HH: Fuel Increase Signifies Economic Collapse ‘Lungu Is Only Zambian Happy, He Gets Double Salary’

Here are our immediate thoughts on the fuel price increase announced yesterday:

This recent fuel pump price hike signifies an economic collapse that will further inflict more pain to our people in terms of survival and here is the simple reason why.

As a result of poor planning and maintenance of ZESCO generation equipment the PF government is currently implementing unprecedented levels of electricity load shedding. This is despite supposedly having injected huge amounts of borrowed Eurobond bond money into ZESCO.

As an alternative measure, Zambians at various levels from domestic to industry have resorted to using alternative electricity sources such as gensets that use fuel for production. These machines use fuel, which the PF has now increased the price of precisely when one would have expected a reduction.

This fuel price increase will now mean a further reduction on economic activities as production costs will escalate further. This situation will automatically lead to price increases on all goods and services, causing a further rise to the already very high cost of living.

A genuine government that is currently facing bankruptcy and cares for its citizens would have considered taking pay-cuts by President Edgar Lungu himself and his cabinet.

President Lungu is currently the only happy Zambian getting double salary as Republican President as well as Defence Minister and at the same time travelling and getting allowances together with the large cabinet that he should have been considering reducing as one cost saving measure, among others.

Zambia can do better than the current PF government. There are leaders that care for their shrinking economies, such as newly elected Nigerian President General Buhari who this week cut his salary by 50 percent to demonstrate that he is also tightening his belt having inherited a bankrupt economy.

In the face of all these price increases, the only thing that has remained stagnant and frozen are people’s salaries and lack of employment opportunities, especially for the youths.

What is even worse is that the sharp fall on the Kwacha that has finally breached the K8 to US$1 due to poor economic performance will put a further strain in an import dependent economy that will affect even small businesses such as cross-border traders.This increase will equally push transportation costs higher at a time farmers are moving their produce to the market as the PF government has so far refused to buy their agricultural produce.

This fuel increase, coming at a time the price of oil prices on the international market are coming down, is totally unjustifiable. The price of Brent crude fell sharply last year from US$115 a barrel in June to US$45 a barrel in January (see here http://www.bbc.com/news/business-33476508).

As Zambians, we should now brace ourselves for more job loses due to the ever-shrinking economy. But make no mistake, the same PF government will hoodwink us by reducing fuel next year towards elections purely to solicit for your votes like they did towards the January 20th elections.

For motorists, transporters, minibuses, and tax-drivers, it is double tragedy as the PF government have also increased Road Tax licenses thereby making it difficult to operate your vehicles.

While we blame those in government for reckless decisions, it is time we as voters also shoulder the blame for electing people who openly confess they have no vision.

It is high time we took a deep reflection on our political choices and for once think of the bigger picture and put national interest ahead of our trivial and petty political persuasions based on imaginary boundaries within our country.

Have a great day and God bless you.

Hakainde Hichilema

President- UPND

Posted by Editor on July 14, 2015. Filed under HEADLINES. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

98 Responses to HH: Fuel Increase Signifies Economic Collapse ‘Lungu Is Only Zambian Happy, He Gets Double Salary’

Beautiful Moma Reply

July 14, 2015 at 10:49 am

“It is high time we took a deep reflection on our political choices and for once think of the bigger picture and put national interest ahead of our trivial and petty political persuasions based on imaginary boundaries within our country.”
Well said. Nothing more to add.
- Pwanya Nini Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 12:33 pm
  
  No Tonga in this world is civilized no matter how exposed they are, they still have that Kachema mentality of Nega-Nega as exhibited by Tonga secessionists.Its fact that Tonga tribe is most selfish & most hated after HIV aids.Its also a fact Tonga is the most polygamous tribe as their famous slogan “Tonga Bull’” with biggest over-bulged juju charmed voodoo d!cks!!!..Yikes!!!Moreover they use there d!icks to think!
  - The Finest Reply
    
