The human rights framework and energy poverty : a case study of Zambia

Abstract

The work tackles the social challenge of energy poverty through a human rights lens. Specifically focusing on Zambia, the work analyses how access to electricity features in international human rights instruments that Zambia is party to. It further assesses how this incorporation can be employed to address the rife energy poverty. While there lies great potential in mobilising the human rights framework to hold the Zambian government to its international obligation of securing electricity services to its citizens, for optimum results, there is need for some changes. Noteworthy is the domestication of international human rights instruments that have incorporated 'access to electricity'; full implementation of domesticating legislation and consistent engagement with the state reporting process.