Her Honour Mutale Nalumango, the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia joined UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations to commemorate World Refugee Day under the theme “Empowering Refugees: Developing Solutions and Skills for A Brighter Future” in Meheba settlement. As part of the commemoration, the Vice President turned on the lights, bringing electricity to Meheba for the first time since its establishment in 1971.

The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), working with the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, jointly delivered an electrification project in Meheba Settlement, Kalumbila District, Northwestern Province.

The ZMW 16 million grid extension project was implemented through a collaboration were REA allocated ZMW 9.7 million; and UNHCR allocated ZMW 6.3 million to extend a 28.2km power line to electrify the settlement which is home to about 40,510 residents.

This project delivers on the commitments made by the Government of the Republic of Zambia towards the inclusion of forcibly displaced persons in access to national systems via ten pledges made by the Vice President last December at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Geneva, Switzerland. Providing sustainable energy to Zambian districts that hosts refugees and former refugees is a key element of the pledges. The phased electrification scheme fits into the government’s Modernisation of Refugee, Host Communities and Settlement Approach (MORHCSA).

“My government has taken a paradigm shift in the protection and management of refugees through the new model of “Modernisation of Refugees and Hosting Communities Settlement Approach.”  This means providing access to quality education, healthcare, employment opportunities and enabling refugees to become self-reliant as well as fully integrated into our society.  It also means advocating for policies and legislation harmonisation that protect their rights and dignity, ensuring that they are treated with fairness and respect at all times” Mrs Nalumango said.

The joint project enables the supply of electricity to Meheba A Primary and Secondary Schools, Meheba B Primary and Secondary Schools, Kananga Primary School, Kananga Rural Health Centre (RHC), Meheba A RHC, Meheba B RHC, Jagaimo RHC, Meheba Police, St. Mary’s Mission and surrounding areas.

The project is in line with the government’s mission through the REA to electrify rural communities in an equitable and sustainable manner for positive socio-economic transformation.