Government says it will soon re-introduce price controls on goods and services like the ones the country endured under Kenneth Kaunda’s UNIP where private enterprising was almost non-existent.
Luapula Province Minister, Benson Kapaya says the PF regime will is concerned with the exploitation of Zambian citizens by the business community, who he said set prices for goods and services at an exorbitant rate.
Kapaya said this during a meeting held with civil servants and pupils at Ponde Secondary School.
He was responding to concerns by one of the participants Chimwemwe Gondwe ‘s concern on the high prices of goods and services from Chienge.
Kapaya, who is also Chienge Constituency area Member of Parliament (MP) held the meeting to explain the removal of subsidies on maize and fuel.
He said Shops and other Service providers would soon be mandated to display their prices to enable the Price controllers to check if they are in conformity with prevailing business conditions
Kapaya explained that the move is not meant to interfere with the running of private businesses, but is instead meant to protect the Zambian citizens from exploitation.
The price control system was last seen during First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda’s era but was done away with in the democratic dispensation of multiparty system by late second Republican President Dr. Frederick Chiluba.