Electricity tariff increase shocking
Madam,
The recent announcement of an increase in electricity tariffs comes at an extremely difficult time for citizens and businesses alike, who are already contending with the high costs of fuel, food and other essentials. There is little doubt that increasing the price of electricity now, at this challenging time, will add to the difficulties emaSwati are facing. Rising food and energy prices are fuelling a cost of living crisis worldwide, and the poor are being hardest hit. ,n (swatini, all stakeholders, including government, ((&, business, labour and communi ties need to work together to achieve a very difficult balance.
INTERESTS
At all times, they must be guided by the needs and interests of emaSwati, especially the poor, both now and into the future. *overnment needs to implement policies and meas ures to mitigate the hardship being experienced by vulnerable citizens. ,t should then absolutely remain committed to these policies.
Another means by which the State
could support the country¶s most vulnerable from excessive price increases is through a competition policy.
MECHANISMS
Also, there is a serious need to consider additional mechanisms to address the rising cost of electricity. These may include measures such as helping households and small busi nesses install solar power and ener gy saving devices and supporting households with rechargeable lights.
As they work together to overcome the energy crisis, government depart ments and businesses need to pay for the electricity they use. 1on pay ment and illegal connections make
electricity provision more expensive and less reliable. The global cost of living crisis has been described as a once in a generation economic shock and it is being worsened by global events that are beyond our control.
+owever, government needs to put more effort in expanding salaries just as it did when ensuring that SA&U receipts are increased. ,t needs to pursue closer cooperation with all social partners and public entities to find sustainable ways to shield (swatini households from the worst effects of rising energy and other costs.
WB R