MDC: Electricity tariff hike insensitive

The recent announcement of a looming electricity tariff hike by the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Dr Samuel Undenge is devoid of rationale, reason or competence, in fact, it is insensitivity of the highest order, considering that the majority of Zimbabweans are living on the verge of starvation and are struggling to pay for the electricity they use as a result of ZANU PF's collective failure to revive the economy.

This country is in this deep energy crisis due to corruption in government, and the failure to plan and implement energy initiatives, therefore it is grossly unfair for government to blackmail citizens into paying for its mistakes. The MDC is of the strong view that what Zimbabwe needs at the moment is accountability of public funds and implementation of alternative energy programmes rather than imposing more tariff hikes on the already suffering masses. This decision is clearly ill-advised and epitomises the ZANU PF knee jerk mode of not seeing beyond taxing Zimbabweans to oblivion each time the country is faced with challenges. This to us is a sure sign of a clueless and narrow minded government. Zimbabweans are taxed left right and centre already and have no more to give.

As we have always stated, government must craft policies that facilitate competition and investment in energy so that the country benefits from innovation and diversity. ZESA should be depoliticised and commercialised to enable it to expand electricity capacity. Alternative free energy sources should be exploited and made accessible to consumers as a matter of urgency.