By Patson Chilemba
You can’t say fuel increase under Edgar Lungu hurt the poor, but fuel increase by me will benefit the poor, says adjunct Professor of Money, Banking and Financial Markets at the USA Central Bank Cecil Mbolela.
In a statement to Daily Revelation, Prof Mbolela said he was not against the fuel increase, as prices of commodities have increased right there in the United States where he is based, but that the President of that country, Joe Biden, was not “hiding behind subsidies to justify increase of prices”, saying it was because of supply chain issues due to Covid-19.
“Bally (President Hakainde Hichilema) could have just said, I opposed fuel increase under ECL (Edgar Lungu) because I was doing my job as opposition leader. But I have increased fuel because of supply chain issue due covid19. Don’t hide behind subsidies or the poor. You can’t say fuel increase under ECL hurt the poor, but fuel increase by me will benefit the poor. That’s fraudulent to even sell that idea,” Prof Mbolela said. “Equally, you can’t say fuel subsidies are hurting Zambians, but education subsidies (free education) will benefit Zambians. That’s fraudulent too- robbing Peter (commodities) to pay Paul (education).”
Prof Mbolela continued.
“In the end as Zambians, we should just admit that our Presidents are *con-Presidents- in chief*. PF justified fuel increase, while HH opposed it that it will hurt the poor. Today, PF are opposing fuel increase and defending the poor, but HH is justifying fuel increase and claiming it will help the poor,” said Prof Mbolela.
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