SOME members of Parliament have welcomed President Banda’s announcement that there is nothing wrong in paying mid-term gratuity to them.
The MPs said the move taken by the President over the payment of gratuity is in line with the provisions of the constitution.
Patriotic Front Matero MP Faustina Sinyangwe said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that MPs are entitled to gratuity.
She said members of the public should desist from politicising the gratuity for MPs as legislators fall almost in the same category as classified daily employees.
Mrs Sinyangwe said MPs are entitled to gratuity like any other civil servant on contract.
“People should understand that MPs are not the only people who are entitled to gratuity because there are many other civil servants who are on contract and at the end of their service, they are given gratuity.
“So let them not rush to engage in unnecessary talk over the gratuity because if it means scrapping it off, even other civil servants on contract should forego their gratuity,” Mrs Sinyangwe said.
Luena MP Charles Milupi (independent) said MPs are elected to Parliament not for the sole purpose of getting gratuity but to serve their various constituencies.
Mr Milupi, however, said it is unfair for members of the public to call for the deferment of mid-term gratuity for MPs when there are many other civil servants who are entitled to the same conditions of service.
He said some individuals calling for the suspension of the payment of gratuity have been MPs before but never suggested the suspension of the allowance during their tenure.
“The problem is that some people think MP’s are only interested in gratuity. We carry out various duties in our various constituencies and it’s only right that we are given our entitlement.
“If some sections of society insist on condemning the gratuity of MPs, then there should be a reform of the payment structure of all civil servants so that the playing ground is levelled,” Mr Milupi said.
He wondered which sectors of the economy would receive the MPs’ gratuity if it was not paid to law makers.[quote]
“It is not practical for people to suggest that we need to direct the money to other needy sectors of the economy because there is no clear road map for those plans,” Mr Milupi said.
He said opposition political party leaders who are against the payment of gratuity should instruct their MPs not to accept the money once released.
Solwezi Central MP Benny Tetamashimba (MMD) said the decision taken by President Banda should be commended by all well meaning Zambians because Government would have found it difficult to pay MPs the gratuity in full at the end of their term.
“We are grateful to the President for allowing the payment of the gratuity because had he not allowed it, he would have gone against the law.
“One thing people should understand is that if the mid-term gratuity is not paid, where do they think Government would have sourced K140 billion to pay the MPs the gratuity in full?” he asked.
Mr Tetamashimba said it is not right for PF leader Michael Sata to ask his MPs to forego the gratuity because they have financial obligations to fulfil.
“Most members of parliament have borrowed monies and they used the mid-term gratuity as security at commercial Banks.
“I’m actually surprised that Mr Sata is asking his members to forego the gratuity when they have borrowed monies from parliament for use in their campaigns. They need to pay back to enable National Assembly to direct the resources to other needy areas,” Mr Tetamashimba said.
President Banda has said there is nothing wrong in paying the mid-term gratuity to MPs.
Mr Banda said the mid term gratuity was a condition of service or entitlement that was provided for in the law for public servants.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Zambian politics is a dangerous and expensive game of chance. I recently met a fomer parliamentary candidate recovering from a loss of K300 million he spent during the 2006 election campaigns. He was treated for depression and could not resume his professional life for over a year.
Some candidates take bank loans and mortgage family property for the campaigns. Others resign from well paying jobs and have to contend with joblessness because potential employers have a big distrust for politicians. Some families break up because the political adventure was never consensual.
Because for many LIKE SATA and HH, democracy only means victory and the heavy expenses involved, election losses often result in deep hatred among opponents, and in extreme cases attempts to physically eliminate adversaries. This can extend to family, village, clan and tribal rivalries which are replicated in future elections. Shame!
Lady Chiza’s thighs says # Walasa!
The opposition political leaders in Zambia are a total let down. These issues are debated in parliament long before they are enacted into law. Where was Mr Sata when this gratuity issue was passed in parliament? Did his whips instruct PF MPs to vote otherwise? Now, the very same people who want to impeach the President for allegedly abrogating the constitution want him to do an illegal act! Can someone else in PF please take over the leadership of this party? Sometimes it is not the founder that leads an institution to victory. Mr Sata is tired and has run out of ideas. We need intelligent and sensible opposition politics. Sata’s politics come straight from the chachacha streets!
Ala nshachikunfwikisha mune lady chiza finshi uko! nautena! Let me tell you my friend, politics are not for the poor. That is why before you get into politcs, make sure you have sufficient funds. The sole purpose of getting politics is to save the people, not to make a living out of the same people you are saving. Sometimes you should learn to forego certain things for the benefit of the masses. You must know that in Zambia most people who get into politics are quite poor. These are the same people who are supporting RB. Even RB himself was just fished out from the farm for somebody else’s political gain. You see now what we are going through. Think my man. Use your Go given brains.