    July 14, 2015 at 1:11 pm
    
    With idiots like pwanya nini we can’t develop. Instead of appreciating what the president has said in this statement,get brings in tribalism. you are very stupid and you are the idiots who are mortgaging the future of our children. Ignorance is a curse Mweee. And by the way, am not Tonga, am 100% bemba and I hate fools who get used by politicians on tribal lines.
  - Santos Reply
    
    July 14, 2015 at 2:14 pm
    
    man please use your head to think not your D*** cant you we are sinking as a nation
  - Sweet Ireen Reply
    
    July 14, 2015 at 3:58 pm
    
    @ Pwanya Nini…You are really so jealousy of Tonga men…johno yachitonga inzuna anyway I cant blame you bro or sis…it must have hurted you lost it!!! and if you are a man, as you are…your john must be so underdeveloped it makes you cry every day when you see huge booties, that need big d!cks
    
    Just get a life or hung yourself if it hurts so bad..lol
    - Pwanya Nini Reply
      
      July 14, 2015 at 5:01 pm
      
      @ Sour Ireee go away & hag a tonga flop voodoo d!ck which can fill your dry Kariba dam pus$y with mabisi overflowing thru your back door where yo HH escaped that Ndola Radio fiasco.if not then pu$sy up & jump off the bridge b!tch!!!
      - Sweet Ireen
        
        July 15, 2015 at 10:12 am
        
        You are such a retard…go do that to your mother or masturbate that pencil in your trousers.
Shi Mwana Reply

July 14, 2015 at 10:49 am

God help us
jairo Reply

July 14, 2015 at 10:55 am

HH come next year, you will lose again!
Like a coward hyna you want to cash in at vulnerable time. If you have lots of money, demonstrate, just contribute some sola panels to entire Tonga land and Barotse land for a start. We are in a natural national crisis on our hand , instead of pandering to public and campaigning when its not even time. you could make an appointment with the president and make suggestions.
- Santos Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 2:21 pm
  
  if lungu is the one let him prove it let him take us out of this crisis instead of borrowing uncontrollably
- GK Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 5:03 pm
  
  is this not the same HH hu told us early this year to expect load shedding due to low water levels at KARIBA.boring MR HH.cheap poliitking
chilesheology = the study of chileshe Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:01 am

I haven’t read the whole thingy jiggy but Bwana HH, salries have been unfrozen by Govt. The US$ has strengthened against all world currencies. Euro in now 1.08 USD from 1.5. Rand is 12.5 from 7.6.
On the strong US$, complain against Obama, not Lungu.
- Isaac Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 11:33 am
  
  Very correct my bother. Like never before Rand in south Africa is trading very low since 1994, Botswana for the very first time Pula is trading poorly against the dollar since 1966. This is a global trend all over the world against the bullish dollar and Akainde is taking political mirage out of it shame!
  - Zedman Reply
    
    July 14, 2015 at 11:47 am
    
    What you should understand is that for these countries like SA, Botswana, Euro members a strong dollar is good news because these countries have diversified economies with locally produced goods for export
peddle Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:02 am

HH i agree with you but i can’t trust you, the politician u all the same you change your colours once your are put into power.
- chilesheology = the study of chileshe Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 11:09 am
  
  The only time a politician says the truth is when he calls another a liar.
  And when a politician says “we are in the same boat” he means YOU are rowing and he is smoking a cigar.
chilesheology = the study of chileshe Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:07 am

I haven’t read the whole thingy jiggy but Bwana HH, salaries have been unfrozen by Govt. The US$ has strengthened against all world currencies. Euro in now 1.08 USD from 1.5. Rand is 12.5 from 7.6.
On the strong US$, complain against Obama, not Lungu.
If the USD weakens and there is oversupply of oil towards our elections, fuel will come down.
At that point, HH should pray that during campaign time, dollar strengthens, world oil output slows down, it rains less (more load shedding), etc, for him to have campaign points at rallies.
Herve Stalin Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:09 am

That is why HH ends up irritating people he wants to impress. we know that the kwacha fall is due to gain in dollar internationally, fall in prices and demand of copper, payments to foreign contractors doing roads and other infrastructural works. now look the easiest is to play around with fiscal and monetary policies and related instruments like mwanawasa used to do. price rise in fuel is due to fall in kwacha. the landed cost of one litre of fuel is $0.95. so HH put a mark up since you are a businessman. if this is what you call collapse in economy you must be mad!
Ewa Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:17 am

“As a result of poor planning and maintenance of ZESCO generation equipment the PF government is currently implementing unprecedented levels of electricity load shedding. This is despite supposedly having injected huge amounts of borrowed Eurobond bond money into ZESCO,” says HH.

