Zambia: President cancels tariff increase

Under pressure over a deepening economic crisis and facing elections in August, President Edgar Lungu has ordered the cancellation of a power tariff increase aimed at boosting investment in the electricity sector. The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) had approved domestic and business tariff increases with effect from 2 December, saying the revenue increase would see $3.7bn invested in new generation projects to add 1,500MW to the national grid. But on 3 January, Lungu’s spokesman Amos Chanda said the president was cancelling the domestic tariff increase because of an outcry from consumers.