By Staff Reporter
HH and his friends will not feel the impact of fuel increments, just the poor voters who elected him into office, says Chishimba Kambwili
Commenting on the upward adjustment of fuel prices today, Kambwili wondered where the magic President Hakainde Hichilema was promising when in opposition has gone to, saying the President has even disappeared from from public view. He said President Hichilema promised that he would be holding press briefings very often but he was now nowhere to be seen, following the escalating cost of living.
The government has explained that the upward adjustment in price has been necessitated by the cost price of fuel that has increased on the international market, but Kambwili argued that he envisions a situation where a little lowering of the price will be accompanied by huge increments as the aim is to ultimately increase the prices as high as possible in view of the IMF conditionalities.
He described President Hichilema’s governance as a “total failure”, saying the constant changing in prices will make it difficult for businesses to operate and people to invest into the economy.
“This is a sign of people who don’t know governance. That’s why we said before you become president you must be tested first…it (fuel) will not affect HH and his friends, but the poor people will be affected,” Kambwili said. “Ukulanda kwalyanguka (It is easier said than done). Leave politics to us politicians…that’s why as PF we created a fund, fuel levy which money was used to sustain the fuel prices.. this government is not a pro-poor government. It’s purely commercial and capitalist looking only for profit.”
Kambwili said the procurement of fuel could not be left in the hands of the private sector without any government involvement.
The Energy Regulation Board has increased the price of petrol from K19.84 to K21.96, diesel K18.93 to K21.54 and the price of Kerosene has remained the same at K15.39.