Is this true? Is it Lungu whose supposed to do maintenance of ZESCO generation equipment? Is it Lungu implementing load shedding? Is it Lungu who has reduced the river water levels ? Is he this bad ?

If the load shedding is due to none other than the said low water levels at generation points, then it is the whole ZESCO management who should be reprimanded, actually, they should be fired.
HH, what do you say ??
- Trixy Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 1:58 pm
  
  @Eva…Iwe when things go wrong in a country, the blame lies squarely with the Government of the day and the president in particular. How can you is Lungu responsible for what is happening in the country as regards ZESCO? You cannot separate Lungu from anything negative or positive in the country…Why do you like exposing your ignorance in public?
owayne Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:23 am

is this hh kneeling?
charity tengeleko Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:37 am

zambians u lyk politiking even if someone means well eishhhhhhhh!!!
Ewa Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:39 am

Rand/Nam $ is now trading at 12.5 to 1 US$. In January, 2015, fuel(petrol) was came down to N$9.30 per litre in Namibia. It has been going up steadily and is now at N$11.99 per litre. Last increment was to weeks ago.

Is this not a global problem ba HH ?. Hope you did not call a press conference to show your ignorance. criticize wisely and give alternatives/solutions ba saaa>
Isaac Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:39 am

This Akainde will be taught a bitter lesson come next year. For his campaign to tick, he has to find a loop where to penetrate. This wont work keep on looking for a strategy not his shit!
- Beautiful Moma Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 11:54 am
  
  Isaac, be honest.You are a staunch P.F supporter, I am Non partisan. I have no emotions or interests attached to P.F but this is the truth, things are not okay.
  You can expect HH to attack where you are not doing fine because he is in the opposition. Your weakness is his strength. You remember late MCS saying he would chase the Chinese when he came into power? Why, because MMD had failed to protect the people. Loophole. In this game, the goal is to destroy your political opponent, not just defeat them.
John Funkama Reply

July 14, 2015 at 12:08 pm

Ba HH is ever desperate. When the Dollar’s value rise, all other currencies adjust. If that signifies collapsing of the economy then the whole world’s economy has collapsed. Rand is now up to 12.5 to 1 US$ from 11.7 in January; Japanese Yen is up to 122.6 to a US$ from 121.4 in January; Canadian Dollar is now 1.27 from 1.12 in January.
Check your facts before you say something otherwise you are just politicking.
Fuel is imported using Dollars and the price will either fall or rise depending on the Dollar rate.
kayula Reply

July 14, 2015 at 12:23 pm

How many times will the economy collaps? Pabwatoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
- Hello Haters Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 8:21 pm
  
  Kikikiki this pf cadre still got some little oxygen in him to scream twanwiiiiiiiina mukabwaaato.
Chief of Grief Reply

July 14, 2015 at 12:32 pm

Okay apapena mwaiche hetch hetch justice epoyili!Tekuti nine upnd awe,nakalya eyo!my gut just dösnt trust u with my zambia.But ba mudala wandi ba Edy Lungu,ifintu nafipena apa i wont lie papa,chilishani kanshi pantu twalasebana daddy!Ine Grief nasakamana…….
Pwanya Nini Reply

July 14, 2015 at 12:33 pm

No Tonga in this world is civilized no matter how exposed they are, they still have that Kachema mentality of Nega-Nega as exhibited by Tonga secessionists.Its fact that Tonga tribe is most selfish & most hated after HIV aids.Its also a fact Tonga is the most polygamous tribe as their famous slogan “Tonga Bull’” with biggest over-bulged juju charmed voodoo d!cks!!!..Yikes!!!Moreover they use there d!icks to think!!
- Santos Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 2:33 pm
  
  why are you so tribal violent am sure the person who took your virginity and dumped you was tonga that’s besides stop being a hurter you are not fit to be a Zambian
- Sweet Ireen Reply
  
