Govt urged to rescind hike in internet tariffs

Government has been urged to immediately rescind the decision to introduce a 30 ngwee per day tax on internet based calls over social media platforms.

UNZALARU President Evans Lampi says the new cyber security bills and plans to introduce the K500 RATSA vehicle re-registration should also be shelved indefinitely.

Dr. Lampi says this will protect the nation from sliding into an Orwellian society where privacy and personal liberties do not exist.

In a statement obtained by Q-news, Dr Lampi that the introduction of a new tax on internet based phone calls is a clear indication that ordinary Zambians are going to foot the bill for the failure by government to come up with a clear economic development strategy.

He says this insatiable appetite by government to collect every little ngwee that nationals earn is sucking the oxygen out of the economy for other players such as businesses.

He says the new tax is simply another way of siphoning more revenue from the already overburdened and fatigued taxpayers.

Dr. Lampi has wondered why government has decided to tax innocent Zambians instead of taxing the tax dodging companies.

He has stated that consumers are already paying tax on the data bundles and airtime that they use to access these services.