LThe Government of Zambia has announced a new subsidy programme for electricity connections, effective December 22, 2025. Under the initiative, applicants for new electricity connections will now pay only K300, a significant reduction from the previous fee of K4,846.
Energy Minister Makozo Chikote made the announcement during the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) launch of the Accelerated Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) initiative in Lusaka.
According to the Minister, the 2026 application window for the subsidy targets 100,000 new electricity connections next year alone.
Mr Chikote also directed REA and ZESCO to ensure the programme is widely publicised, reaffirming the government’s commitment to achieving universal electricity access by 2030.
The US$200 million World Bank–funded ASCENT Zambia Programme aims to connect more than 1.6 million Zambians to electricity and clean cooking technologies over the next five years.
World Bank Country Manager Dr Achim Fock said the initiative brings together the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, and other partners to support sub-Saharan African countries in providing electricity access to 300 million people.
Meanwhile, REA Acting Chief Executive Officer Alex Mumba commended the government for championing the policy and financing reforms that made the programme possible.
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