By: Anthony Bwalya – UPND Member
It is important for us to mention, that in respect of both fuel and electricity pricing, the United Party for National Development (UPND) has consistently provided sound alternatives aimed at giving consumers extended relief through the recall or suspension of controllable cost components in respect of the pump price of fuel, and a complete reform of the fuel supply chain to eliminate unnecessary costs. The UPND has also provided insights directed at improving functional and management efficiencies at ZESCO to remove pricing inefficiencies which cost both ZESCO and consumers money.
Under proposals by the UPND, the pump price of fuel should and can cost at least 25% or K4 LESS than under the current PF regime, and we have demonstrated which cost components can be recalled or adjusted downwards:
1.Suspending excise duty
2.Suspending strategic reserve fund fee
3. Halving Value Added Tax (VAT)
4. Cancel dealer margin
The aforementioned fuel pump price components are firmly under the control of government, but instead of the PF leveraging this position to stabilize the pump price, they are exploiting these controllable margins to benefit government officials, party officials, the party and their business associates.
But the Patriotic Front regime has continued their reckless attack on the poor majority Zambians by pursuing destructive public policies which impoverish the most poor while increasing the advantage of the wealthy minority, particularly the political ruling elites.
With the current loadshedding estimated to cost a minimum $7bn, it is poor households who are poised to be sacrificed at the altar of satanic political practices of the PF, through loss of incomes, jobs and with 1 in every 3 small businesses set to buckled down as the pressure of loadshedding mounts – with energy related business costs up by at least 35% per month.
Thus, for the PF to sabotage what is left of already thinned out household incomes, jobs and small businesses by sanctioning a 10% and 200% hike in the price of fuel and electricity respectively, they have just magically condemned an estimated 1.5 million more Zambians from poorer households into abject poverty. In a few months, once the real effects of PF’s failed economics kick in, we shall have at least 12.1 million Zambians living on less than $1.25 ( around K17.47) per day. And these will be the lucky ones because close to 800,000 will not be guaranteed not even a single meal in a free and independent Zambia as food inflation is expected to rise to above 12% while incomes shrink and disappear.
And in the midst of all this misery, President Edgar Lungu proceeded to insulting the collective conscience of Zambians by offering Zambians a paltry K4,471.86 per month from his TAX FREE salary, while he and his friends maintain all their other TAX FREE allowances as granted themselves under an inequitable Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Emoluments) Act, Cap 262. These ludicrous tax exemptions on allowances are given unto themselves under Section 3(1) and (2).
The reason the President’s offer of a “paycut” makes a mockery of all of us is because those other lower ranking civil servants the President wants to withdraw 10% – 15% of their salaries actually have to pay tax on all their emoluments, including allowances.
This is what leadership incompetence looks like and this is what a regime increasingly out of touch with reality looks like, and this is certainly what a regime that has run out of progressive development ideas looks like.
It is time for citizens to deliver the change they deserve.
Can’t read this crap of an author. Equally pwipwipwi.
Please please please, Trible HH is no option, he is actually worse, muikepo na trible awe sure!!!
It is simply because you have no analytical skills to link expensive energy to poverty, typical of your kind.
Too much theory.
Unfortunately, you can’t pragmatize your day dreaming wishful narrative on energy.
I wish Saki was head of upnd not that hijacker. The imposter. We would be talking about a serious energy problem solving political competitor by now. Alas, look at what we have as lead opposition. A rogue business element masquerading as politician.
On the other hand, yes PF has lamentably failed on Energy. Admitting your failure is turning point to doing great things. Forget climate change; forget oil prices internationally. Find practical solutions for now, mid and late 21st and 22nd centuries. Our minds gotta roll folks.
This is a national issue not a political party issue.
Thorn , thorn…..
We told you soooooooo
Hehehehehe.
Thorn, can you make recipes for Zambians on how those PF roads are to be eaten..???
After me now and repeat a 100 times:
PF out !! x 100
Chagwa must fall x 100
Zambia is bigger than PF x 100
Zambia shall be free x 100
One Zambia One Nation x 100
2021 we want change x 100
HH hear our cries x 100
This is a failed administration from all angles.
