Zambezi gets N$17 million for rural power projects

Minister of mines and energy Tom Alweendo says he is looking forward to seeing regional leaders successfully plan and execute rural electrification projects worth N$17,8 million in the Zambezi region.

Alweendo, who commenced a three-day work visit to the region yesterday, said this during a meeting with the region’s leaders.

The minister said the N$17,8 million budgeted for the current financial year is the biggest the region has been allocated so far.

“Let’s make sure from planning and execution that we do not come to a situation where money available is not spent and people are waiting for us to provide them with electricity,” he said.

Alweendo implored regional councillors to do away with submitting individual requests for priority rural electrification.

This is a challenge for the ministry as it is most likely already working on priority projects identified in reports by respective regional councils, he said.

“We have an agreement in place that all the priority projects must be discussed and agreed upon through the regional council. Therefore, we urge all regional councillors to make those requests through the regional councils,” he said.

Northern Regional Electricity Distributor acting chief executive Toivo Shovaleka highlighted that the distributor is currently busy with peri-urban connections at Bukalo’s shack dwellers housing project and at Kongola at a cost of N$4 million.

“We have 50 connections at Bukalo’s shack dwellers and 100 connections at Kongola. At Choto compounds extension 7, we will do 330 connections and at Choto extension 8, we will do 360 connections at a cost of N$22 million,” he said.