KANCHIBIYA MP CALLS FOR AFFORDABLE SOLAR ENERGY SOLUTIONS

By Scoop Reporter

KANCHIBIYA Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Sunday Chanda   has appealed to the Government to urgently provide affordable solar energy solutions for poor households in Zambia.

In a statement to The Scoop this morning, Mr. Chanda says as Zambia continues to grapple with the challenges of insufficient electricity generation, especially during prolonged droughts that impact hydroelectric power generation, it has become increasingly urgent for the nation to diversify its energy mix.

He says solar energy presents a viable and sustainable solution for the country, blessed with abundant sunshine throughout the year.

He however says a significant portion of our population; approximately 54.4% of Zambians; live below the poverty line, according to the latest data from the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats).

He says many households, especially in rural and peri-urban areas, are unable to afford the high upfront costs associated with solar energy installation.

“While the Government has made strides toward improving access to electricity, over 60% of Zambia’s population remains off the grid, with access rates in rural areas as low as 4.4%. For those without reliable electricity, the consequences are stark; children struggle to study after dark, households are unable to store food or medicine properly, and economic productivity is limited.

“In recent years, power outages and load-shedding have worsened the situation for households and small businesses, further underscoring the need for alternative energy sources. Solar power is an excellent solution, but the upfront costs for solar panels, inverters, and battery storage systems remain prohibitively high for most poor households. The average cost of a basic solar home system is estimated to be around ZMW 12,000 to ZMW 20,000, far beyond the reach of many Zambians living on less than ZMW 1,500 per month,” Mr. Chanda said.

He says given this context, there is a need for the Government to take a bold and innovative approach to solar energy by developing affordable, flexible financing models that provide poor households with access to solar energy.

“To further support poor households, the Government could subsidize a percentage of the installation costs, targeting vulnerable households through the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) program. This would alleviate the financial burden and incentivize the transition to clean, renewable energy.

“The Government, in collaboration with microfinance institutions, can develop micro-loan packages that are specifically designed for solar energy installations. These loans could have low-interest rates and flexible repayment terms, allowing households to pay back the loan over an extended period,” he said.