The Zambia National Farmers’ Union ha thank President Edgar Lungu, for his intervention to suspend the proposed Zesco Tariffs increments.
ZNFU President Jarvis Zimba said the Head of State’s decision is timely.
Mr Zimba said Farmers were extremely concerned with the proposed tariff increments as this could have resulted into added costs of production, and especially the cost of producing irrigated crops such as cabbages, tomatoes, rape and wheat, among others.
He said the increase in tariffs was going to have a knock-on effect on all major inputs and commodities and in turn lead to some farmers failing to produce and running out of business.
“As ZNFU, we are very grateful that after the meeting held during the Field Day in Choma/Kalomo on 2nd May 2019 where farmers complained over the issue of pending Zesco Tariff increments, Mr. President you listened to our cry and took a fatherly and decisive position on the matter,” Mr Zimba said.
“We shall remain open for consultation as we together strive to grow our agriculture and economy. On behalf of all farmers in the country, we once again say, thank you Mr. President.”
“..We shall remain open for consultation as we together strive to grow our agriculture and economy….”
I thought that the Zesco tariffs were outrageous especially that they did not start by looking at their outrageous costs and wasteful expenditure. However, looking at the above statement by ZNFU, it seems Jervis Zimba thinks economy means cabbage, tomatoes etc only. Who will build the electricity seems to be none of his concerns?
And the President made the decision after a meeting with farmers during the Field Day in Choma/Kalomo? Really ZNFU? You are that important to the exclusion of all other sectors of the economy? Did you promise votes too??
with all due respect it’s only suspended because its election year soon. if it was well meant for the benefit of the masses it would be cancelled and alternatives offered to make zesco both operationally efficient and profitable…. suspension of the proposal is just postponing the inevitable.
ZESCO needs to look at its internal operations first like restructuring which includes voluntary seperation, trim down the unimportant but bloated workforce etc before it runs to asjing for exorbitant tariffs. This certainly what would be private investors do if they were to buy ZESCO, so cant it do the same and become economically vibrant? Tariff increment is necessary but its the way ZESCO approaches this sensitive issue.
These directives are popular but are not done based on information. What needs to be done is thoroughly investigate ZESCO operations and if there is need to authorize reasonable hike otherwise, when the firm completes collapses, it will be HE to blame.