Reverse Tariff on internet Phone Calls, pleads Cuts

CUTS Zambia Center Coordinator Chenai Mukumbanai

Consumer Unity Trust Society (CUTS) International CENTRE Coordinator, Chennai Mukumba has described the decision by Cabinet to introduce tax on internet based phone calls as retrogressive.

Ms. Mukumba says this amounts to double-charging consumers who will still pay for data in addition to the 30 Ngwee per day or K9 per month.

She has told Q-news that the decision by government will hurt low income consumers that had switched to internet based phone call communication due to the high cost of regular phone calls.

She says communication is not a luxury service but a necessary social and economic activity of citizens that considerably reduced the cost of doing business.

Ms. MUkumba has since urged the government to reverse the Statutory Instrument meant to introduce the 30 Ngwee per day tariff on internet phone calls and rather focus on ensuring improved service provision by Airtel, MTN and Zamtel.