ECONOMIST Dr Esther Banda has called on government to extend tax exemption to kerosene in order to support low-income households. She argues that failure to do so will increase poverty levels, considering that kerosene prices have increased from K21 to K32. And the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has backed the call, noting that kerosene is the primary source of energy for cooking and lighting for the majority of Zambia’s 7.5 million people living in poverty. Recently, government declared the fuel situation an “emergency” and removed duty on petrol and diesel, while kerosene prices increased from K21 to K32. In an interview, Monday, Dr Banda advised that government should not only focus on macroeconomics but must also ensure that...