I believe that PF has the best chance of winning the hearts and minds of the people now than ever before, but to be honest, no one trusts Mr. Sata among thinking and progressive Zambians. They see through his gutter politics. His front bench is made up of people of dubious motives. Scott has that colonial mentality that believes that for something to be done in Africa, you need a dictator like Sata. The same principle was applied in Uganda to put Idi Amin in power. Such people believe that if they could get close to the dictator, infuse him with ‘good’ ideas, he would be a good ruler. Dr Scott, may be in for a rude shock! Chilly Kabimba and already taken Lubinda have ties with Sata from the past. Their loyalty is blind.
Nkhani yaka ngono ………here we go again………all animals are equal but others are more equal then others. not long they asking employees to go unpaid for some months but them as MPs can never go unpaid coz its unconstitutional. What do these MPs do for peopl who vote for them NOTHING EXCEPT BUY CHIBUKU DURING ELECTIONS F%$^* BU&^%$T
Ba Sata, please let these parliamentarians get what is rightfully theirs. In your time you never complained but what you did is got it silently. Mwaba shani kanshi ?
Senior citizen you are on payroll which gets renewed after 5 years (presidential elections). Just eat do not flatter unjustly. Go back to Zambia. eating in USA IS GOOD FOR YOU ALONE. There are two chaps who paste useless materials, and you are the first one.
A person working on contract is suppose to get his/her gratuity at the end of his contract (5 years in this case). Nothing like mid term gratuity.
There is nothing wrong for MPs getting their mid term graduity. The problem we have as Zambians is we are not proactive ie. we dont follow proceedings in parliament and raise our voices once some piece of legislative has made into low. Its tricky for some one to have approved the way RB its not strange. The increaments and other allowances were done right thru our noses. When it comes to money matters no one is a saint. Even Hon Milupi comments are for benefits.
Yaba iyo kena ba shetani aba balitemwisha ulupiya !!! We need to give them a kick in their backsides in 2011 elections !.
RB should not break the law by not paying MPs their gratuities. I totally agree with # 5 (The Saint) on the fact that all opposition political parties were there when this law was being enacted and sata should stop playing childish politics. What we need in Zambia is a system which should not disadvantage anybody ( nurses, teachers, doctors, MPs, villagers etc) by ensuring that each one gets what they deserve at the right time. This means that RB should also pay off all outstanding salary arrears and other allowances to civil servants. Records are there that some people have stayed for over 5 to 10 years without their salary arrears paid. This is quite unfair.
Crazy bald Heads, They are all bi*****ches. How did MP’s in KK’s era survive. Iam surprised that others are speaking on their behalf like they get loans and stuff, for campaigns, absolute trash! Don’t someof you people know that they get very high sitting allowances, free meals, free everything!
The main reason why these so called MPs want MID TERM GRATUITY is that should there be something to kick them out of Parliament(STELLA SINYANGWE EG) They will have gotten the money. Gratuity is a pention and if these chaps can get at half way their term then al workers who have done half their pensionable age or service should also do the same. Other wise these Chaps just want safe guard their future because politics are un predictable.
Let them get it….it is the pension. Come 2011 they must all go. Bunch of good-for-nothings!!!
You cant blame the MPs they need this money for the next campaigns
The issue of whether to pay or defer payment of mid term gratuities was not a question as to whether it is constitutional or unconstitutional. It was raised in view of the current global meltdown in which we were told that the GRZ is in a financial strait. When UNZA DONS were on strike demanding better conditions of service, they were told that the GRZ could not meet their demands mainly due to the global meltdown. The DONS understood and called off their strike. Our president is on record pleading with Zambians that they should sacrifice because the global economy was bad. We expected the sacrifice not to include the politicians, and it turned out that we were right, as usual.
On President “Mr Banda said the mid term gratuity was a condition of service or entitlement that was provided for in the law for public servants“, which law provides for the mid-term gratuity? It appears the list of lies is growing by the day.
Can someone in Zambia conversant with the laws of the land get a high court injunction to restrain the MPs from obtaining that mid-term gratuity please until it is proved that our laws allow it to be paid.
Have a blessed day all.
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2 Corinthians 11 + KJV Bible
11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Very s.t.u.p.i.d people….so they mean there is something Wrong to pay nurses and teachers well?? Teachers and nurses do not have financial obligations to demand salary increase? These guys are so selfish …we need to remove them come 2011. They are there to just steal from poor Zambians. What a country is Zambia? REVOLUTION 2011.
We knew it. It’s not a surprise. Birds of the same feathers flock together. God give these pipo wisdom. Redeem them in the name of Jesus Christ.
Lady Chiza’s thigh, #s1,2 & 3 how are you my darling? Hope you remember me. How is Mauritius. As for your comments, you tall my line of thought – no wonder our names have something in common.
