Opposition National Restoration Party (Narep) president Elias Chipimo Jr has blamed the recent hikes on fuel and other commodities on President Michael Sata and his ministers’ salaries which he maintains are costing taxpayers billions of kwacha.
Chipimo released a statement yesterday saying the increase in ministers’ take home benefits are unjustified adding that the cost has resulted in the reduction of the fuel subsidy reduction and subsequent increase in the pump price of fuel.
“Every Deputy Minister is entitled to receive the cash equivalent of at least 800 litres of fuel per month. What this means is that now the fuel price has increased, each Deputy Minister and Cabinet Minister will receive more money in their pockets while the people of Zambia continue to struggle with the rising prices of goods,” he said.
Ordinary Zambians are battling with rising food prices and other essential commodities. A bag of a 25 kg mealie meal is fetching between KR 80 or (K80, 000 old currency) and KR100 (K100, 000) from about KR 35 (K35, 000).
Bus fares, bread, cooking oil and other essentials are not spared and Chipimo is attributing this to the excessive expenditure by President Sata’s Patriotic Front government.
“The entitlement to 800 litres of fuel means that with the additional amount that needs to be paid as a result of the fuel increase, each Deputy Minister has now had a salary increment of about KR1440 or K1,440,000 in the old currency,” he said.
This increament is in addition to the controversial salary increaments President Sata made for his salaries which was done without parliamentary approval.
“Meanwhile, bus operators are being asked to be patient and not increase fares, while students at the University of Zambia are being asked to pay more for the bursary application form at short notice,” he said.
Chipimo said an on the spot check has indicated an alarming increase in the price of commodities and this is as a direct result of the recent removal of the fuel subsidy.
“These increases could have been better managed had the Patriotic Front administration adopted a more inclusive approach towards decision making,” he said.
Chipimo has also advised President Sata and the PF to avoid causing further misery to an already battered citizenry, by engagig in broader consultation with stakeholders before making such decisions.
“Is this really the time to be triggering more unnecessary by-elections? Does Government really need to have more than one deputy minister per ministry and even 3 deputy ministers in four different ministries?” he wondered.
Chipimo said the removal of fuel subsidy should have been staggered and measures put in place to cushion the impact on the most vulnerable Zambians, many of whom are wallowing in poverty and lack decent employment.
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