BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes
ZAMBIA is among the 38 countries currently benefitting from an African Development Fund (ADF) which has installed 395 megawatts of power across the continent.
Administered by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Fund comprises 32 contributing states and benefits 38 countries.
The ADF eligible countries include those that were increasing their economic capacities and heading toward becoming the new emerging markets, as well as those that remain fragile and need special assistance for basic service delivery.
According to the AfDB, Zambia was benefitting from the fund through the Itezhi Tezhi Hydro Power project, celebrated for providing clean and renewable electricity to nearly a million people.
The Itezhi Tezhi project is a 120MW base-load hydro power plant being developed at the site of the existing Itezhi Tezhi Dam on the Kafue River.
AfDB in a statement said by the end of its current cycle, the fund would have provided about US$47.6 billion to strengthen fragile societies, in addition to building resilience and giving hope to the vulnerable.
“In South West Madagascar, beneficiaries of a 107km road financed by the Fund said it has not only helped farmers to get their crops to market centres, but also saved lives of pregnant women and the sick by facilitating their timely arrival at health centres,” said the bank.
AfDB also said the fund’s agriculture projects had benefited over 90 million people.
In 38 of the continent’s neediest countries, the fund is creating linkages to promote regional integration, commercial exchanges and enhancing food security.
