Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Paul Thole, has urged land owners and property developers to fully comply with electricity regulations relating to connectivity.

Mr Thole has drawn specific attention to the revised electricity regulations on wayleaves and clearances.

He notes that many parts of the country, including Eastern Province, continue to face challenges in managing electricity infrastructure corridors, a situation that hinders sustainable development.

The Permanent Secretary has expressed concern over the illegal human activities around high-voltage power lines and encroachment on wayleaves by unplanned settlements, describing them as major threats to the effective management of electricity infrastructure corridors.

Mr Thole made the call in a speech delivered on his behalf by Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Lewis Mwape, during the Wider Stakeholders Engagement Seminar on Electricity Wayleaves and Clearances Regulations.

“The government has promulgated these regulations as part of its broader commitment to ensuring that the electricity sector operates in a manner that is safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally sustainable,” he said.

Mr Thole noted that the regulations were recently issued under the Electricity Act of 2019 through Statutory Instrument number 2 of 2026 to enhance public awareness, understanding and compliance with the new regulations.

And Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Electricity Engineer, Humphrey Ngwale, explained that the regulations ensure safe distances between electricity infrastructure, people, buildings and vehicles.