Traffic lights without a soul is this government.
Sponging off an already impoverished population. These vampires have turned ‘the goose that laid the golden egg into an embittered and cynical mass of citizenry’. And what happened to that sense of shame that moderates our behavior?
Anyway, with seasoned Kaponyas as ministers, anything is possible.
This ain’t a political party issue. It is a national issue.
The country can’t depend on rain for energy.
If PF get this right they will fix it.
Forget upndead. They are too critical to solve problems. Let them keep yapping though, this will make PF sit up.
Checks and balances in the most weird manner.
This is a clinical condition…….waiting for something to work that has zero chance of working.
Thorn , we told you sooooooo…..
This is a clear indication that Zambia has been hijacked by external forces fighting for control over our resources as well as the manipulation of our leaders. These sort of hikes would work for investors penetrating a country with matured energy infrastructure. What our leaders are trying to do is encourage harvesters, I mean investors in a sector with a lot of potential by attracting big energy companies to invest, but these guys are pressing for ridiculous tariffs to make the market attractive. Energy, water, and sanitation are key components to a healthy economy, therefore, we need ethical investors in this sector not rip off merchants like our friends in the mobile phone sector.
It is tempting to think that way but we have to have home grown solutions for our problems.
Borrowing is not part of the West’s scheme to impoverish you. Maybe overborrowing. You have a conscious to borrow responsibly though.
But no nation can survive without borrowing. Energy, Transportation, Communication and their control coupled with good technologies are key to economic emancipation. Our Engineers must to up the game.
Yes change we will have but not UPND.
UPND is not option for Zambians at large.
Yes, we when Zambians at large taiste those PF roads, don’t worry……they will vote for anyone , even KZ
H²’s UPNDEAD feels like a party that has ruled us before. Whose rule was unbearable and now don’t stand a chance to rule @gain.
The misinformation and disinformation they exhibit in opposition promises and speaks volumes to untold trickery and falsehood if they had ‘one just’ (the impossible) moment to be in Government.
Owe to y’all undecided Zambians, never make that mistake. Anyone else but h² .“Icikwanka bacimwena kumampalanya”.
Thorn…..
We told you soooooooo…….
Wait untill Zambians start eating infrastructure and dancing more dunnuna
mmmm mwalikwata ama figures pa kuboko a you sure 1.5 million will be in poverty? What of the 2 million declared by hh, are you saying it is now 1.5+2=3 so now it is 3 million people in dare poverty?mmmmmm are you sure.We are fade up of this fake stories tell us some sense and nonsense.And were is this 3 million coming from.Mwatubepa sana can you now change your stories and bring solutions on the table, your so called god hh is rejoicing after hearing fuel and electricity as been increased.Satanism…….
Iwe , 80 % of Zambians are struggling with many who can not afford 3 meals a day…
Fureture zed you are correct bro that is what we need and we need guys in the diaspora to support this move.
There is on a programme on I think BBC showing the effects of drought in Zambia .I think they are showing the southern parts of Zambia .The evidence is there that trees are being cut tofeed the ever growing market resulting load shading by this this Kongola Twibe government of Mr Jon@. What will it take for Jon@ to take decisive action to mitigate this man made problem?
Instead of going round asking ZNS to build churches ,he needs to ask them to go and and plant more trees in Southern Province .Even animals are dying because of the drought while Jon@ is globe trotting in his expensive jet borrowing money from one country to another
Exactly my sentiments………
Lungu is prisiding over some own made disasters then using the army and ZNS to build a big church to pray for the comming effects of his continuous disaster rule……
Lungu should employ ZNS and army to start planting 20 million trees country wide, after all they are getting paid.
Where is thorn ????
I am enjoying telling him that
” we told you soooooooo……”
O am also telling him it roll take atleast 10 yeats to fix this PF lungu mess. By that time most of the roads, which is the only thing of can point at, will be damaged if not eaten.
Ukulanda kwalyanguka vs mbuli.