'High fuel prices hampering growth in Kasama'
'High fuel prices hampering growth in Kasama'By Freddy Phiri
Sunday May 20, 2007 [04:00]
A KASAMA-based businessman John Simukwai has said that development in Northern Province has been hampered by high fuel prices in the area. Reacting to Energy Regulation Board (ERB)'s published indicative pump prices for towns, Simukwai complained that fuel suppliers in the province were exploiting people.
He said it was sad that despite the ERB indicating the fuel price for Kasama as K6,935, motorists were buying the commodity at K7,850 per litre.
"We would like the ERB executive director Sylvester Hibajene to launch further investigations and find out why we are still buying petrol at K7,850 per litre here in Kasama while the ERB is reflecting a different pump price," Simukwai appealed.
He said that the high fuel prices and the resultant high production costs were scaring away prospective investors with intentions to invest in the Northern Province.
And Vibetti Chanda, another businessman said that it was worrying that Northern Province had continued being trampled upon in terms of development.
He suggested to ERB that fuel prices be uniform throughout the country like other essential commodities such as sugar and soft drinks. Chanda said the ERB should protect both the suppliers and consumers.
ERB in a statement on Tuesday stated fuel pump prices for all towns in Zambia but consumers in Northern Province have disputed the prices as not reflecting what was obtaining on the ground in the area.
posted by MrK @ 5:00 AM
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