Maravi

Rupiah seeking early gratuity

Rupiah seeking early gratuity
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 17 Mar. 2011, 04:02 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda seeks to change the law so that he can qualify for gratuity before the required three years in office. According to the Presidential Emoluments Amendment Bill presented to Parliament on Tuesday by Vice-President George Kunda, President Banda wants to do away with the three-year specified period of service prescribed in the current Act.

Section 3 of the Presidential Emoluments Act 12 of 2005 states that: “...Provided that where a person who holds office of President ceases to hold office - (a) by reason of his death; or (b) when a new President assumes office after an election following the dissolution of Parliament before its full term; that person shall be deemed to have served as President for the specified period of three years for the purpose of this section.”

But the proposed bill has overlooked the specified three year period by remaining silent on the matter.

Section 3 (2) of the proposed bill states that: “Where a person who holds office of President ceases to hold office- (a) by reason of death; or (b) when a new President assumes office after an election following the dissolution of Parliament before its full term; that person shall be deemed to have served as President for the purpose of this section.”

President Banda was sworn in on November 2, 2008 and is expected to clock three years in office on November 1, 2011. However, elections are expected to be held before this date which disqualifies him for gratuity if the status quo remains unchanged.

Labels: RUPIAH BANDA, SALARIES

posted by MrK @ 6:12 AM