  July 15, 2015 at 10:15 am
  
  Your name is demeaning your mother straight up, not any other woman…loser!!!!
Kwati like so Reply

July 14, 2015 at 12:45 pm

Dollar waz just made n u idiots u gave it value. Give value to yo kwacha by diversifying yo copper based economy. Sell mo to the outside world imwee ba idiot. HH is right. A country blessed wit natural resources masses suffering. Vote kachema next year!
The spartacus Reply

July 14, 2015 at 12:56 pm

HH has spoken well en any well meaning Zambian regardless of political affiliation wil agree with him..prices of commodities ll automatically skyrocket hence th cost of living becomes unbearable to th already impoverished people.. Giving unsubstantiated reason abt th strengthening of a dollar against our weaker currency is not enough bt action is what we need to see..We put them in power to work en not always give baseless excuses.
The spartacus Reply

July 14, 2015 at 1:03 pm

Chilekalipa sana wen u go to th filling station for refuel with a 2.5l engine car.. K200 is like a drop in a ocean.. Pf pull up yo socks
Songo Reply

July 14, 2015 at 1:18 pm

The Kwacha has been falling since PF came into power unlike the other currencies you are mentioning.
chatasha Reply

July 14, 2015 at 1:22 pm

Let us not compare the economies of Namibia ,SA to that of zambia.Ask a south africa about the Rand losing.He wil tell you “what do you mean?’The fall of rand has no direct impact of the sort “kwacha naipona, natomato twalalunda” Make our leaders accountable.How many countries have more than 70 cabinet ministers in africa?
Mulenga Reply

July 14, 2015 at 2:10 pm

Hh work hard you might be the next president in 2016
chalikwepa Reply

July 14, 2015 at 2:35 pm

Comrades lets agree things are getting worse!
chikala chobe Reply

July 14, 2015 at 3:19 pm

HH is winin next year and I’ve proved beyond resonable doubt for all those hatin this is da only time 2 join us before its 2late,bafikala ba PF mukose coz muzanya 2016.HH all da way and shout out 2 NEZ an educated fellow o4 UPND.
- New Educated Zambia© Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 6:48 pm
  
  we thank you and need you guys to turn out and vote in 2016. We need your voices to be heard via the ballot box. We shall persevere and shall over come. take care mune
Bantustan Nyandule Reply

July 14, 2015 at 4:35 pm

A thief will not be voted into power. You want to privatize the whole country?
- Economist Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 4:40 pm
  
  His really living in a dream together with his followers,am sure they will receive a wake up call soon.
Economist Reply

July 14, 2015 at 4:38 pm

HH is just a useless selfish politician,he understands well what is happening with exchange rates,what his doing is misleading uneducated just say the truth.
Judge Joe Bidden Reply

July 14, 2015 at 4:40 pm

Instead of discussing this crisis PF cadres see nothing wrong with fuel crisis but resort to petty name calling.
- Beautiful Moma Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 4:59 pm
  
  Tumfweko as usual. You have to expect that it’ll go left sooner or later.
  - Judge Joe Bidden Reply
    
    July 14, 2015 at 5:10 pm
    
    Rushing to airport to catch a plane at 6pm coming back home. But PF should put their arses together this is no more funny.
    - Beautiful Moma Reply
      
      July 14, 2015 at 6:33 pm
      
      Please, first flight home.
      Talk about the high cost of bringing in raw materials from the increase in fuel price and a small, almost non existent manufacturing industry hit by power cuts every now and then. Can it get any worse? Double whammy! It’s a hard knocks life.
mwansa Reply

