By OLIVER SAMBOKO
A CERTAIN fuel crisis faces the country, unless President Hakainde Hichilema acts expeditiously to avert it, New Congress Party (NCP) leader Peter Chanda has warned.
He however, said the President should also first take responsibility because whatever decisions the Minister of Energy is making had his blessings.
However by yesterday, ZRA said it was facilitating imports of fuel at all border points.
ZRA acting corporate and Communications manager, Oliver Nzala said the customs system was configured on January 7, 2022, to continue granting tax waivers to importers of fuel products while awaiting measures to be put in place to create an enabling environment.
He encouraged all oil marketing companies to collaborate with the Zambia Revenue Authority officers to ensure that all huddles are efficiently addressed so that there no disruption in the fuel chain supply.
Pastor Chanda said even if it meant sacking some of his Ministers who were not performing to expectation, the President should go ahead otherwise he risked serving only one term.
“The President said he is in office to make tough decisions, so if his Ministers are falling to make correct decisions to better the lives of the people of Zambia, then let him act on such Ministers,” he said.
Pastor Chanda said more than 1000 tankers are stranded at various border points because of the change in the statutory instrument on petroleum products.
Oil Marketing companies are holding on to their orders waiting for a final decision from government on the waiver which has expired.
Pastor Chanda said the pending increment of fuel as a result of expiry of the statutory instrument number 5 and 77, if not averted, will make the lives of the Zambian people very tough.
Pastor Chanda said his party is disappointed at the turn of events where President Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND government has u-turned on all the campaign promises to the people of Zambia.
He said Mr Hichilema promised to reduce the cost of living immediately he was sworn in but that the opposite is now happening.
“President Hichilema, while in opposition promised that life was going to easier because essential commodities were going to be cheaper but what the country is witnessing is the opposite,” he said.
He said four months down the line, the UPND government has increased the fuel pump price which has resulted in increased price of goods and services.
Pastor Chanda also said Mr Hichilema should act and immediately and start implementing his campaign promises or risk facing the same fate formers president Ruphiah Banda and his MMD government went through because of ignoring people’s concerns.
He said Mr Hichilema and his friends from MMD he has infused in government, should remember that politics is not about telling lies but serving the interest of the people.
“President Hichilema should remember the good statements he made while in opposition and start implementing those promises,” he said.
