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.

Transport and Communication Minister Frank Tayali has said that the removal of subsidies on fuel is not meant to injure Zambians but to channel the resources towards other key sectors and debt management.

Mr. Tayali said that the increment of the pump price of fuel feels like a burden for now but the advantages will overshadow the challenges that come with the increment in due course.

He was speaking to journalists shortly after an impromptu visit to the RTSA Cosmopolitan office after a tip-off from whistleblowers about poor service delivery.

And Mr. Tayali also directed RTSA to transfer vehicles that are older than 5 years to go for fitness tests at their offices that have modern mechanical equipment.

He wondered why RTSA has been allowing its officers to test vehicles without any equipment and pass the vehicles as fit.

Mr. Tayali said such modes of testing are compromising the safety of passengers and sometimes result in accidents.

Meanwhile, RTSA Chief Executive Officer Gladwel Banda said the agency is constantly trying to improve the services it gives to the people.

And RTSA Cosmopolitan Station Manager Charity Ng’andu said more human resource is needed at the office to attend to the ever-growing demand for services.

Ministry of Technology and Science has announced that it has plans to create an enabling legal framework that responds to start-ups and innovators and will need support from the innovators themselves and everyone else that wants to make a difference.

Speaking during an interactive breakfast meeting with innovators under the national technology business center in Lusaka today, minister of technology and science Felix Mutati said there is a need to strengthen the framework of collaboration and partnership what is now called the ecosystem.

Mr. Mutati notes that this ecosystem needs to involve government and innovators and technology hubs and all those that believe that change can be brought about adding that this ecosystem must be functional and reviewed within three months in order to understand how they are moving and what should be done.

He mentions that success must be celebrated but there is a need to seat and look at the path that needs to be taken going forward adding that the technology business and development fund that is in the hand of the national technology business center will be boosted by an additional 6.3 million kwacha to offer grants to the starters.

He charges that most of these starters cannot stand on their own unless they are helped particularly when they are starting up stating that the ministry will not be lending these starters ups money but give them grants.

Government has commissioned the over 45 kilowatt solar grid mini project at moyo primary school worth 6 million kwacha at in Pemba District of southern province.

The project is expected to benefit 13,500 people directly, connect moyo primary school, moyo mini hospital and 50 other properties which include houses and businesses.

Speaking when he commissioned the power project, energy minister Peter Kapala said this signifies the beginning of the new era as it will add notable social economic transformation to the lives of the people.

Mr. kapala regretted that for a long time now, access to electricity by many Zambians has remained very low with only 8.1 percent of the rural population having access to clean and reliable power.

He has called for public private partnerships and concerted efforts among stakeholders particularly those with empowerment programmes in rural areas in driving the electrification agenda in order to meet the target of ensuring that 51 percent of the rural population has access to power by 2030.

Meanwhile, rea acting Chief Executive Officer Clement Sasa said the provision of electricity in the area will enhance the provision of education and health services to the people.

And World Vision Country Director John Hasse explained that the project was born out of a three year memorandum of understanding signed between world vision and the rural electrification authority to provide electricity to infrastructures where world vision operates in Zambia and to contribute to improved quality of life for the community in the health, education and water sectors.

And southern province minister Cornelius Mweetwa said the commissioning of the solar mini grid project will transform the lives of the people and help public service worker retention.

And Chief Moyo of the Tonga speaking people of Pemba called on pregnant women to take advantage of the mini hospital and access maternal health services and avoid giving birth from their homes.