REA wants universal electricity access added to Grow Zambia targets

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The Rural Electrification Authority has called for universal electricity access to be incorporated into the government’s Grow Zambia Agenda, arguing that rural electrification is critical to achieving inclusive economic growth.

REA Chief Executive Officer Alex Mbumba says government’s target of achieving 100 percent electricity access by 2030 should be explicitly included among the Grow Zambia targets.

Eng. Mbumba says electricity is a catalyst for development, particularly in rural communities where access to power can unlock opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, mining and small-scale businesses.

Eng. Mbumba says the benefits of the Grow Zambia Agenda must reach households at the lowest level, and this can only be achieved if communities are connected to electricity.

He says electrifying rural households will allow communities to participate directly in economic activities and benefit from growth in key sectors.

Eng. Mbumba says REA is therefore implementing both grid and off-grid projects to ensure that no community is left behind.

He says electricity supplied to rural areas should not be limited to household lighting, but must also support small businesses that can grow into viable enterprises and supply goods and services to urban markets.

Eng. Mbumba says rural electrification is also essential for improving access to health services.

He says providing electricity to health facilities will improve the storage of medicines and help attract and retain health workers in rural areas.

The REA chief executive officer says electricity is equally important to improving the quality of education in rural communities.

He says electrification of schools has the potential to improve access to information and communication technology, support adult education and help retain teachers.

Eng. Mbumba says these interventions are necessary to prepare rural communities for the industrialisation that the Grow Zambia Agenda seeks to achieve.

He says REA is also contributing to the government’s target of generating 10,000 megawatts of electricity through its off-grid programmes.

According to Eng. Mbumba, the Authority plans to contribute about 108 megawatts by 2031 through approximately 1,400 mini-grids to be established across the country.

He says the projects are drawn from the Rural Electrification Master Plan and will form part of Zambia’s broader effort to expand electricity generation and access.

Eng. Mbumba says universal electricity access will ultimately help create healthier, better-educated and economically productive rural communities capable of contributing to Zambia’s wider economic transformation.

Ends

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