UPND calls for immediate withdrawal of new tariff on internet calls

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has called for the immediate withdrawal of the 30 Ngwee per day tariff on internet calls introduced by government.

UPND Chairperson for Mines Percy Chanda says the PF government has no idea of how to get the country out of the economic mess they have put Zambians in, and that all they know is to keep squeezing the already impoverished citizens through imposition of all sorts of taxes and levies.

Mr Chanda says the new tax imposition onn internet calls is retrogressive and oppressive to small and medium business entrepreneurship and that the UPND condemns it in the strongest possible terms.

He says the introduction of a 30 Ngwee tariff per day will be incorporated in each talk time translating to K109.50 per mobile number per year.

Mr Chanda says mobile subscribers are already taxed for using social media platform each time they buy data bundles.

He states that experience has shown that punitive taxes under a failing crumbling economy will never develop a country and its people.

Mr Chanda says taxes and levies do not necessarily develop the country, but they instead burden and fatigue citizens and poison the business environment.

He says the economy develops from a good economic environment and sound policies that generates more wealth from locally generated resources.

He says the UPND considers social media platforms as one effective tool for economic transformation as communication is important for rapid economic growth.

Mr Chanda points out that this is why most envied countries in terms of rapid economic development,including in Africa, social media platforms are easy to access through the creation of free WiFi hot spots in all key cities and public places.