EFF rejects govt plan to divert Luapula water to Kafue basin, warns against environmental consequences

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has strongly opposed government’s plan to transfer water from the Luapula Region to the Kafue Basin for power generation in times of drought.

Citing a Power-CHINA report from March 2025, EFF leader Kasonde Mwenda warned on Tuesday that the project is both economically unviable and environmentally destructive.

He described the proposed US$17.6 billion investment as a “reckless” move that would exacerbate Zambia’s existing US$15 billion debt burden.

“The financial strain of this project is insurmountable, and borrowing further will only push Zambia deeper into economic peril,” Mwenda said.

He also raised concerns about the environmental impact, stating that the Luapula ecosystem would suffer irreversible damage, endangering local livelihoods and biodiversity.

Despite these warnings, Mwenda criticised the UPND government for moving forward with the project, announcing the closure of submissions on Monday.

EFF called for the immediate abandonment of the plan, urging the government to prioritise sustainable and economically feasible solutions for energy security.

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