The devastating blow of El Niño to Zambia’s energy sector has been compounded by Hichilema’s shocking incompetence, leaving the nation utterly powerless to combat the catastrophic fallout.
Lusaka, June 16 – El Niño has wreaked havoc on Zambia’s energy and agricultural sectors, but the real catastrophe is Hichilema’s mind-boggling incompetence, which has left the nation utterly helpless against the ensuing disaster.
Also Read:Let’s advocate for patriotism instead of unquestioning allegiance! “Patriotism doesn’t entail blind support for the President but rather endorsing him only as long as he effectively serves the nation.
After giving the boot to professionals from the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), Hichilema replaced them with his party cadres. Now, the situation is so out of hand that even ZESCO can’t keep track of its own load shedding schedule. It’s a classic case of the blind leading the blind.
When Hichilema boasted about ending load shedding shortly after his miraculous 2021 election win, he was merely riding on the coattails of the previous regime’s extensive hydropower infrastructure development, which he has now spectacularly failed to manage.
In “Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience,” Steve Maraboli says that while saying and wanting things is easy, the true challenge and reward lie in taking action.
“Everything is easier said than done. Wanting something is easy. Saying something is easy. The challenge and the reward are in the doing!” Steve Maraboli writes.
While Steve Maraboli suggests that saying something is child’s play compared to actually doing it, President Hichilema seems to miss the memo when it comes to ending load shedding. He can’t even pin down when he’ll tackle the issue!
To put it another way, Hichilema is all talk and no action when it comes to ending load shedding, despite his campaign promises. He’s now caught between a rock and a hard place, not knowing whether Zambia needs more energy to support local industry or forex to pay his bloated civil service payroll.
His misguided mining policies, designed to placate his campaign backers, have left Zambia’s mining sector – the main source of forex – passing the baton to the energy sector. How else can you explain Zambia selling 30% of its electricity while the country is facing a shortage? It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Also Read: Accountability for the Zambia Police’s incompetence rests with President Hichilema! “Wfoodpecker’s Digest perceives the suggestion by President Hichilema of involving the Zambia Army in maintaining law and order as a deliberate step towards distancing the country from democratic norms.”
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