Govt is taking Zambians for granted over Cabinet pay rise, says Mususu

Govt is taking Zambians for granted over Cabinet pay rise, says Mususu
By Noel Sichalwe
Tuesday August 19, 2008 [04:00]

EVANGELICAL Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Bishop Paul Mususu yesterday said the government is taking Zambians for a ride by not withdrawing the proposed salary increments for ministers and members of parliament.

Bishop Mususu said the government was elected by its citizens and that it had the responsibility to listen to their concerns.

He said the Zambians have opposed the proposed salary increments and wondered why the government was ignoring its voters.

Bishop Mususu said the proposed salary increments were either made out of greediness or the government was simply taking Zambians for granted.

"Maybe they are thinking that Zambians are docile and they will just talk about this thing and forget," he said. "The amounts they are awarding themselves raise moral questions. These people are saying they have no money to pay the students and researchers at the University of Zambia and yet they are offering themselves these amounts of money.

They are pushing the Zambian people and taking them for granted. We would appeal to the conscious of the Vice-President to seriously consider this issue."

He said there was need to address the issue of proposed salary increment and diffuse the tension that was building up.

"They told us to pray for President Mwanawasa, which we have done. But when we tell them to say what they are doing is wrong, they don't want to listen to us, the people. These are the same double standards we have been talking about," said Bishop Mususu.

The government has presented the Presidential, ministerial and constitutional office holders (Emoluments) (Amendments) Bill. The bills have since passed through the third reading but are yet to be signed.