Energy expert Johnstone Chikwanda has commended the UPND Government’s decision to freeze 25 percent customs duty on fuel at the onset of 2024, stating that it has effectively saved the public approximately $500 million this year.
Dr. Chikwanda highlighted that this duty waiver has played a crucial role in indirectly shielding the public from the impact of higher fuel prices, averting potential rates of K37 per litre for diesel and K43 per litre for petrol had the duty not been suspended.
In an interview with ZNBC news, Dr. Chikwanda emphasized the government’s multifaceted approach to mitigate the effects of escalating fuel prices, including efforts to address fuel debt and negotiate port charges.
He praised President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent diplomatic negotiations, particularly citing the significant reduction in port charges on Zambia’s fuel cargo from $11 per cubic meter to $3 per cubic meter during discussions with his Tanzanian counterpart. Dr. Chikwanda lauded this as a demonstration of the UPND leadership’s compassionate and responsive stance towards alleviating the challenges faced by the populace.
Addressing campaign promises made by President Hichilema to reduce fuel prices, Dr. Chikwanda acknowledged the complexities surrounding the current economic climate, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the unexpected Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Dr. Chikwanda also clarified that implementing fuel subsidies at present is unlikely due to the substantial $900 million debt accrued from unpaid fuel consumed in the past, underscoring the financial constraints and challenges faced by the government.
In light of these circumstances, Dr. Chikwanda emphasized the importance of pragmatic and strategic approaches to address fuel price fluctuations, ensuring a balanced and sustainable economic trajectory for Zambia.
Yaba, don’t even know what who and what to believe.
These fake experts. Gunning for Bowa’s job at ERB.
The energy sector is in a mess!!
FIRE KAPALA & MUMBA!!!! They are incompetent.
boooooooo!!!!! boooooo!!!!! boooooo!!!!!
Who is Chikwanda ? What Credentials has got as an Energy expert?
Lets not be misled.
Why arrest people like Kambwili and not these idyots who import oil products?
Someone should tell these fuuuls that petrol in Angola is extremely cheap.
A road from Zambezi to nearest town in Angola is just 150 km.
You idyots in Energy can’t construct a 200km road for your benefit? Where are the PF fuel tankers, send them to refill in Angola you fuuuls.
Talk about single sourcing
REALLY!!!? You folks can really console yourselves neh
What is it with constant load shedding and empty praise singing statements these days? Are we back to Ejiga
Please do not let us down we voted for you Zambia Foward in 2021 with the hope of everyone that the cost of living will at least manageable not at the current ZMW10,000.00 for a family of five .We know very well that payer farmers team is very excited to see this, if it means subsidising fuel and mill meal do it urgently, do not follow those praise singers forget about them they are not helping us at all.
For sure you are still guaranteed of my vote and my family members, but the numbers are shrinking every day, if you fail to listen then I do not know. That incident at heroes is an eye opener. Please do something.
BOOOOOOO!!!!!! BOOOOO!!!!! BOOOOO!!!!1
Idyot..
I did not see any solution proposals from any blogger’s comments just complaints. Great minds propose alternative solutions for every disagreement.
Most here are for or against
solutions and plans dont come into it
The great mind HH had already given a solution to our high fuel costs . Just implement what the LEADER said and give us cheaper fuel. What are you still debating!
They are debating the BOOS and I am wanting to know what HH is doing about ZESCO top management who have hopelessly failed us
Appoint this Chikwanda guy to ERB. Make him the board chairman to replace Reynolds Bowa. To me he sounds well researched, knowlegeable , Intelligent with bias towards problem solving.He is indeed an expert of great repute. This is the kind of guy we need at ERB.
At the same time replace ZESCO top management
Mwefipuba ati well researched… Angola is struggling to empty overflowing tanks?
Petrol in Angola is k5 per liter as of last month.
@ observer
Be serious bane. You want him to be ERB boss so that whenever there is a fuel increment he can be telling us the price could have been higher?
We don’t know if it could have been worse. It certainly is worse than when you took over. Let’s continue to work and not dwell on hypotheticals with a backward regression. It doesn’t help your message and only inflames the citizens who were told a different story. Cleverly, though, the timeline (apart from the appreciation of the currency), is missing in most of the promises we researched.
Appoint Mwaliteta and William Banda at ZESCO as Directors ( Special Duties) They will bring sanity to the ZESCO board and management.
The cost of energy and food has increased everywhere around the world.
If people think the cost of living can be cheaper in an import dependent country like Zambia, then we need to seriously examine the educational system in Zambia.
What are we being taught in our schools?
We have heard this before. You are sounding like Chishimba Kambwili.
When I visit the countryside nowadays I see a great improvement in terms of lightning. It has taken the Chinese to redeem our people from paraffin lamps and candles. People are now able light their homes, watch TV and recharge their phones. They’re just waiting for someone to redeem them from charcoal and firewood. That solution might come from China again because Zambian experts are just good for nothing idlers and Johnston Chikwanda is one of them
This is what happens when bad, vindictive, vengeful, dictators, tribalists, racists, know-it all individuals take over power of governance, pipo die, some become fugitives, others cry of hunger etc. Wake up Zambia!!!!!! When the wicked ascend the throne, pipo moan… just saying ine mukwai.
Atase!
There we go! The so called energy expert has resurfaced again to state the obvious. Immediately he saw there are some vacancies coming up in zesco he has to make his head seen above water in the hope that this time it’s his lucky day.
Can we know about the credentials this Chikwanda has? What peer reviewed research articles has ever penned in a reputable energy journal that can he point to, to set himself up as an energy expert? Let s be serious guys, it is like the Kainde bragging like he does that he is an expert in economics, really?
THZ, his father was a finance minister that facilitated the Euro bonds
He has an MBA kaili kkkk
What people need is a way out of their current suffering they’re experiencing.
Hakainde cannot hide anywhere. .Lies have been exhausted. Only a gullible person can allow himself to be lied to all the time
What ever waiver on taxes was there, no benefits have been seen by the common man. For example 2 kg sugar has sky rocketed to 70 kwacha from 60 as a result of fuel adjustment upwards. So waiver has no effects.