PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEADIATE RELEASE
19/08/2024
*URGENT CALL TO RECONSIDER ZESCO TARIFF ADJUSTMENT:*
As a governance and human rights activist, I am compelled to express deep concern over the planned tariff adjustment by ZESCO, amidst the current load shedding and drought crisis. This move is ill-timed, insensitive, and will exacerbate the suffering of Zambian citizens.
While the government is providing drought mitigation funds to alleviate the suffering of affected communities, the planned tariff increase will negate the intended relief and further suffocate citizens already struggling with the high cost of living, fuel, and gas. The timing of this move could not be more inopportune.
We urge the government to reconsider and suspend the planned tariff adjustment until the load shedding crisis is resolved. This will help alleviate the burden on citizens and ensure the drought mitigation funds have a meaningful impact. The tariff increase will disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including low-income households, small businesses, and farmers, who are already struggling to cope with the drought and load shedding.
We call on the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens and explore alternative solutions to address ZESCO’s financial challenges without transferring the burden to already struggling Zambians. The government must consider the cumulative impact of the tariff increase, high fuel and gas costs, and load shedding on the livelihoods of citizens. Don’t transfer the financial burden of zesco to citizens please hear us.
We demand that the government:
1. Suspends the planned tariff adjustment until the load shedding crisis is resolved.
2. Engages in meaningful consultations with stakeholders, including civil society, to find alternative solutions.
3. Prioritizes the welfare of citizens, particularly vulnerable populations.
Let us work together to ensure that the government’s decisions do not exacerbate the suffering of its citizens.
Issued by
Dr Noel CHISEBE.
Governance and human rights activist
Ba Doc you may be right in your submission but Doc we need power.Water level has drastically gone down.We may only have rains end of October.The next two months Doc will be very critical if we don’t die a little by paying for the electricity that shall be imported.The paying means an increase in tariffs to meet the expenditures that comes with importation of power.ZESCO and government may not manage without us consumers participating in the activity.Yes it is painful for ordinary consumers but this can be done in ratios but all must work together to avoid blackouts completely.The next two months shall be very critical really.If we go complete blackout we shall attract more poverty.And people may forget that this drought is a natural phenomena.The tariffs may just be raised for the period of two months meaning some homes may suffer by paying the raised tariffs by close to two times depending on how much units one buys and consumption.The load shading actually reduces the consumption of units.Better get loadshaded Abit but later have power for refrigeration, barbing, saloons,charging of phones, etc.Total black out means no activities of commerce.Let us not dwell in politics.We meet the bull by the horns.We can’t dodge this situation please.Just join to sensitize the people to understand.We are about to reach the end of this missery .
Government should bear the brunt not citizens, after all they just restructured the 2024 budget to address the same effects of draught.