Maravi

Government to stop paying Rupiah

Government to stop paying Rupiah
By Kombe Chimpinde
Sat 03 Mar. 2012, 12:00 CAT

INFORMATION minister Fackson Shamenda says the government will begin working out modalities to stop supporting former president Rupiah Banda.

Commenting on the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini's ruling on Friday that Banda had been violating the benefits for presidents Act by continuing to engage in active politics and that the onus of forfeiting his emoluments and other benefits he was entitled to was on the Executive, Shamenda said the government would soon start working out mechanisms to remove Banda even from the payroll.

"We shall implement the law. It's (matter) administrative so the government will just sort it out quietly. I can't state when this will be done however, but it's got to be implemented as soon as possible," Shamenda said.

"We have got to work out mechanisms first. For example, when an employee leaves a company, management has to remove them from the payroll and look at all the benefits which can be withdrawn. If one is entitled to benefits, immediately it is discovered that they are not entitled, it is supposed to be withdrawn immediately."

On Friday, Speaker Dr Matibini ruled that Banda had been violating the benefits Act by continuing to engage in active politics and told Parliament that the onus of forfeiting his emoluments and other benefits he was entitled to, was on the Executive.

The Speaker's ruling was as a result of a point of order raised by Chongwe PF member of parliament Sylvia Masebo who questioned the government's failure to implement the law in relation to Banda even when he had continued to involve himself in active party politics.

Last week, Banda declared during card renewal exercise that he was still MMD president.

Labels: PATRICK MATIBINI, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 10:43 PM