By CHUSA SICHONE –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is today expected in Southern Province to grace the Kafue River Diversion ceremony for the construction of the Kafue Gorge Lower Hydroelectric Power Plant Dam in Chikankata District.
The attention President Lungu has continued giving Southern Province has cheered the Patriotic Front (PF) and residents as they viewed the project as the Head of State’s unwavering commitment to address the power deficit in the immediate, short and long-term.
Southern Province PF information and publicity secretary Trymore Mwenda said residents were happy with President Lungu and the Government for the project and others being undertaken in the region aimed at improving the country’s economy.
“We know that once this project is complete, it will not only bring on board additional megawatts (MW) of power, but (it) will also translate into many direct benefits for the people in Southern Province, for instance job creation,” he said.
Mr Mwenda said in a statement yesterday that times were exciting for the people of Southern Province because the number of projects the Government was implementing in the region had continued to grow.
Mr Mwenda noted that the Kafue Gorge Lower River Diversion was coming a few months after the landmark Batoka Gorge project, which was expected to produce 2, 400MW of power, unveiled by Vice-President Inonge Wina in April this year.
“It is these and many such projects across the economic spectrum that as Southern Province we have been and continue to uphold President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s inclusive approach to developing this country,” Mr Mwenda said.
He implored the people of Southern Province, particularly Chikankata residents, to accord President Lungu a befitting warm welcome today as he visited the area on another important tour of duty and that the PF in the region was looking forward to doing so.