. SILIYA

By JAMES KUNDA and CHIDA SAKALA –
VARIOUS stakeholders have praised President Edgar Lungu’s directive for Zesco to revert to the old electricity tariff structure and maintain power charges at affordable rates.
Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) executive director Samuel Simutunda said in an interview yesterday that the President’s move was welcome as most consumers were already hard-hit by the high cost of living.
Mr Lungu directed Zesco to ensure that the migration to cost-reflective tariffs was not done at the expense of ordinary consumers.
Energy Minister Dora Siliya was expected to issue a comprehensive statement on how the new tariff structure would be implemented.
Mr Simutunda said the President’s directive had brought relief to the consumers, especially those in the low-income bracket.
“We can describe the President’s directive as welcome because the hike in electricity tariffs was a killer-punch to the consumers who were spending more on power,” he said.
Civil Society Poverty Reduction (CSPR) executive director Kryticous Nshindano was happy with the reversal, stating that the economic environment was unfavourable for service providers to increase commodity prices.
Mr Nshindano urged Zesco to consult extensively in the ongoing phase preceding the country’s migration to cost-reflective electricity tariffs.
The Consumer Unit and Trust Society (CUTS) said Mr Lungu’s decision was a good move because it lessened hardships Zambians were facing.
CUTS acting centre coordinator Faith Mwamba said in an interview that the Government should, however, create a balance between consumers and the business sector in implementing new policies.
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) commended President Lungu in that he had shown that he was ready to listen to the people.
ZCTU secretary general Cosmas Mukuka said in a statement that he was happy that the shifting back to the old electricity tariffs would bring relief to people.