Maravi

Cabinet pay rise justified but inadequate, says Chimbaka

Cabinet pay rise justified but inadequate, says Chimbaka
By Patson Chilemba and Jack Zimba
Friday August 15, 2008 [04:00]

SALARY increments for constitutional office holders and government officials are justified though inadequate, Bahati Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Besa Chimbaka has said. And Namwala UPND member of parliament Major Robby Chizyhuka said there was need to rationalise the matter of salary increments and face the facts squarely.

But PF Kasama-Central member of parliament Saviour Chishimba said he was opposed to the salary and allowance increments.
Commenting on the proposed salary and allowance increments whose amendment Bills have reached committee stage in Parliament, Chimbaka said people opposing the increments were unfair.

He said his being in Parliament was a sacrifice because he used to get better perks when he worked for the Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT).

"When I was working for ZNUT, I was well-paid. Now as MP for Bahati, I go away with K3 million as monthly salary after they take away K1.2 million car loan, then for insurance K1.2 million. If you have got a loan from Parliament, sometimes you can go empty," Chimbaka said. "After sitting allowance I get K400,000 daily. I pay K200,000 for my room and for meals K25,000. How much do I remain with?"

Chimbaka said it was difficult for members of parliament to sustain their lives from the current perks.

He said Zambian parliamentarians were the least paid in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
On Hakainde Hichilema and Michael Sata's opposition to the allowances, Chimbaka urged the two leaders to stop politicking because they would be entitled to the same allowances if they were serious about becoming presidents.

"The country should be realistic. If it's good for an executive to get K108 million, now where is the worth of the President to get K15 million? I appoint someone and he gets better than me, how is he going to respect me?" asked Chimbaka. "That's why in Zambian politics we have more people who are not highly qualified because they won't leave their luxury."

And Maj Chizhyuka said the functions of constitutional office holders were diverse and intricate and that the nation should endevour to match their remuneration with responsibility.

"Right now, the Kenyan parliamentarian is paid 12,000 dollars per month. A Kenyan parliamentarian is given accommodation and an office across the street. They are given 80,000 dollars Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Compare that with what a Zambian parliamentarian gets and you will start to get some answers," he said.
Maj Chizyhuka said most parliamentarians were supposed to visit their constituencies every two weeks but wondered how they could do so with the current perks. He said the salary increments should enable those entitled to match their pay with responsibility.

But Chishimba said he was opposed to the increments because Cabinet used the 15 per cent upward adjustment to include outrageous allowances such as responsibility allowance.
He said doctors and nurses had responsibilities but they never received responsibility allowance.

Chishimba said there would be no public outcry if resources were shared equitably.

"Some things we award ourselves as leaders are nonsensical," said Chishimba.

And the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) has expressed concern at the huge disparities between salaries for unionised workers and respective managements in the private sector.
The union demanded that the government also double the salaries for the police and other security personnel and that responsibility allowance be introduced for them as well.

Union vice-president, Charles Phiri told journalists at a press briefing yesterday that the union would consider other options such as strikes if the government did not withdraw the bills.

Executive secretary, Lyson Mando took a swipe at Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba, for justifying the proposed salary increments.

"Our brother has really compromised himself. First of all, which worker would agree with his statement?" he asked.
Mando said Hikaumba could no longer be trusted with the interests of the workers.

Meanwhile, 13 civil society organisations and church mother bodies met with the Vice-President Rupiah Banda on Wednesday to register their displeasure at the proposed salary increments.
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) executive director Goodwell Lungu confirmed the meeting.

Lungu said the Vice-President promised to take the matter back to Cabinet next Thursday for "re-discussion."

The NGOs have, however, vowed to continue mounting pressure on the government until the bills on salaries are withdrawn.

The NGOs are Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Non-Governmental Coordinating Council (NGOCC), Transparency International Zambia (TIZ), Caritas Zambia and the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), among others.

Labels: CABINET

posted by MrK @ 3:56 AM