Maravi

Mulongoti justifies pay rise

Mulongoti justifies pay rise
By Lambwe Kachali
Tuesday August 05, 2008 [04:05]

CHIEF government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti has said the approved salary and allowance increments for constitutional office holders will not be withdrawn because the matter will be taken to Parliament. But International Fellowship of Christian Churches (IFCC) president Bishop Simon Chihana said the failure by Cabinet to withdraw salary and allowance increments for constitutional office holders will send wrong signals to the Zambian people.

Reacting to Sikota Wina who asked Vice-President Rupiah Banda to reconsider and withdraw Cabinet's approval of salary and allowance increments for constitutional office holders, Mulongoti said people criticising the salary increments were simply engaging in politics of poverty because the world had changed.
"Mr Sikota Wina has condemned it. Now just ask Mr Sikota Wina, that 'is he happy with the conditions of the former leaders in UNIP who were in government?' He (Wina) is a board chairman of ERB Energy Regulation Board, now ask him and let him tell the nation, how much he pays members of ERB and himself. We are all answerable," Mulongoti said. "These people are just engaging in politics of poverty. I don't think we have to be party to that. They world has changed, things have changed in the world. So I don't think it is right that we must continue to glue to politics of poverty."

Mulongoti said the government would only issue a comprehensive statement after Parliament looks at the proposed salary increments and allowances.
He said it was not right for the government to pre-empt such a national issue before Parliament exhausted it.

Asked further if it was justifiable for Cabinet to approve salary and allowance increments for constitutional office holders and other senior government officials in view of the country's problems such as the ones at the University of Zambia (UNZA), Mulongoti said Cabinet had an obligation to approve any bill before it was taken to Parliament.
"Cabinet has got this mandate to ensure that all things that go to Parliament are scrutinized. So if we begin to comment on this issue, we are pre-empting Parliament debates. I have told you that we will give a comprehensive statement after Parliament debates it. I hope you would respect that view, because we the government are not the final authority, the final authority is Parliament. As a member of parliament I respect the opinion of that House," said Mulongoti.
But Bishop Chihana advised the government to immediately withdraw the bill without buying any time.

"We have learnt with shock that the increased salaries for the ministers were opposed by President Levy Mwanawasa and therefore could not be implemented but now those that are around seem to have taken advantage of his absence. Our advice to the whole Cabinet and particularly the Vice-President of Zambia Mr Rupiah Banda is that, the increments be withdrawn immediately without buying further time or else it will soon create a very negative situation for the acting president," Bishop Chihana said. "If it is not withdrawn or if it is delayed, people are likely to begin thinking that all Cabinet men and women are bad opportunists when it may only be a fraction of them. This may also affect the Vice-President who is in the acting capacity now, that he may be wanting to please the Cabinet to pursue a known agenda but untimely so."
Bishop Chihana said Cabinet should look at the most pressing issues in the country rather than increasing salaries for government ministers.
"Cabinet must be looking at how best they can take care of the people of Zambia in the absence of its Commander-in-Chief and chief administrator of the country. Cabinet must be looking at what would be the possible way for keeping a growing and steady economy for Zambia," he said.
Bishop Chihana said Cabinet's approval of the salary and allowance increments was clear daylight robbery.

"The worst thing they can do is to start paying themselves hefty sums of money; this is a clear daylight robbery by well-placed people in government. They must heed to the warning given by Mr Goodwell Lungu Transparency International Zambia executive director that government now must not be more corrupt and start stealing public funds in a way that may seem justifiable. I only hope that the salary increments are not one of the new ways of fulfilling the prophecy given by Mr Lungu of stealing public funds," said Chihana.

On Sunday, Wina asked Vice-President Banda to reconsider and withdraw the Cabinet's approval of salary and allowance increments for constitutional office holders.
Former Republican vice-president Nevers Mumba described the approval by Cabinet as immoral, while Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) secretary general Reverend Suzanne Matale said it was fraud for Cabinet to award itself outrageous amounts of salaries and allowances without regard for the majority poor Zambians.
According to the an official document obtained by The Post last week, Cabinet approved a 15 per cent salary increment for constitutional office holders. Cabinet also approved the introduction of a Responsibility Allowance, which shall be paid to the President, Vice-President, ministers and deputy ministers. They also approved an increment in the rates of allowances currently being paid to ministers, deputy ministers and senior government officials by 50 per cent of basic salary for housing allowance and 100 per cent for telephone, cell phone, water and electricity allowances.

Labels: CABINET, MIKE MULONGOTI

posted by MrK @ 4:09 AM