‘HIGH COST OF LIVING A TIME BOMB’

 By Arnel Chitundu

THE Zambian Empowerment Hub for Entrepreneurship and Skills Training, says the high cost of living is a time bomb waiting to explode if nothing is done immediately by the Government.

Speaking to The Scoop, ZEHEST Executive Director Clarence Muzyamba said there was a need for the Government to cushion the situation before the country witnessed a massive protest.

Mr. Muzyamba said the Government should listen to advice from professional bodies and think tanks on how to deal with and balance the economy.

 He said the Government should be engaging, accommodative and consultative when dealing with national economic matters, as they are expected to be proactive and not reactive.

 “We encourage the Government to organize more dialogue symposiums across the country where citizens can fully and freely engage and suggest possible solutions to the many challenges affecting the nation such as the high cost of living, Kwacha depreciation, debt and youth unemployment,” Mr. Muzyamba said.

 He stated that fuel increase was detrimental to the already limping economy which was just developing and the long hours of load shedding was leading to thieves taking advantage of the situation and breaking into houses and various premises to steal from members of the public.

 He emphasized the need for the Government to listen to the concerns of the Zambian people with regards to the high cost of living currently prevailing in the country.

 He added that life had become unbearable and that the current food basket was unaffordable for many families.

 “Majority citizens are failing to afford decent meals. They are struggling to make ends meet and the cost of doing business is high. Prices of basic food items have gone up with the staple food, mealie meal, costing as high as K300 per 25kg bag, yet salaries have remained the same,” added.

 He explained that if the economy was not well managed, citizens risked facing low production of goods, more job losses, and the economy would remain stagnant or go down.

 He reiterated that high fuel prices contributed to the high cost of living which resulted in economic hardships.