By Mark Ziligone
Government says the newly approved Presidential Constituency Energy Initiative (PCEI) marks a historic shift in Zambia’s development approach, positioning communities as direct participants in the country’s economic and energy agenda.
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane announced that Cabinet approved the initiative on November 24, which will transform how development is delivered through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Under the programme, all 156 constituencies will each construct a 2-megawatt solar power plant, valued between K65 million and K85 million, to serve as permanent income-generating public assets owned by local communities.
Dr. Musokotwane explained that the initiative elevates CDF from a primarily social-support mechanism into a strategic investment tool designed to stimulate enterprise, create wealth, and strengthen grassroots participation in national infrastructure development.
He noted that the programme builds on Government’s decentralisation agenda, which saw CDF increase from K1.6 million to K35 million in 2021, with allocations expected to rise to K40 million per constituency in 2026, following a K6.2 billion allocation in the 2026 national budget.
Dr. Musokotwane added that selling electricity generated by the solar plants to ZESCO will create predictable income streams, enabling constituencies to finance their own development priorities while reducing reliance on Treasury grants.
He further highlighted that the PCEI will create opportunities for local contractors and expand economic activities for women and youth, particularly in rural communities.
