It’s criminal to sell electricity to other countries while the poor suffer —APC leader, Msoni

All Peoples Congress (APC) has described the nationwide blackout being experienced in the country as unprecedented and an outright criminal conduct.

APC president Nasson Msoni said President Hakainde Hichilema should be honest in dealings with the public on matters of electricity rationing.

“The nationwide blackout experienced yesterday is unprecedented and is outright criminal conduct,” Msoni stated.

Read more: ZESCO to start scheduled load shedding programme Tuesday

He said on Wednesday that this was not what citizens had bargained for pursuing a regime change.

“We urge the government to desist from playing ’dirty’ as citizens prepay for the services to the utility company. This means that citizens are in essence paying the utility company in advance and expect to receive a good service and value for their money,” Msoni said.

He said the government was exercising poor judgment on its part to deprive electricity from their own citizens in order to make profits by selling power to neighbouring countries.

Msoni said the government should consider the fate of the sole traders who desperately depend on electricity to make ends meet.

“We implore and urge the government to be honest in its dealings with citizens when carrying out a programme. When the government promises six hours of load shedding it must be six hours and not 12 hours,” he said.

Msoni said it was impossible for citizens not to feel cheated by the behaviour and conduct of the government on the question of load shedding.