ZESCO’s Lusaka Control Centre Senior Manager, Boniface Syasipa, has expressed optimism about the country’s improving power situation, pointing to stronger local electricity generation as a key driver of increased reliability for homes and businesses.
In an interview with ZESCO’s in-house media on April 16, Syasipa noted that the state utility, which supplies around 80% of Zambia’s electricity, is now better positioned to deliver consistent power thanks to recent gains in domestic generation capacity.
“Last year’s drought forced us to depend heavily on imports, which disrupted supply,” he explained. “But with enhanced local production, our power supply is now more stable and predictable.”
Syasipa highlighted that customers are already seeing improvements. Households in Lusaka and Central Province now receive an average of 7.4 hours of electricity per day, while those in the Northern and Southern Provinces enjoy over eight hours. This progress, he said, is a direct result of investments in expanding generation capacity within Zambia.
He also reaffirmed ZESCO’s commitment to small businesses, echoing President Hakainde Hichilema’s call to prioritize them as key contributors to the national economy.
“We encourage entrepreneurs to operate in designated markets that have diesel-powered generators,” Syasipa said. “This ensures a more reliable power supply and supports business continuity.”
Although the full impact of the rainy season on hydroelectric power output is yet to be assessed, ZESCO leadership remains confident in its ability to maintain and even improve electricity delivery across the country in the months ahead.
