Mwanakampwe calls for more access to energy

Central Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Milner Mwanakampwe has called for a concerted push towards improved energy access across the country, positioning reliable power as the fundamental catalyst for productivity under the newly launched Grow Zambia Agenda. Dr. Mwanakampwe stressed that economic transformation, particularly in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and local commerce, cannot be fully realized while power deficits continue to constrain regional output and industrial potential. The call comes at a crucial time as the government rolls out its ambitious multi-year economic blueprint aimed at expanding national generation capacity, boosting regional power trade, and diversifying the energy mix toward renewable sources such as solar and wind. Central Province, serving as a vital agricultural and industrial heartland, stands to play an indispensable role in achieving national production targets, making energy reliability an urgent local priority. Local authorities and regional administrators have increasingly underscored the link between decentralized energy infrastructure and grassroots economic empowerment. Without consistent electricity supply, small and medium enterprises—alongside crucial rural agricultural irrigation schemes—face severe operational bottlenecks that inhibit employment generation and wealth creation. Dr. Mwanakampwe's remarks reflect a growing administrative push to bridge the infrastructure gap and ensure that provincial productivity aligns with broader national development objectives. Observers note that while the central government has outlined bold targets to scale up generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts and expand rural electrification, execution at the provincial and district levels remains paramount. Public service officers have been urged to remove bureaucratic hurdles and actively support private sector and citizen-led investments in alternative energy solutions. Achieving the objectives of the Grow Zambia Agend