Energy Expert Johnstone Chikwanda has said that upwards adjustment in fuel pump prices by 20% and 30% for petrol and diesel respectively is a bitter but necessary pill.
Mr. Chikwanda who is also Chairperson for the energy forum of Zambia says the new prices announced to represent the commencement of a journey aimed at achieving cost-reflective prices in the petroleum oil industry, adding that the oil industry had become weak to the extent that the government had to start compensating some oil companies in order for them to keep importing fuel into the country.
Mr. Chikwanda has since encouraged the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to resist the temptation of sliding the country back into subsidies.
And UPND national management committee member and deputy national youth and sports Chairman Kenny Ng’ona say the increase in fuel pump prices is a necessary evil.
Mr. Ng’ona says Zambians should understand that without affecting the fuel increment, the cost of fuel was going to continue being subsidized by the government thereby making the government waste more money.
He says the new dawn government should be commended by all well-meaning Zambians for removing fuel subsidies to ensure prices of the commodity are cost-reflective.
But Operation Young Vote (OYV) Executive Director Guess Nyirenda has opposed the hike in fuel pump prices which he says goes against the UPND alliance campaign promises.
Mr Nyirenda says the increase in fuel prices is a hard blow on the citizens and should be reversed immediately.
He says the increase in fuel prices is not only shocking but also unprecedentedly too high especially coming from a political grouping that barely four months ago promised citizens a better Zambia where the cost of living would be affordable.
You can not eat what you do not have…… SIMPLE
Kutumpa uku
These guys praising the increased fuel prices are comfortable and nothing is affecting them since they have their own subsidies and they call them allowances to caution off the impact of the subsidies removal but the poor have to suffer all the consequences, they only die in this houses of hunger and no one notices them, Hunger kills so the coming years more people will die not from covid but hunger no food poverty in the houses of people while the rich will be affected.
Foolish boy…. Zambia exported copper tonnage last year according to the UN report about 5.7 billions dollars. Yet the new yawn government has removed mineral loyalties from the mine which is a lot of dollars… Subsidies is everywhere go to USA,UK, SA, etc here in Zambia because of the stup.idity of politicians the poor will continue to being poor, Politicians are heartless …and under this puppet government kaya…
Te boom…
The earlier the leaders realised the reason for having a subsidy, the better. Someone is just assuming that a subsidy serves no purpose. Forget about bumper harvests and see how hunger will be just next year.
It’s better you shut up, otherwise you’re just annoying us. GRZ is a trader in petroleum products. Apart from adding a mark up on the fuel, it also collects taxes. A barrel of crude is now at US$67, at how much are we buying fuel? Do your arithmetic. The issue of subsidy is a lie. Bally isn’t taking us anywhere. The man has anchored his hope on what the UK & US can do for us with their controlled institutions like IMF. He has no plan except to rely on their goodwill. What kind of a leader is he? We’re doomed
#4 Ayatollah. He’s as clueless as Edgar. Just fishing in muddy waters hoping there’s a fish there.
Resist the temptation of sliding Zambia back into detaining people for Defamation of the President, HH advised
Mr President
I dont work for government or any corporation.
I’m just an ordinary person who will be affected by the increament of fuel prices.
We have understood your logic behind removal of subsidies and fuel increament. We give you benefit of doubt as we await to see the benefits of removal of subsidies trickle back into the economy.
Please don’t let us down.