Invest in energy production gear – researchers
By George Zulu
THE Zambia Research and Development Centre (ZRDC) says the country must attract investment in energy production equipment to address the high local and regional demand.
Speaking as a panelist at the 2026 Zim-Zambia Energy Summit in Livingstone yesterday, ZRDC board chairperson Dr Richard Silumbe said the investment would not only address the energy equipment demand in the region but also created jobs for Zambians.
“As Zambia Research and Development Centre, we are looking at how we can produce the products and be able to actually deliver them to customers. We focus on socio-economic research first of all and when we do this research, we provide the research results to decision makers,” he said.
Dr Silumbe said the products should be manufactured locally to create jobs for the locals.
He said once the raw materials for such products were exported, it meant that jobs were exported, too, together with human resource development.
“We focus on ensuring that those products are produced here in Zambia. So, this is where we are focusing. We want to ensure that these foreign investors that are coming, they are coming to produce products here in Zambia. This should be a policy for the government because every time we import products like solar panels, we are importing products like these solar pumps or electric pumps. We are actually exporting jobs out there,” he said.
Dr Silumbe said the centre would support foreign investment that creates jobs for the people.
“We want to ensure that we woo foreign investors that actually create jobs here in Zambia. My colleague from the Rural Electrification Authority knows that if many foreign investors venture into producing equipment used for the production of energy here in Zambia, then sustainable development will be achieved,” he said.
He said Zambia offers opportunities for economic development if things were done right.
Dr Silumbe urged the government to take advantage of its geographical sitting.
“Zambia is situated in a very unique position. We are centrally located. We share borders with eight countries. We share a lake with two other countries, Rwanda and Burundi. It means that when you produce, let’s say, solar pumps here in Zambia, you are not only focusing on the market here within Zambia, but you are focusing on ten other countries where you can sell these products, solar panels, lithium batteries, all these things,” he said.
He said there was a need for diversification in high-demand equipment.
Dr Silumbe said his centre would help both local and foreign investors in research for investment to avoid making a wrong investment.
“…foreign investors that would want to understand how the business is in the rural setup, you find that you are not just going to invest your resources in any community. You would want to find information in terms of how viable the
business is there. You come to the Zambia Research and Development Centre and get that information,” he said.
