The Zambian government has announced that the country is set to experience a significant reduction in load shedding by June 2025. Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa made this statement during a press briefing on Tuesday, highlighting that the government’s efforts to address power shortages are on track and that a decrease in power outages is expected soon.
Mweetwa revealed that experts from the Zambezi River Authority, who briefed the Cabinet on the current state of the country’s energy supply, projected that load shedding would begin to de-escalate by June. He attributed this positive development to the country experiencing what he described as “unprecedented rains” over the past two decades, which are expected to improve the water levels at key hydroelectric power plants, particularly those along the Zambezi River. These favorable weather conditions are set to enhance electricity generation capacity and reduce the need for load shedding in the coming months.
“With these rains, we now have unprecedented rainfall in the last two decades, and we expect that the situation will improve. Yesterday, the experts updated Cabinet with their projections, and we expect load shedding to start decreasing significantly by June,” Mweetwa explained.
In addition to addressing energy concerns, Mweetwa responded to ongoing criticisms from Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata, Gabriel Msipu Phiri, who has been vocal in his disapproval of the government’s performance. Mweetwa stated that, going forward, the government would respond to Bishop Phiri’s statements in his personal capacity, rather than engaging with him as a representative of the Church. He indicated that the government would no longer entertain personal attacks on its work and would focus on addressing the country’s broader issues, such as economic development and poverty alleviation.
“Going forward, we will be responding to Bishop Phiri in his personal capacity when he attacks the government. We acknowledge that everyone has the right to their opinions, but we believe that criticisms should be constructive and not based on personal animosity,” Mweetwa remarked.
Furthermore, Mweetwa emphasized that the development needed to eradicate poverty in Zambia is a long-term process. He stated that it was unrealistic to expect significant change in just one or two years, given the depth of poverty the country has faced over many years. “The development of one or two years cannot eradicate the poverty that was created over a long period of time. It takes sustained effort, commitment, and long-term strategies to bring about real change,” he said.
Mweetwa’s remarks come at a time when the government is working to stabilize the energy sector and implement policies aimed at reducing poverty and promoting economic growth. While challenges remain, particularly in addressing historical issues of poverty, the government remains optimistic that the situation will improve as the country makes progress on its energy and economic goals.