President Michael Sata, may you please help us?
By a Miserable Retired Civil Servant
Nobody knows my name.
I am a retired civil servant who served my country for many years before retiring several years ago, after 36 years of national service. Unfortunately, up to now, I have not been paid my retirement benefits.
After years of neglect, unfulfilled promises and disappointment from the MMD governments, I was one of those who woke up early on 20 September 2011 to cast a vote for change, secure in the expectation that I would finally receive my earned benefits. President Michael Sata and the PF had pledged to look into our welfare once in power. They had promised to even improve our monthly pension to sustainable levels. Unfortunately, this promise has not materialised to date, at least for me and a host of my colleagues I know.
I appeal to our President to please consider our plight, especially that nobody appears to be interested in speaking for us. We do not have an effective union to represent us. Neither do we have a ministry that has been assigned to deal particularly with our issues and concerns.
[pullquote]I was one of those who woke up early on 20 September 2011 to cast a vote for change, secure in the expectation that I would finally receive my earned benefits. [/pullquote]
I recognise the fact that I am fortunate that I have lived this long to tell the story, of how my own country has forgotten about the plight of its ex-servants. It is an act of God that l am still alive. And I am grateful to Him. Do not be surprised if you wake up tomorrow or the day after and learn that I have ceased to breathe. Obviously my death, like those of my colleagues long gone, won’t make the news headlines because nobody knows my name.
Many of my colleagues have died without receiving their benefits, leaving children in distress and poverty, shattering dreams of tomorrow. Nobody knew their names. Nobody listened to their cries. A majority of them died on the way to the Public Service Pension House, chasing their benefits, which they had worked for more than half of their lives. Even the families they have left behind continue to struggle to get this money. Today, as a country, we keep a noisy silence about these parents of the children that live, as if all is well and unmindful that we may be culpable for sending them to their graves prematurely. How many more will have to die before we pay attention to and hear the cries of those who have been unsuccessfully courted by death and survived this ordeal?
Is it that surprising that many civil servants today are reported to be stealing from their country? Every year, the Auditor General tells us of what has now become a ritual: so and so much public funds have been misapplied or misappropriated this year. We see a number of civil servants earning very little salaries erecting mansions in Chalala, New Kasama and Sunningdale. We see them buying expensive vehicles way beyond their income. (This is not to say there are no civil servants that are genuinely and legally investing in construction of housing estates, but an acknowledgement that there are some who are robbing their country, just like the Auditor General’s reports tell us. Wrong as all this is, I do not blame the civil servants who are misappropriating public funds. They are seeing how those who were in their positions yesterday are being treated today, how they are struggling, struggling even just to get that which is due to them.
The link between corruption and the ill-treatment of retirees is not hard to discern here. A mind-set that ‘I should steal or harvest as much as I can before I retire’ has been cultivated and entrenched. Why? Because they are increasingly recognising the fact that it is the surest way of avoiding our fate, of being turned into beggars tomorrow, as we are. I come from the KK generation where misappropriation of public funds was abhorred and where the dignity of both the current and previous public service worker was assured or guaranteed. Today, I am paying the price for serving my country diligently and with honour, honesty and distinction for close to four decades. Does the government realise the message they are sending to present workers by not paying retirees?
[pullquote]The link between corruption and the ill-treatment of retirees is not hard to discern here. A mind-set that ‘I should steal or harvest as much as I can before I retire’ has been cultivated and entrenched. [/pullquote]
Our plight is worse now that MPs are only speaking for themselves. And before Catherine Namugala attacks me, I wish to tell her that I have a wife, children, grandchildren and I understand the difficulties of sending children to school. I am a father and guardian of many and my children have had to be withdrawn from school because of lack of funds. When I talk of school, I do not mean those abroad to which politicians send their children. I mean public schools, those in Zambia where the rest of us send our children, where fees are low but too high for a retired civil servant like me, who has not received a penny for my services rendered to my country.
While Namugala, Effron Lungu, Jack Mwiimbu and their co-MPs are concerned about what will happen to them tomorrow, I can hardly make my ends meet today. While our MPs are afraid that they will wallow in poverty tomorrow, some of us are already living the nightmares of their worst fears, and getting to the next day is a struggle. While our MPs will get their gratuities even before their term of office expires, and will further be paid their mid-term gratuity prior to that, they should know that some of the people who elected them are going without retirement benefits for many years. They are already starving, they are suffering and lead terrible lives that should shame our collective consciences, especially those of our leaders.
