By ROGERS KALERO
THE plans by the ‘New Dawn’ government to introduce cost reflective tariffs on electricity will adversely affect the growth and development of the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) across the 156 constituencies in the country,” Kamfinsa Member of Parliament Christopher Kang’ombe has said.
Mr Kang’ombe said if prices of fuel were to go up together with the cost of electricity, the impact will not only be on domestic consumers of power, but also the many SMEs in the country which the government wanted to grow and contribute to poverty alleviation and food security.
Mr Kang’ombe, who was contributing to the K173 billion 2022 National Budget presented by Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane on Friday, also argued that the growth of the SMEs will not be possible if the Tarriffs were to be adjusted upwards.
“I would like to advise the New Dawn government not to proceed with their plans to introduce cost reflective Tarriffs as announced by the Minister of Finance Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane in the 2022 proposed national budget.
‘If prices of fuel were to go up together with the cost of electricity, the impact will not only be on domestic consumers of power but also the many SMEs from across the 156 constituencies in Zambia,” Mr Kang’ombe said
Mr Kang’ombe said most MPs were planning to come up with SMEs where youths would be involved but the impending upward adjustment of electricity tariffs will adversely affect the SMEs which was the only source of hope.
Mr Kang’ombe who is also former Kitwe Mayor, said he had a well outlined plan to empower youths ranging from SMEs, sports and other sectors where they could identify their skills and become self-sustaining , but the increase of tariffs may affect his plans.
