By NATION REPORTER
THE Council of Churches of Zambia (CCZ) has called on government to revert to the quarterly review of pump prices of fuel because the monthly review is making planning awkward and has been creating a sense of anxiety for the public each month end.
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CCZ general secretary Fr. Emmanuel Chikoya said the Church stands in solidarity with the general public regarding the recent increase in fuel prices which has ultimately resulted in the continued increase in cost of living prevailing in the country.
Fr. Chikoya said the 15 percent fuel increment will with no doubt adversely affect the most vulnerable and majority Zambians, especially the low-income citizens who were already grappling with high cost of essential commodities such as mealie meal and cooking oil and also increased transport cost from one point to the other.
He said CCZ calls for urgent interventions to be made to help cushion lives of the most vulnerable Zambians by providing policy directions that will see manageable cost of living.
Fr. Chikoya said government must realize that when supply prices are reduced, most business entities usually maintain the same prices thus disadvantaging the majority poor who continuously suffer the price hikes.
“We reiterate that the cries of the general public are genuine and deserve the urgent attention of government,” he said.
He said the notable increase in cost of leaving needs urgent attention and reverting to quarterly review fuel prices will help the business community plan and manage prices as opposed to monthly reviews which makes planning very awkward and creates a sense of anxiety for the public each month end.
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