ZAMBIANS URGED TO BRACE THEMSELVES FOR COMMODITY PRICE HIKES DUE TO ENERGY DEFICITS
By Lukundo Nankamba/ Nonhlanhla Phuti
Development Expert Archie Mulunda, has urged Zambians to brace themselves for higher mealie-meal prices as load shedding resumes on Monday this week.
Speaking to Phoenix News in an interview, Mr. Mulunda anticipates that the resumption of load shedding will lead to increased costs of industrial production, resulting in additional expenses for industries that heavily rely on electricity.
Mr. Mulunda explains that milling companies will face increased operational costs which will be passed on to consumers, thereby pushing the price of the staple food and other locally produced commodities even higher.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Association of Manufacturers -ZAM- says the anticipated long hours of load-shedding will result in reduced production and staff layoffs as some companies will be unable to sustain business.
Association Policy Analyst Zondwaya Duma tells Phoenix in an interview that load shedding remains the country’s most critical challenge that affects the manufacturing sector annually.
Mr. Duma states that as a result of this situation, manufacturers will struggle to meet the customer demands, and will cause challenges in maintaining production schedules.
PHOENIX NEWS
Honestly, I have been warning citizens that things would get a lot worse regarding cost of living, and they will. Drought, load shedding, Kwacha depression, corruption, and incompetence will unleash a tornado of suffered like never witnessed before in our country. Now the wise one wants to import the very same maize he sold. Complete bonkers, this man at the helm.
Let us retire him to his farm in Namwala in 2026.