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(LUSAKATIMES) Musokotwane’s pay out package could be reduced or rejected-Lubinda

Musokotwane’s pay out package could be reduced or rejected-Lubinda
TIME PUBLISHED - Monday, December 12, 2011, 2:11 pm

Government may reject or reduce the ‘out-standing’ payout package to former Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane until it is established whether the economist-turned-politician was really on a double salary – an allegation he has vehemently denied.

Chief government spokesman Given Lubinda in an interview yesterday said Dr Musokotwane, who on Saturday spoke on the privately-owned Radio Phoenix where he denied the ‘double salary’ story, should slow down before denying the allegations.

“I don’t think a person in the position of the President Michael Sata can make a baseless allegation against the former minister,” Mr Lubinda said.

“He knows what he is talking about when he raises these issues but the Finance Minister (Mr Alexander Chikwanda) would probably be best suited to speak on this matter.”

Dr Musokotwane refused to discuss the matter when the Daily Mail called his mobile phone yesterday saying “I am in South Africa…call me when I return on Wednesday”, before he hang up his phone and switched it off. Mr Chikwanda could not be reached via phone as he officially owns no mobile phone.

Conversely, Dr Bwalya Ng’andu, the BoZ acting governor – the institution that is supposed to have been paying Dr Musokotwane’s other salary, declined to comment, saying: “I need more time to make consultations before I can comment on that. Call me tomorrow please.”

“I don’t think a person in the position of the President Michael Sata can make a baseless allegation against the former minister,” Mr Lubinda said.

President Sata on December 9 questioned why Dr Musokotwane had been drawing two salaries – one of them amounting to K55 million and a ministerial one just below K10 million – when his colleagues were on one salary. He said this when he swore in Commerce and Industry permanent secretary Stephen Mwansa.

“You Mr Mwansa are not going to be like Situmbeko Musokotwane who was getting two salaries – K55 million from the Bank of Zambia and a salary from the government,” President Sata said.

If Dr Musokotwane gets his benefits based on the BoZ wage, accounting analysts state that he could easily pocket up to K5 billion while fellow former Cabinet ministers that served with him could carry home just under K500 million each depending on how long they worked and in what capacity.

The Daily Mail, however, has been informed that a ‘thorough’ investigation has to be carried to establish whether the former Finance minister currently being investigated for being in possession of some more 1,200 bicycles was on one wage.

Depending on the outcome of investigations prompted by President Sata’s red flag, the accountants believe Dr Musokotwane’s final payout could be reduced to be in line with what other former ministers that worked on one salary may earn.

On Saturday, Dr Musokotwane featured on a special Radio Phoenix programme that cost about K2.3 million and denied everything.

Dr Situmbeko is one of the former ministers that have found themselves being investigated after President Sata declared a fight against corruption which he said he is ‘allergic to’, earning himself some enemies especially from the opposition.

Before the denial, he called a press conference, cast aside political decorum and used strong language against President Sata whom he accused of continuing to operate like an ‘opposition’ leader instead of a national President.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Labels: FINANCE MINISTER, GIVEN LUBINDA, MICHAEL SATA, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE

posted by MrK @ 5:53 PM