Maravi

ZCTU expresses fears of abuse of funds at NAPSA

ZCTU expresses fears of abuse of funds at NAPSA
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 24 Aug. 2010, 14:10 CAT

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has demanded an immediate explanation on why government has allowed National Pensions Scheme Agency (NAPSA) to operate without a board for months now a development that pension holders fear possible abuse of funds as the country heads towards general elections next year.

And Patriotic Front has lashed out at what it has termed the “continuous open abuse of public funds” by government through one of the country’s biggest public institutions NAPSA which has been operating without a board.

In an interview with Post online first vice-president of ZCTU Sam Phiri said that government must give the nation an immediate explanation on its position as regards NAPSA.

“The anomaly is serious and it threatens the transparency and accountability of the institution (NAPSA) which acts as a bank for the vulnerable group in society,” he said.

“I can tell you right now that the role that NAPSA has been playing in the recent past, only a few people are being serviced, most of the people who have retired have not been paid up to now. NAPSA currently is not something that we can proudly talk about as it has lacked accountability, sustainability and transparency even when it had a board. Now imagine it operating without a board,” he charged.

Phiri said the matter was very serious and that government must explain this irregularity immediately.

The trade union has also castigated governments for its tendency of muzzling the independence of parastatals for political manipulation.

“There is a very serious tendency by government to muzzle independence of running boards of institutions for political interests. The governance of the system has become questionable. There is serious political interference which has a negative and retrogressive bearing on the economic performance. Someone ought to explain,” he said.

“As ZCTU we are sad on behalf of the majority vulnerable workers who are saving their pensions with the fund.”

And PF spokesperson Given Lubinda noted that government’s delay in appointing a board at NAPSA is a plot to loot the country’s pensions fund ahead of the election and make the institutions open to all sorts of corruption and nepotism.

“The government of Rupiah Banda does not respect systems of law. Right now NAPSA is not the only institution that is operating without a board. The case is the same with the Independent Broadcasting Authority which is totally against the provisions of the law,” Lubinda charged.

“This is Rupiah Banda government is a government that thrives on corruption, a regime that survives on anarchy.”

Lubinda, who is also Kabwata member of parliament noted that the move taken by it is not shock that by this move as it is another channel to amass public fund.

“Same situation with TAZARA railway where Rupiah Banda has decided to appoint a cadre to run, so that they can easily employ their relatives that they wish to,” he said.

He said according to government it is a must that that boards of parastatals are run by boards and not the minister through ministries. The move by government is a ploy by government to abuse the funds as they please.

“I have stated before that these illegalities will catch up with those who in government,” he warned.

There has been apprehension at NAPSA where workers have expressed worry about the direct control of the fund by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security since the board was dissolved.

They said they were growing fears that government may interfere with pensioners funds ahead of the general elections next year.

Labels: CORRUPTION, GIVEN LUBINDA, NAPSA, SAM PHIRI, ZCTU

posted by MrK @ 3:39 PM