• President Banda launched commencement of construction works of the 750MW Kafue Gorge Lower on 20th July 2011.
• This project was aimed to be the game changer in Zambia’s energy fortune.
• President Banda also launched the 360MW Kariba North Power Extension which is currently fully operational.

Energy Forum Zambia says late 4th Republican President Rupiah Banda contributed immensely to the growth and stabilization of Zambia’s energy sector.

Forum Chairperson Johnstone Chikwanda told Money FM News that Mr. Banda launched the commencement of construction works of the 750 Megawatts Kafue Gorge Lower on 20th July 2011 while he was still in office.

Engineer Chikwanda, who is also an Energy Expert, stated that the project was aimed to be the game changer in the country’s energy fortune and load shedding has since ended with the completion of construction and commissioning of almost all turbines.

He noted that after launching the 360 Megawatts Kariba North Power Extension which is currently fully operational, Mr. Banda also launched the commencement of construction works of the120 Megawatts Itezhi-tezhi hydro power plant, therefore his contribution to Zambia’s energy sector is enormous and shall forever form part of his legacy.

“As a forum, we remember and commend the late former head of state for his enormous contribution to the growth and stabilization of the energy sector in Zambia. To this end, the late former head of state’s legacy must be given credit for having launched the addition of more than 1,000MW of hydro power within his 3 years reign in the alpha position in addition to launching transmission and distribution infrastructure across the country.”

“The forum is of the view that President Banda must also be credited with having launched and implemented the uniform fuel pump prices across the entire country. In the past, each town had different fuel pump prices with more expensive fuel in the rural areas and far-flung areas,” he stated.
Zambia’s fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda died at his home on Friday 11th March 2022 at the age of 85, after a short battle with colon cancer and was put to rest at the Presidential Burial Site in Lusaka on 18th March, 2022.