July 14, 2015 at 4:41 pm

This country is not even on auto-pilot because things are in control when you are on auto-pilot. The driver is drunk and sleeping so very soon we will crush. Nothing in this country seems to be going in the right direction. Ni “katuntulu! Tatulafika! 2016 tatwakonfwane ngamukavote ifyabupuba!
Pwanya Nini Reply

July 14, 2015 at 5:02 pm

@ Sour Irene go away & hag a tonga flop voodoo d!ck which can fill your dry Kariba dam pus$y with mabisi overflowing thru your back door where yo HH escaped that Ndola Radio fiasco.if not then pu$sy up & jump off the bridge b!tch!
Twin Larry Reply

July 14, 2015 at 5:24 pm

People can not stay 100 per cent what should put in your mind at home ,nationwide. HH your time its not now!!!! Let our president work and finish SATA legency.
The spartacus Reply

July 14, 2015 at 5:38 pm

One cannot feel th economical impact this will bring wen is a dependant.. Bt a responsible man who works hard to earn a living fo th betterment of th family can not support this foolishness from PF..
mufetu Reply

July 14, 2015 at 5:53 pm

I am only here for the comments from a committed die hard upnd cadre not you cadres insulting each other.Where is Nez?
- New Educated Zambia© Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 6:45 pm
  
  mune please refer to my comment below. I have just commented. We need you guys to vote upnd in 2016. things are bad. we trust you to make the right decision
Kalyobwele Reply

July 14, 2015 at 6:40 pm

1stly…I hop we all no….dat de world is soon gong in2 de dedly drain…& thrz nathng any1 cn do abt it
2ndly….U shud no dat…sam1 controls de world…very soon…we wil run out of options & we wil do xactly wat they say
3rdly…..END tyms ar here..B red fo de mark of the Best
U wil neitha buy nor sale……B warned
New Educated Zambia© Reply

July 14, 2015 at 6:44 pm

The incoming wise president has spoke. Those with eyes and ears will listen and see. The ignorant baboons will continue to tell themselves that things are fine. BAne, we only have one life and one zambia. Let us make the right choices for once and not let our minds be sheilded with false assumptions based on tribe. Management does not see tribe. Whether you vote lungu because he is not tonga, will not prevent you from suffering. We say open your minds and let us for once accept change under the upnd. we thank you and trust that you will do the right thing in 2016
wine Reply

July 14, 2015 at 7:46 pm

HH
wine Reply

July 14, 2015 at 8:02 pm

HH is the biggest fool in Zambia, What is the nigeria president reducation of his salary,to do with Zambia,and your money who do you share with,get your money and give to the poor, you confused freemasion.Iam sure bishop chama was right when he called you a satanist and satanist drink blood.No wonder the madness.
kakolwe Reply

July 14, 2015 at 8:03 pm

It is sad that I have had such a lousy day. I hate presentations in which I am a passenger & the presenter is labouring to put points across. Njise ati mposheko ulupwa tumfweko, nasanga HH aleposa data iyapatankana!!
MIXED CUT!!!Great points mixed with a little bit of sensationalisation! Maize market ain’t open yet! Moisture content still high & harvests still progressing.
Double salary & allowances? Cacine, baLungu ni greed iyi. Let me continue later, naya kulusasa mu bedroom nsambeko!
- Beautiful Moma Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 8:44 pm
  
  Tusheni first. Your absence was noticeable.
chikala chobe Reply

July 14, 2015 at 8:13 pm

@ kakolwe its gud dat u r now suportin da UPND idealogies,just swalow ur pride and join us
- kakolwe Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 8:31 pm
  
  Can you please point me to any ideological point in this ridicule from HH? I said “good & sound points” and that constitutes ideologies to you? Or is HH the ideology? Your blog name!!
kayula Reply

July 14, 2015 at 8:43 pm

The truth is HH is not the answer to what we are going through. All we need is to chsnge our mind sets and start working hard. HH has no experience in govt. Time for job on training is long gone
Chief of Grief Reply

July 14, 2015 at 8:59 pm

Iwe @kakolwe kikikikikikikikikikikikikiki ala wantombaula imbafu chikala kikikikikiki ati yo blog name ala naitemwa charisma iyishalikishe.!
- kakolwe Reply
  
