Power for the People: Why Affordable Electricity Is a Basic Right, Not a Luxury
Feb 12
Electricity is no longer a luxury; it is the heartbeat of modern life. I remember more than sixty years ago, growing up in a rural homestead, when our only light came from candles and a simple wick dipped in paraffin. We studied under dim flames, squinting at our books, and darkness dictated our days. When electricity finally arrived, it transformed everything. Homes became brighter, streets safer, and daily tasks easier. Cooking, ironing, heating water, and preparing a warm cup of tea were no longer exhausting struggles but simple comforts. Electricity brought dignity, productivity, and hope. Yet today, this essential service is slipping beyond the reach of many. Prices continue to rise while unemployment remains high and the cost of living climbs relentlessly. Families are forced to choose between buying food and keeping the lights on. Small businesses, which should be engines of opportunity, struggle to survive under the weight of energy costs. Electricity may be costly to produce and import, and we recognize the challenges faced by suppliers, especially when power is sourced from neighbouring countries. But acknowledging these realities does not erase the hardship faced by ordinary citizens. Electricity is as fundamental as water, shelter, and healthcare. It fuels education, supports livelihoods, and sustains national development. Making it affordable is not charity - it is an investment in people and progress. If we truly believe in equality and growth, then access to reasonably priced electricity must be treated as a basic right, not a privilege reserved for the few.
