The Rural Electrification Authority has handed over projects amounting to approximately 72.4 million Kwacha to ZESCO, Ministry of General Education and the ministry of Health.
REA acting Chief Executive Officer Clement Chiwele says 13 of the projects are grid extension projects which have been handed over to ZESCO and were carried out at a cost of 47.4 million Kwacha.
Mr. Chiwele has noted that the Authority still has a lot to do to meet the 51 percent rural electrification target by 2030 as current statistics show that only about 4 percent of rural Zambia has power.
Speaking on behalf of ZESCO executive Director Victor Mundende, ZESCO Director for Transmission Webster Musonda says the projects are expected to stimulate investments and unlock economic potential.
Meanwhile Mr. Musonda has advised those contracted to electrify rural houses to include internal wiring as part of the scope of the projects.
Company Director for Transmission Webster Musonda says this following the observation that most beneficiaries of the rural Electrification Projects are left to connect the internal wiring of their buildings unsupervised.
Speaking to the media in Lusaka today, Mr. Musinda says this makes it difficult for the targeted beneficiaries to start accessing electricity in good time.
And Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Jobicks Kalumba says the development is going to open up several opportunities for rural teachers such as access to ICT education.
This was during the official hand over of projects by REA to ZESCO and the Ministries of health and general Education in Lusaka.