By Arnold Tutu
Government will spend more than 200 million US dollars, approximately 4.6 billion Kwacha, on a nationwide solar energy rollout under the new Presidential Constituency Energy Initiative -PCEI.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, NICHOLAS PHIRI, says an initial 100 million US dollars, or 2.3 billion Kwacha, has already been secured to kick-start the project.
Mr. PHIRI says 40 million dollars, equivalent to 920 million Kwacha, will come from the Constituency Development Fund -CDF, while 60 million dollars, or 1.38 billion Kwacha, will be provided as equity by ZCCM–IH.
He adds that the remaining 100 million dollars required to meet the total project cost will be sourced from financial institutions and banks.
To raise the CDF portion, Mr. PHIRI says government has restructured the 2026 fund, releasing 35.9 million dollars, or 826 million Kwacha, from the loan and disaster components.
However, he notes that this still leaves a 94-million-Kwacha gap towards the CDF’s required equity.
Mr. PHIRI says the shortfall will be covered through contributions from communities, with each constituency expected to contribute about 5.9 million Kwacha, although only 603,000 Kwacha of that will come from community projects.
He told ZNBC News that the restructuring will not disrupt ongoing or planned CDF projects, including chiefs’ palaces, maternity annexes, and water and sanitation infrastructure.
Mr. PHIRI added that Local Authorities will benefit directly, as all 156 councils will earn dividends from their equity in the solar investment, boosting their own-source revenue.
He assured the public that the solar programme will be implemented with urgency, accountability, and strict technical oversight, describing it as a key driver of energy security and improved public service delivery.
Mr. PHIRI further disclosed that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and ZCCM-IH will form a special purpose vehicle to drive this initiative
