GLORIA KANGWA writes
@SunZambian
GOVERNMENT should make use of abundant water resources in North Western Province to boost levels in Lake Kariba for electricity generation and reduce on loadsheding, says Solwezi Diocese Catholic Bishop Charles Kasonde.
Bishop Kasonde said Catholics knew that the primary actor and initiator of development in Zambia was the Government therefore the church should supplement its efforts and help reach out the far flank areas to provide communication platform with the citizens.
He was of the view that problems of loadsheding because of low water levels in the Kariba Dam could be avoided if government turned to North Western Province which had rivers that never dried up.
Bishop Kasonde was speaking when the Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Reverend Godfridah Sumaili paid a courtesy call on him.
“The province is connected to the power grid which is being affected by loadsheding too, but this province has been blessed with seven water bodies namely Zambezi, Maheba, Lunga, Mumbeshi, Mutanda, Solwezi and Kifubwa Rivers all that never run dry.
“Kafue River beams with life because in one way or another these rivers give it life and this is one river that originates in Zambia and ends here too, we can establish several dams on it and put up hydro power stations or irrigation than allow the water go to waste in the Indian Ocean ,” Bishop Kasonde.
Bishop Kasonde said the power cuts being experienced had been foreseen but government should have been proactive to prevent loadsheding which was hampering Zambia’s development efforts.
He said the time was now to involve engineer’s skills to put an end to loadsheding by recycling water at Lake Kariba.
“The cutting of trees especially by charcoal burners, needs to be discouraged because it is affecting the sources of the rivers, ” he said.
