President Lungu
President Edgar Lungu through Energy Regulation Board (ERB) increased electricity tariffs at midnight on Wednesday.
A kilowatt of power will now cost K1.13 from K0.37. In simpler terms, where households have been spending K100 per month, they will now be expected to spend K300 for the same power.
President Lungu in his address to the nation during his first press conference last week on Thursday ordered the wasteful ZESCO Management to increase electricity fees for the economy to stay afloat.
The President also instructed for the removal of subsidies on fuel this means that anytime the price for fuel will also go up.
Insiders within government has told Zambian Eye that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who were recently in Zambia were behind some of these pronouncements Lungu is making.
In his budget presentation in September Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said Zambians should brace themselves for hard times in 2016.
Meanwhile, load shedding hours have increased in some parts of the country from 8 to 12 hours a day.
And citizens have reacted angrily to the hike in electricity tariffs saying Lungu has just endorsed his exist in the coming elections in 2016.
“Thank you Lungu. You have just endorsed your exit from state house next year,” reacted Billy.
“That is why I had nightmare…let him continue with this whole stupidity so that next year it should be easy for us to get rid of him,” said Faith Lishoma.
While Oscar Makwati said: “Adding a burden on top of more problems he has already created….Okay am voting next year for first time!”