By Brian Matambo – Lusaka, Zambia

Patriotic Front presidential hopeful Makebi Zulu has vowed to end Zambia’s crippling load shedding and reverse the country’s rising cost of fuel if elected to lead the PF and eventually the nation. Speaking through a statement on his official Facebook page, Zulu said Zambians have suffered long enough under an energy crisis that has destroyed businesses, increased unemployment, and driven the cost of living to unbearable levels. He said that rather than providing solutions, those in government have continued to point fingers and make excuses, despite previously claiming to have ended load shedding through what they called the “Dubai formula.”

Zulu, who will contest the Patriotic Front presidency at the party’s general conference scheduled for November, said his first priority once in government would be to review the energy sector and rationalise the “reckless export of electricity” that has worsened domestic shortages. He pledged that under his leadership, Zambia’s power generation would serve its people first before being sold to neighbouring countries. He also promised to revive the nuclear energy programme that the current administration abandoned, describing it as a long-term solution that could make Zambia a net power exporter for the sub-Saharan region.

His remarks come at a time when Zambia is experiencing one of the worst power crises in recent years. According to the Energy Regulation Board, the country’s current installed electricity generation capacity stands at about 3,985 megawatts, most of which comes from hydropower plants. Poor rainfall has severely reduced water levels in key dams such as Kariba, forcing ZESCO to implement extended load shedding hours across the country. The power deficit has been estimated at over 700 megawatts, prompting the utility to import electricity to meet domestic demand while continuing to export power under regional agreements.

Industry players and economists have warned that the persistent power cuts have disrupted manufacturing, agriculture, and small-scale trading. Many small businesses now operate on expensive diesel generators, while food and transport costs have risen sharply due to the combined impact of fuel price increases and energy shortages. Analysts say the crisis has eroded public confidence and contributed to Zambia’s broader cost-of-living pressures.

Zulu’s comments draw attention to what he and many within the PF regard as one of the party’s strongest legacies: infrastructure development in the energy sector. When the Patriotic Front assumed office in 2011, Zambia’s installed capacity was around 1,600 megawatts. By the time the PF left government in 2021, that figure had more than doubled to about 3,316 megawatts, supported by large projects such as the 750-megawatt Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station, the Itezhi-Tezhi Hydro Plant, and several smaller generation initiatives. These developments positioned Zambia as one of the fastest-growing power producers in the region.

Although the PF era did not completely eliminate load shedding, it succeeded in expanding the country’s generation base and modernising transmission networks. Rural electrification projects also received attention, though access in remote areas remained limited. Experts believe that if the current government had maintained consistent investment and pursued alternative sources such as solar and nuclear power, Zambia would have been better equipped to withstand drought-related shortfalls.

Zulu’s pledge to revive the nuclear project represents continuity with the PF’s earlier vision. In 2017, the Zambian government under the PF signed an agreement with Russia’s Rosatom to establish a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology and to train local engineers in nuclear energy development. The project, which was expected to diversify Zambia’s energy mix, stalled after the change of government in 2021.

Energy analysts have welcomed Zulu’s emphasis on energy diversification, arguing that Zambia’s dependence on hydroelectricity makes its economy extremely vulnerable to climate change. They say a new PF administration that expands solar, wind, and nuclear power, while improving efficiency at existing hydro plants, could stabilise supply and reduce costs for consumers.

In his message, Zulu described energy as “the driving force of every economy” and said that restoring reliable power would restore hope and productivity across all sectors. “Energy is not just about light, it is about life,” he said. His remarks have since resonated widely online, with citizens expressing frustration over worsening power outages and a deepening economic crisis.

As the Patriotic Front prepares for its elective general conference this November, Zulu’s vision for the energy sector has emerged as a defining theme of his campaign. His message combines the PF’s infrastructure legacy with a forward-looking plan to harness new technologies, restore stability, and put Zambia’s power back in the hands of its people. Whether he succeeds in convincing delegates at the convention will determine not only his political future but also the direction of Zambia’s next national energy policy.