By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THE economic situation in the country is becoming worse and hard under the UPND administration than it was during the PF regime, Economic and Equity Party president Chilufya Tayali has lamented.
In an interview, Mr Tayali said just like any other Zambian, he was disappointed that the UPND government had turned out to be worse than the previous regime in terms of improving the living standards of ordinary citizens.
He said it was disappointing that Government was planning to increase fuel pump prices and electricity tariffs when citizens were still struggling economically.
“The UPND are actually a disappointment so far, especially when you look at human development. We all know that people voted out PF because of economic hardship. People voted out PF because they were suffering, prices of commodities were high. Since UPND came in power, the situation has become worse,” he said.
“The UPND is not releasing money to people through payments. Farmers have not been paid, those who supplied goods to the government have not also been paid. Civil servants who were promised salary increments are still waiting. But now, they are talking about increasing fuel and electricity tariffs, this is so disappointing,” Mr Tayali said.
He said fuel and electricity were a lifeline and engine with which any economy was driven.
He said the adjustments would therefore have a telling effect on both big and small-scale entrepreneurs, including the ordinary citizens who were already severely strained by the never ending increases.
Last Friday, Vice President Mutale Nalumango announced that there were plans to adjust upwards the fuel prices, and electricity tariffs.
Ms Nalumango told Parliament that there was need to have an administrative adjustment in fuel pump prices and electricity tariffs to avert future challenges in the sectors.
“Government’s intention is to reduce fuel prices, but sometimes to go down, you need to go up a bit,” she said.
