Brace for hard times – Silavwe

By SIMON MUNTEMBA

IT will be practically impossible for the new dawn administration to reduce the high cost of living due to increase in electricity and fuel prices, Golden Party of Zambia President, Jackson Silavwe, has said.

Mr Silavwe said consumers would continue to be affected by price increases due to hikes in fuel prices triggered by removal of subsidies.

He said Government has exacerbated the problem by raising the price of fuel, which would lead to prices for basic essentials to continue to go up and out of reach of many Zambians.

“It is evident that with the increase in electricity and fuel prices, it will be practically impossible for the new dawn administration to reduce the high cost of living in our country.

“Prices for basic essentials such as mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar, soap, and transport will continue to go up and out of reach of many Zambians, thus the poor will become poorer,” Mr Silavwe said.

Mr Silavwe however has appealed to the government to give people and companies spending power to afford the high cost of living.

“With more than 65 percent of our population living in extreme poverty, five million plus unemployed and living below US$2 per day, the economic hardships of our people are real.

“To relieve the very high cost of living, President Hakainde Hichilema’s new dawn adinistration must give individuals and companies more spending power to afford the high cost of living,” he said.

He said affordability of goods and services at both household and company levels was key to growing the economy in the short, medium and long term basis.

Mr Silavwe said Government must provide relief for workers by reducing PAYE and other individual related taxes and levies making basic essentials more expensive.