Govt slaps 30-ngwee day phone tariff

GOVERNMENT has introduced a 30 Ngwee a day tariff on internet phone calls following an increase in its use at the expense of traditional phone calls. This development threatened the telecommunications industry and jobs in companies such as Zamtel, Airtel and MTN. The decision was made yesterday at the 12th Cabinet Meeting held at State House, chaired by President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Cabinet has since approved the issuance of a Statutory Instrument (SI) that would facilitate the introduction of the tariff to be charged through mobile phone operators and internet providers. In a statement released by Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Dora Siliya, the Cabinet meeting noted that research showed that 80 per cent of the citizens were using WhatsApp, skype, and Viber to make phone calls. During the same meeting, cabinet approved in principle, the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Food Reserve Act, Cap. 225 of 1995 to strengthen the operations of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and enable it to operate sustainably with reduced dependence on Government funding by inclusion of provisions related to the following: Cabinet further approved the introduction of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill that will repeal and replace certain parts, clauses and sections contained in the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act No. 21 of 2009. The statement said the Bill would promote an increased cybersecurity posture; facilitate intelligence gathering, investigation, prosecution and judicial processes in respect of preventing and addressing cybercrimes, cyber terrorism and cyber warfare against Zambia. Cabinet further directed the Minister of Finance to publish and disseminate the 2017 Annual Economic Report to the public. The key highlights in the 2017 Economic Report include an indication that the global economy continued to recover in 2017, with output estimated at 3.7 percent from 3.2 percent in 2016. The meeting also noted that preliminary estimates indicated that the domestic economy grew by 4.1 percent in 2017, compared to 3.8 percent in 2016; total revenue and grants amounted to K43.03 billion against a budget projection of K45.34 billion; in line with the lower revenues, expenditures were constrained in 2017. These were below target by 6.3 percent and the preliminary data indicated that the external debt stock at the end of December 2017 increased by 25.8 percent to US$8,738.95 million from US$6,947.1 million in 2016. The report further highlights policy issues that require attention such as double digit growth to be imperative to create jobs and counter the high poverty levels. The meeting also noted need to expedite implementation of revenue enhancing measures such as automation of revenue collection processes. The need to reign in Government borrowing so that the country brought the debt to moderate risk from high risk of distress.