It is not just MPs. Even the Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda is a culprit. He has given absolutely no attention to our plight. His annual budgets have promised many things to many people but nothing to retirees. Completely nothing. When the government awarded a pay rise to public service workers, no reference was made to us, the retirees. Does this suggest that even the Patriotic Front Government in which we deposited so much hope has no regard for people that contributed so much to the development of this country? Alright, I understand when the government says it does not have money because it can only give what it has and nothing more. But austerity needs to be equally shared among us all. It should not only be retirees sacrificing; all-from the President down to MPs, should.
[pullquote]While Namugala, Effron Lungu, Jack Mwiimbu and their co-MPs are concerned about what will happen to them tomorrow, I can hardly make my ends meet today.[/pullquote]
I had planned to invest my retirement package wisely. I drew up a plan of how to do exactly this. That vision is gathering dust today. My country has forsaken me. My leaders have now turned into spokespersons of their own interests. What happened to being the representatives and spokespersons of the people? Who will hear and advance our cries and concerns as retired civil servants? Who will speak for us? Is this the best way to treat us after many years of service to our country?
Not paying a retired person is tantamount to killing me, especially after using me for the most productive part of my life. This is not the way to treat fellow human beings, to treat fellow citizens. A more fair, just and humane approach is needed. I appeal to President Sata to help us get our benefits. I speak on behalf of many retirees, who are supportive of you and your government and who remain confident that you can help us to celebrate our Jubilee meaningfully. Mr President, are you hearing me?
Good luck in your request my friend.
You’ll have to wait for 2016. As for now, PF cars speed in Lusaka without number plates, conductors drive minibusses, traffic police are starvin, kaponyas look really silly, etc
Maybe the President really is d…
I adopt the following blogs as my own:
From – End G
Saulosi and Mushota are the worst Zambian tribalists. They are worse than ISIS in Iraq. By the way just check how much yr comments are disliked on the page and how those positive to HH are liked. So in the game of calling each other ***** , we the HH supporters are more than you . Interpretation u are more foolish than the people u hate
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From – Siamanengo
@Saulosi and others. You are the thieves, starting with the chief looter FTJ assisted by Chungu and like Bemba robbers/ooters. ZPA was headed by Bemba thief Chitalu, ZCCM was privatised through D&T by thieves Kaunda with help of Sokota and Mbazima. Monkey thieves.
Ask UNZA lecturers especially par time workers are crying to be paid their dues, the chief accountant for Unza Norman Kamanga is the most incompetent fo ool
Unza must fire it.
Maybe try appealing to Guy Scott as am not even sure if the president will answer you knowing he has yet to talk to the masses of Zambians that have not seen him on TV or heard him for over a month now. Good luck but I can feel your pain. One of my parents died many years ago (in the 90s) and to date have never seen that pension and lucky we all have jobs to fend for ourselves
@1.1 “..must fire it” that sounds brutal. I am not sure if that what the PF should be called now.
You have come out this way because you realize this is your govt, your listening govt and will address your unfortunate situation.
President Sata is a selfless, altruistic and humble man and hears your cries
This letter makes me cry.I met an old British woman who showed me some pictures of Zambia in the 1950s-1070s. One of the pictures was a picture taken on Oct 24th 1964 in Kitwe.The look on Zambians faces was that of optimism and hope.I have no doubt those civil servants gave their best after independence.They gave their time during the most productive years of their lives and what do they get in return? The Zambian system has failed.Sir it’s not UNIP,MMD or PF that has failed it’s the Zambian system.The system we adopted from the colonialist.The one that makes sure power is in the hands of very few.We must fight to change the laws of Zambia.The British left us 50 years ago why are we still bound by their rules? Lets make new rules,so never again shall civil servants be swindled like this
IYI NI SILU SATA TO HELP U ARE U NOT AWARE OF CONDITION NOW OR MUNGOKAMBILAMO CHE
Calling on Sata is like ukumutumfya. He is ill please.
Please people plead to HH and Nawakwi. The two may storm the PF offices and make them work.
