11.   The move comes as part of the government plan to lift subsidies from all commodities and remove government controls from the economy.

12.   Under Chiluba, the government has lifted food subsidies and scrapped import tariffs, making Zambia one of the most free-trading economies in Africa.

13.   When the post-Communist government lifted subsidies, prices shot up.

14.   But it attributed high rates in some members to moves to free prices and lift subsidies in line with the reforms.

15.   The state has already lifted all subsidies on essential products, which led to steep price rises for bread, coffee, sugar, milk and dry vegetables.