  July 14, 2015 at 9:59 pm
  
  I knew you couldn’t miss that Chief!
  - major chileshe Reply
    
    July 15, 2015 at 9:28 am
    
    Hahahahahaha me too
kachiwanda Reply

July 14, 2015 at 9:27 pm

#Alungu anabwela ni Petro ya nyoko.
Zoona Reply

July 14, 2015 at 9:44 pm

People be objective and learn to think beyond your noses. Economy wise, we are practically at the border of Highly Indebted and impoverished country. Thanks to RB and PF for bring us back. Buckle up for Economic Structural Adjustment Program Part 2.

HH,thanks for the reminder and have a blessed day. I have just dusted my voter’s card for your sake.
Kawalala party Reply

July 14, 2015 at 10:29 pm

lungu tod us tht he had no vision for the counry kkkkkkkki
Kawalala party Reply

July 14, 2015 at 10:32 pm

2016 kavoter fimbi noba pantu muliba lungu nasangamo ukufilya mwehhh..
New Educated Zambia© Reply

July 14, 2015 at 10:43 pm

A website funded by senior PF officials is urging the PF to replace Edgar Lungu ahead of the 2016 elections, saying Lungu is just loitering around the world.

Tunfweko gave unflinching support to the PF under late Michael Sata and massively supported Edgar Lungu during the presidential by-election.

Tunfweko seems to have changed hearts after Lungu sidelined Sata’s supporters and replaced them with Rupiah Banda’s team.

It seems Tunfweko has switched sides with Zambia Reports which is now shamelessly pro-PF and is actually more PF than Daily Mail and Times of Zambia combined with ZNBC and ZANIS. But then, Zambia Reports is funded by Rupiah Banda and controlled by his son Henry as editor.

Tunkweko wrote:

‘To be honest, people have started losing confidence at an alarming rate which is not good for the ruling PF. There are too many problems affecting the masses ranging from high cost of doing business, weak Kwacha, CBU impasse and other problems. Instead, our President has prioritized ‘Zungulila World’.

Tunfweko therefore wonders if the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) should consider changing its Presidential Candidate for 2016?

Most of its followers agreed that its time the PF changed then candidate.

Martin Kaboto Chilufya for example wrote, the PF needs a new leader who has a vision on how the social and economic factors of this country can be transformed to better the living standards of the Zambians, a leader who can motivate ministers and civil servants to work extra hard so that there is efficiency in government service delivery system.I would put my money on the young and vibrant Hon. Miles Sampa ‘

vote upnd
New Educated Zambia© Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:28 pm

testing one two. new and improved nez name. spreading love to all. one zambia one nation
New Educated Zambia© ❤ Reply

July 14, 2015 at 11:28 pm

testing one two. new and improved nez name. spreading love to all. one zambia one nation. vote upnd
chikala chobe Reply

July 15, 2015 at 12:00 am

@ NEZ man u r briliant let’s show these PF low lives how da game Z played in 2016, all da pipo who ve bin comentin on tunfweko I wud advice u 2 get ur voters cards and vote 4 UPND nxt year before its 2late
true son of my father Reply

July 15, 2015 at 12:49 am

countrymen,learn to travel and experience what life is in other serious nations. can a normal person honestly justfy the rot brought about with pf. can someone tell me just one sector of the economy which has improved under pf? can someone tell me just one campaign promise the pf has fulfiled? every sector of the economy has been moving at suppersonic spead from bad to worse. realy what is there worth suporting them? unless you are eating with them.
shoket 47 Reply

July 15, 2015 at 3:27 am

I wonder why people are so negative when it comes to the truth..our zambian economy is shrinking and things are just getting from bad to worse..The UPND leader isn’t the only one seeing this but the masses as well..its high time we put our tribal issues aside and focus on the matters at and that will take our country forward..whether Bemba,Chewa,Lozi,Mambwe,Tumbuka,Tonga,Ila,Namwanga or Kaonde,etc,,we are all one zambia and one nation..we just have to vote wisely..chapwa..