Thursday, March 28, 2024

There is too much corruption in government – ZCTU

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There is widespread fiscal abuse in the government system leading to failure to implement planned projects and programmes, Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) secretary general

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has charged.

Mr Mukuka charged that government should maintain its presence in the oil procurement system in order to protect the poor who would not afford the high cost of petroleum products precipitated by profit-motivated oil companies.

Mr Mukuka was commenting on the 2017 National Budget presented in Parliament last Friday by Finance Minister Felix Mutati during a press briefing at the Congress House yesterday.

He said the fight against corruption in the budget was as a result of acknowledgement that was there widespread fiscal abuse in the government system leading to failure to implement planned projects and programmes. He said ZCTU appreciated that the National Budget had also prioritized the fight against corruption to avoid abuse of resources and improve efficiency in public service financial management.

“We are optimistic that resources saved by strengthening of laws and regulations aimed at improving transparency and accountability would help ease the fiscal deficits currently constraining efficient and effective delivery of quality public services,” Mr Mukuka said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mukuka said the non-taxable threshold increment from 3,000 to K3,300, and increase of K300 fell below the ZCTU proposal and expectation of a K4,500 non-taxable threshold.
He also urged government to undertake wider consultation before introducing any new legislation regarding pension reforms.

“ZCTU takes note that government will in 2017 present legislation that will allow new entrants into public pension schemes, revise the employer and employee contribution upwards, facilitate private sector management of pension funds and revise the benefit schemes to ensure longer-term protection for pensioners,” he said.
Mr Mukuka said also said government’s target to create 100, 000 jobs was attainable and urged the government to create beyond the targeted 100, 000 jobs if the current high levels of unemployment and poverty were to be significantly reduced.

On energy, Mr Mukuka said government should consider coming up with various mitigation measures to cushion the poor population from the effects of moving to cost reflective tariffs to attract private sector investment in the energy sector while maintaining the life line tariff to protect poorer households.
He said the decision implied a further increase in electricity tariffs and there commodity prices were expected to increase.

[Zambia Daily Nation]

12 COMMENTS

  1. So what is new? I cannot help being cynical here people because this is always a staged speech meant perhaps to appease the gullible? Anyway we will soon have a wave of NGOs policing ephemeral causes while the real mccoys are left scampering all over the Auditor General’s report.

  2. Manuka does not understand that it is precisely because the government is involved in oil procurement that the prices are so high.

    Have we not seen how corrupt officials take advantage of this time and again?

    If the private sector was involved there would be transparency and accountability, which is completely absent now. And competition between companies would ensure Zambians get the lowest prices possible.

    Having government involved only makes sure Lungu can add another TWO MILLION DOLLARS to his bank account!

  3. YOU CHAPS IN ZCTU ARE ALSO USELESS. WHERE IS THE ZCTU PRESIDENT WHEN YOUR MEMBERS ARE BEING HARASSED EVERY DAY? YOU CHAPS IN ZCTU ARE MOST CORRUPT. YOU GET MONEY FROM GOVERNMENT TO KEEP QUITE AND YOU WANT TO CALL YOUR FRIENDS IN GOVERNMENT CORRUPT. HIKAUMBA WAS WAY BETTER THAN THIS BUNCH OF THIEVES.

  4. Mukuka are you not aware that to get a suppliers contract at ZCTU you have to bribe someone? Clean your house before you talk about the dirty in your neighbors house.

  5. Mukaka no need for burning against the bush, come on be a man and point at the culprits individually, why ar you brining unbaked stories when you and your team are not doing the recommendable job either.
    To hell

  6. What a useless piece of illogicality. When you rightly observe that GRZ is corrupt, how can you advocate for them to continue procuring fuel for the country? Why would you be in favour of a dysfunctional outfit handling such a critical undertaking? Leave this to efficient private sector and all will be smooth. You already have ERB to be referee just like ZICTA is for cellphones and BOZ for banks.

  7. ZCTU are better off keeping quiet and enjoy free money. Who knew that the Dams Union would have been misbehaving as it came out. Sooner than later we shall have someone calling for audit at the ZCTU offices. Wait and see.

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