Very sad but Well written, you are brave and should have put your name including your contact details to advise and support you, you have written for many who cannot. I salute you. These are matter we should raise and hold the Government accountable. Ministry of finance is very corrupt, they deliberately hold pensioners money to be paid some cash to process documents. Very sad. We need serious leadership to overcome this.
I am still asking you all to give me a good answer .What happened on 29th June,2014,at around 02:00am.
tell us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!goat
Nothing eventful happened except what we have all known for more than a month that Sata is still holed-up somewhere.
@SIDO MARK: We were all asleep apart from yourself, so tell us please
why involve mps in your plea? they also want money mwana. that is why they went to parliament. just argue your case out. also do not play cheap political tricks like ‘in the mmd government.’ your case is not even political. just tell us what you have been told at pension house. civil servants have a pension. as far as I am concerned that pension receives your contributions, invests them and when you retire they are supposed to cut you a befitting check. but every year I am told it has to be funded by government. and it is funded. if your plea was backed by specifics other than general political inuendos one would know how to advise you. HH told you that his first priority was going to pay all pensioners you ignored him and voted for someone you know is never serious!
Letter nicely written, you must be one heartless person not to lend hear this this depsrate plea from a fellow human being. In the meantime funds for by-elections are always available, VIP trips to foreign hospitals easily sourced, even for those that are not VIP but by nature of being sons/daughters, etc to these VIPs they are accessing these tax payer contributed funds, it’s really unfortunate
Your lamentations are real. There are hundreds of thousands in this country in your situation.PF knows it; The Three arms of government know lt; the State President knows it; in fact he had promised to address and rectify the situation once given the presidency as you have stated. Has he forgotten? Not likely! Bottom line is that you were laid down as a stepping on door mat into state house. That is all! Wake up from the floor, dust yourself up and be wiser next time you have an opportunity to change your circumstances if you’re still alive.
Just cut the supplies of ARVs and pay the people their dues and let those who are having unprotected sex to pay for their ARVs. After all no one is interested in taming AIDs, the majority are happy to spread it. If they cant buy a condom to be on the safe side why must tax payers be paying for something they could have prevented. Ministers, MPs and you Mr Presodent change the laws to make people accountable on HIV and AIDs. You will notice a big change in atitudes and the infection rates will come down, more money in government coffers to be spent on real problems.
Ba James mulichinangwa imwe ka! The AIDS problem goes beyond the supply or affordability of condoms/ARVs. This is a public health crisis which only Govt has the muscle and resources to tackle.
“…more money in government coffers to be spent on real problems…” My goodness, a NATIONAL PANDEMIC is NOT a real problem to you? What better use of tax money is there than to fight/control a public health catastrophe, Mr. genius?
By the way, do you realise that new HIV infections are mostly among “married” hetorosexual caples? And how many of you married men want to wear condoms when ‘banging’ your wives or significant others? Watch “LOVE GAMES” (if you missed it) and you will understand what I am talking about. And who told you HIV is only transmittable through sexual contact?
All this generation of politician mistreating God’s people will not live to see the greater Zambia beyond this crisis. Those who watched TB Joshua this passed sunday are witnesses to what iam talkng about. TB Joshua is a true prophet of God. He predicted the Sata’s crisis at the begnning of the year. A leader of a sourthern country will disappear from public for a long time and in the mean time they will be uncertanty in the country including power struggle. It is now happening here in Zambia
It seems TB Joshua’s psychology is too superior for you. Very soon you will believe he is Jesus Christ!
I thought TB Joshua stays in the same country as BOKO HARAM! What happened, cant he use the same juju he uses people on BOKO HARAM? People stop being would winked by TBJ.
The problem is that we have defence chiefs that are sleeping while their commander in-chief is being held captive by civilians. This is unhead of and requires that all senior military personnel be retired in National Interest.
Human Rights lawyers, should try taking our gov’t (s), to an international court. What is so wrong is our president going around the world castigating Zambians for not returning home. Even if there are jobs, people don’t get paid. There are no words for this pension fraud.
God’s psychology is too superior for me through the man of God TB Joshua, yes I plead guilty to that! However, the bible says, those who do not believe in the bible and word of god are FOOLS! So #9.James and #8.1. Kasoko where do you belong? Even in the days of Noah there were plenty of Kasokos and James!
Mark my words, Zambia will be saved from this tyrany of yours! Good always over comes evil.