought about smiles on the faces of various stakeholders, with a union that represents council workers in the country expressing confidence that the benefits emanating from these MOUs will trickle down to council workers. 

 

Emmanuel Mwinsa

The Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union believes that council workers who are also integral parts of the communities with their local authorities catchment areas where these projects are being implemented, will be able to utilize this initiative to access affordable electricity connections for their homes.

 

Union President Emmanuel Mwinsa, complained that without such an initiatives aiming to bring electricity to the doorstep of rural dwellers, council workers might incur substantial expenses to connect their houses to the national electricity grid. 

 

He expressed gratitude to the local authorities that have already signed the MOU with the REA further emphasizing that the program is not only benefiting individual local authorities but also public facilitates such as hospitals, clinics, markets and schools. 

 

He is convinced that the initiative, will generate a significant socio-economic impact in various councils. 

“This program is a welcome move which will be so beneficial to many of rural communities within individual local authorities ,” he said. The program is also beneficial to our members who are also part of the community within the boundaries of the local authority where these initiatives are being implemented. We wish to indicate that local authorities across the country are trying to put up some housing units and so with this initiative of electrifying rural areas via MOUs, workers in the councils will also benefit as they will be able to access the electricity.”

The initiative by REA has also cheered the House of Chiefs as Chairperson, Chief Kaputa who is based in the Northern part of the country believes that the move will help in addressing acts of deforestation especially that most people in rural areas depend on charcoal as a source of energy.

Chief Kaputa

 "I can only think of people taking advantage of the availability of electricity [in their areas] to buy electric appliances such as fridges and stoves. And when you talk of stoves they reduce the use of firewood and subsequently help preserve our forests. So just on that score, the initiative to drive rural electrification through collaboration with the council is a positive move," Chief Kaputa said.

 

Chief Kaputa urged other traditional leaders across the country to "sensitize their subject the importance this program" by underlining the benefits which will come with the electrification of their areas.

 

Traditional leaders also encouraged REA to continue exploring different initiatives to ensure that as many people as possible have access to electricity in rural areas.

 

Commenting on the subject matter [the signing of MOUs between REA and local authorities,] a Lusaka-based Energy Expert Boniface Zulu expressed optimism that the program places the authority on the right trajectory in as far as its mandate is concerned.

 

He applauded the initiative highlighting its potential to significantly alleviate energy poverty in rural communities of the country.

Engineer Zulu

Engineer Zulu emphasized that local authorities do not only have a better understanding of the challenges of lack of electricity within their locality but also the critical areas which need to be prioritized when it comes to electrification of rural areas.

 

 “REA needs to be encouraged to continue working hand in hand with local authorities especially the councils in order to bridge the electricity access gap in rural areas,” Engineer Zulu said.

 Engineer Zulu also called on the government to continue supporting the authority to ensure it achieves its mission.

 

He said with the current low electricity access rate in the country, hovering around 31 percent, Engineer Zulu commends REA's initiative, predicting its potential to drive economic and social development.

 

"limited electricity access is a hindrance to the country's economic growth, which demonstrates that energy is the crucial catalyst for the nation's economy. The low access to electricity is an impediment to growing the country’s economy and so we expect that going forward there will be massive development in rural areas as energy is the key driver to the economy,” he said.

This is why REA Chief Executive Officer, Linus Chanda in his recent virtual address during the orientation workshop for local authorities on the implementation of projects under CDF made a passionate appeal to the local authorities in the country to take advantage of the 1 million-Kwacha set aside in the CDF for rural electrification and increase access to electricity.

 

Mr Chanda said there was a need for the councils to expedite projects earmarked for electrification as funds are readily available in the CDF.

picture to illustrate some MOUs REA has so far signed with some councils.

Picture credit: REA

 He explained that this is why REA signed Memorandum of Understanding with over 73 councils across the country to intensify the connection of electricity to communities that have challenges accessing the service.