“Protests canceled after talks”
… Concerned citizens call off demonstrations against ZESCO following successful dialogue with government and management on key issues.
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, 8 August 2024 — A planned protest against ongoing load shedding has been called off following a successful dialogue between concerned citizens, government officials, and ZESCO management.
The meeting, held at the Energy Regulation Authority (ERB) conference room, aimed to address public frustrations over power supply issues and find a constructive way forward.
Nawa Sitali, a representative of the concerned citizens, emphasized that dialogue was preferred over protests. “We canceled the planned protests because we believe that dialogue is more productive,” Sitali stated.
“There is a clear commitment to continue this dialogue, which was our main goal.”
During the meeting, the Minister of Energy addressed concerns about irregularities in power supply schedules.
The Minister assured citizens of the government’s commitment to improving reliability and transparency in the power supply system. This response was met with cautious optimism by the representatives, who valued the government’s willingness to engage.
ZESCO provided an overview of the electricity supply situation and outlined measures to tackle the challenges. The utility company agreed to review power rationing schedules based on feedback from the concerned citizens.
A notable outcome of the meeting was ZESCO’s pledge to enhance its communication strategy.
The company promised to improve the timeliness and clarity of updates through SMS alerts, social media, and customer service lines. ZESCO recognized the public’s difficulties with power schedules and committed to improvements.
Both the Ministry of Energy and ZESCO expressed their dissatisfaction with the current situation, noting that implementing load shedding measures is not desirable.
To ensure ongoing citizen engagement, the Ministry committed to regular consultative meetings to align solutions with public needs.
The discussions also addressed long-term strategies, such as developing alternative energy sources like solar, wind, and biomass.
Timelines and commitments were shared, with assurances that some initiatives are already underway and will soon produce results.
As part of the agreement, the Ministry and ZESCO pledged to be accountable for the timelines and commitments made.
The concerned citizens promised to hold both entities accountable and to support energy conservation through the “switch and save” campaign.
The dialogue was viewed as a positive step, with participants praising the Ministry for its openness.
“The Minister and other officials answered questions and created an environment where everyone felt free to speak,” the representative noted. “This approach is commendable and should be replicated in other areas.”
As the country addresses the energy crisis, the citizens reiterated the need for collective responsibility from both the government and the public.
The successful dialogue has set a precedent for future engagements, demonstrating the value of open communication between the government and its citizens.