Community Participation

The communities of the Western Province of Zambia will hold a non-dilutable share of 6% of the equity of the project in recognition of the value of the land and water resources they are providing. The project will also pay a fixed community development payment of 500,000 US dollars each year once the power station is operational.

The community development funds will be administered by two trusts, one for projects across the Western Province and one for the immediate area that hosts the project. The trusts are being established to have the highest standards of governance and transparency using lessons learned from similar trusts in Zambia and reginally.

The types of community led projects that may be supported by the trusts include:

  • Education
  • Water and Sanitation
  • Healthcare

Stakeholder Engagement

Since 2012 Western Power has engaged with a wide variety of stakeholders the explain the design of the project and how it will be constructed and operated as well as the impacts, both positive and negative, which the project is expected to produce. The stakeholders who we have been working with include all levels of the the Zambian Government as well as the traditional leadership in the Western Province, the Barotse Royal Establishment, local community leaders, tourism stakeholders and the wider community in both Sioma and Senanga districts.

The project has worked hard to foster a good relationship with our local host community in order to build and maintain trust and cooperation.This has been made possible through our Community Liaison Team which holds meetings with the local community on a regular basis providing project updates as well as addressing any concerns or grievances and implementing project activities. Engagement with the local community has been made possible through our Community Liaison Committee which is made up of a representative membership of the host community.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Western Power has an active Corporate Social Responsibility program already operating in the communities which will host the project. The initiatives which have been supported include:

  • Building 2 additional teachers houses at Mbuyu Community School which will enable the school to expand, hire 2 additional teachers and offer grades 5-7 classes.
  • Desks for Mbuyu Community School
  • Boys’ and girls’ sports teams by supplying them with footballs, and volley balls for their extra-curricular activities.
  • Provided bicycles, mobile phones, and solar chargers for the committees to assist in their community engagement activities.
  • Covid-19 response.