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FREEZE ELECTRICITY TARIFFS HIKE - MPS

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MANZINI - Members of Parliament (MPs) are calling for a further deferment of the electricity tariffs hike, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.


This follows that the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) confirmed through its Head of Corporate Communications, Khaya Mavuso, that June 1, 2020 was the agreed date for increasing the tariffs.


The electricity tariffs were supposed to be increased on April 1, 2020, but the hike was deferred by two months to cushion companies and individuals from the impact of the coronavirus.


The MPs said it was public knowledge that the country was in an economic quagmire due to the outbreak of COVID-19, and companies and individuals alike were negatively affected financially.


In that regard, they urged EEC to defer the electricity tariff hike until the COVID-19 situation improved. They said as a public enterprise, the company should put the people first. They added that it should also defer the increase of electricity tariffs for the sake of humanity, goodwill and corporate citizenry.


They said under the prevailing situation, members of the public would not survive if electricity tariffs would be increased because it would also inflate prices of other basic commodities.


“This is because currently, a majority of people are already starving and those who are on unpaid layoffs are failing to pay rent. So, increasing the electricity tariffs under the prevailing situation will mean pushing the people into deeper financial crisis,” the parliamentarians said.


They noted that prices for basic commodities like electricity, water and food could not afford to be increased under the prevailing situation.


Some said they were hoping to engage the Speaker to debate the matter so that a final decision could be taken up with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy.


Meanwhile, EEC Head of Corporate Communications Mavuso said they could only engage on the matter once a formal correspondence had been made to the company. He said at the moment, he would not comment on the subject matter.

                      

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