BERA kickstarts public hearings on BPC tariffs
Sunday, May 10, 2020
On social media and other platforms, consumers have vented their anger over BERA’s decision to award the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) a tariff increase in March, at a time when the economy and households were facing a mounting crisis from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Consumers have even accused the BPC of secretly tampering with the prepaid meters to increase the rate of consumption. The BPC has instead said higher consumption rates are associated with winter demand, the tariff increase and the fact that more people are working from home due to COVID-19 restrictions.
It is a warning flare to every Motswana who logs onto social media. As a country, we have reached a point where the line between robust debate and outright destruction has become dangerously blurred. At face value, Mabeo’s response, which seeks an apology and threat of a defamation suit, might seem severe to some. But we cannot ignore the context. The comment in question did not offer a policy critique or question a political decision.It...