#20 Maestro, thou hast well observed and said my brother on your, “which law provides for the mid-term gratuity? It appears the list of lies is growing by the day” and it is surprising reputed men in fighting corruption like Parliamentarian Charles Milupi can be defending mid-term gratuity. As for Faustina Sinyangwe, she’s (with other PF rebel MPs) desperate because the risk of losing it is haunting them should she be expelled from Parliament soon after RB is impeached. For Teta no need even to comment on him because he has passed the stage worthy wasting my time blogging – he has nothing sensible remaining in his brain – if he had.
#20 and 24, you seem to be two powerful brains from a certain region. I tend to admire some virtues from that side of the country because the people’s region are hardworking, honest and earn their wealthy through a committed labour force involving the family or clan. Keep your day.
24 Mulombwana Wakamena Nabulwe! greetings omulombwanama and 25 andrea garcia, how are you?
On “… it is surprising reputed men in fighting corruption like Parliamentarian Charles Milupi can be defending mid-term gratuity, I am equally disappointed by MP C. Milupi for I was considering him for Zambian President until now that he has uttered this senseless stuff. Indeed, the one who said “it is better for a man or woman keep quiet less he exposes him- or herself” was very right.
Because of the MP Milupi disappointment, I hope someone will get a court injunction very soon. If it fails, let good MPs reject theirs.
Have a blessed day all.
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2 Corinthians 11 + KJV Bible
11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of…
#9 Shi Taonga, Emano ayo mwandi. Tufwile twapombosola tape, yatutambishako elyo bena baali ba MP ngabaalicitile “forewent” umukiboni. The man is an opportunist. Sometimes even without understanding what is at stake for as long as he thinks it would make good noise to imbutuma ninshi uyo mudala ku press. It is pathetic.
Only fools can stand this kind of nonsense.They get gratuity for sleeping in parliament and dancing for a foolish president! Give me a break! Are Zambians fools to an extent that they can hardly stand up against such stupidity?
#26 Maestro Hakucincha, many thanks Mukwesu. Your advice to MP Milupi, very timely.
Sometimes it is wiser to be silent on an issue than make noise. Often than not , Zambian Journalists (especially from the GRZ controlled media) practice a lot of ambush journalism and ask leading questions to unsuspecting well standing news sources of the calibre of MP Milupi and dent their image. Sometimes this is done, all in an effort to present a Tapestry that even reputed men of character support certain unpopular decisions of an infamous politician (RB in this case) on a controversial issue like Mid-term Gratuity. Very sad and I hope he will correct this statement if he was quoted out of context.
Keep well Mukwesu.
#26 Maestro Hakucincha. Thank you.
Pliz Zedians educate me on this one. Is it also constitutional for a retiring civil servant to be paid his benefits upon retiring? And if it is so, why does it take years and years for a civil servant to be given their dues when money for MPs money is readily available. Is it that their money is budgeted every year whereas for civil servants government has to source? Please learned bloggers help me understand this scenario.
Mulombwana Wakamena Nabulwe and andrea garcia great stuff. As for MP Milupi, I hope he will be careful next time after this failure to impress me.
On MP Milupi’s “It is not practical for people to suggest that we need to direct the money to other needy sectors of the economy because there is no clear road map for those plans“, let the MMD GRZ keep that gratuity money in reserves to earn interest if there is really nowhere to take it in terms of developmental areas — although it can go a long way if it is paid to retired people who have been suffering without receiving their pension for many years now. We need FIFO.
Have a blessed day all.
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2 Corinthians 11 + KJV Bible
11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
bloggers let us not be surprised with Milupi’s stance on this issue. Ala bane ulupiya chibanda, especially pa Africa. It’s only in Europe where leaders have morals; they resign on moral grounds when there is something wrong and it is such people who can forego their gratuity.
#33 Have you not read about the expenses scandal involving MPs in the UK? Those guys were really milking the system. Just shows that selfishness is not just an African problem. However, the opposition seems to be short-sighted on how this issue will impact on the impeachment process. Will MPs want to get rid of RB when he has promised them their gratuity at the same time that Sata is saying that they should it should not be paid to them?
Kalembo Kanga #34 nga wachisa akasuba iwe ilyo lyashi waleta likalamba sana
#33 Gone are the days when that assertion was indisputable! refer the comment of #34 who has ably analasyed the matter at hand. These people now resign even in Africa: George Mpombo, Ludwig Sondoshi, late Levy Mwanawasa. The difference however seems to me that our colleagues here resign when accused of scandals but ours when there is a difference of opinion politically. However I am mindful that Levy cited corruption and disrespect towards senior parties members by some cadres like MCS then.
Bakamba awe naimwe!