Friday, March 29, 2024

Lungu’s 50% Salary cut means nothing to Zambia; He has increased on his trips abroad -Sinkamba

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President Lungu Greets Green Party President Peter Sinkamba
FILE: President Lungu Greets Green Party President Peter Sinkamba

The Opposition Green Party President Peter Sinkamba has said that the measure taken by President Edgar Lungu to cut his salary by 50% is just a delusion as he has decided to increase his foreign trips abroad that causes the country to spend more money than the paltry 50% saved from his salary.

In a statement released to the media, Mr Sinkamba said that one trip by the President abroad is worth hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars depending on the destination, entourage accompanying the President and lengthy of the visit and wondered where the benefit was in saving if the president cuts a paltry US$1,800 only to spend hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars on foreign trips.

Below is the full statement

THE GREENS’ POSITION ON PRESIDENT LUNGU’S 50% SALARY CUT

We the Greens welcome the spirit taken by the PF Government to introduce austerity measures in light of the shrinking resources envelopes for the country. As the Minister of Finance conceded in his maiden National Budget speech presented to parliament on Friday, 11 November, 2016,total export earnings have significantly declined. Earnings from copper have fallen to US$3.2 billion from US$4 billion while non-traditional export earnings declined to US$1.3 billion from US$1.6 billion. In other words, total export earnings for Zambia in 9 months this year (January to September) totaled US$4.5 billion. On average, this works out at US$0.5 billion (US$500 million) per month. Therefore, at the most, export earnings for Zambia for 2016 will only hit a paltry US$6 billion. The country’s GDP has fallen from US$28 billion in 2015 to US$22 billion in 2016.

These figures surely demonstrate that the economy is in a serious mess. It is therefore justified that Government implements measures that optimize resource allocation and use. It is therefore it is rational that austerity measures are implemented to ensure socio-economic justice.

Whilst we support introduction of austerity measures, our point of departure with the PF Government is its strategies applied. For example, government has decided to cut subsidies on fuel, electricity, farming inputs such as fertilizers and other in the name of optimization of the resources. On the other hand, Government has decided to create four more ministries. Where is prudent management of resources when one shifts resources from one ‘wasteful’ expenditure-line to another? In elementary arithmetic or algebra, minus one plus one equals zero. Shuffling one ball using two hands does not make that ball become two.

If anything, we believe the austerity measures introduced by Government are intended to get money from the poor to give to the rich. Take for instance the creation of ministries, the ultimate beneficiaries of the removal of subsidies which prior benefited the poor are now the middle class that have been employed to run the ministries. There is nothing tangible that one can point as a benefit that the poor will derive from the creation of the ministries.

The other measures, where for example the President has decided to cut his salary by 50% another delusion. The President’s basic salary is around K36,000 or US$3,600 per month. Reducing it by 50% brings it to around K18,000 or US$1,800 per month .

However, the President has decided to increase on his trips abroad. This is where there is real money. One trip by the President abroad is worth hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars depending on the destination, entourage accompanying the President and lengthy of the visit. Where is the saving if the president cuts a paltry US$1,800 only to spend hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars? The most beneficial measure that the President should have put in place is cut his trips abroad like his counterpart in Tanzania has done. President John Magufuli has literary suspended his trips abroad as a cost-saving measure…. and indeed, millions of dollars have been saved and invested in health, education and other more deserving service delivery lines.

Peter Sinkamba
President

71 COMMENTS

    • Said the same thing, EL thinks we are all f,oolish and can fall for this, This is nothing as compared to the money he gets in allowances when he goes abroad, Who is he f,ooling only PF thugs can fall for this, This is an insult to the many intelligent Zambians. Reduce on trips and No of Ministers, this is where you can make savings not your pay which you do not even touch because everything you g

    • rightly pointed out but Lungu knows that 80% of people in Zambia do not posses the mental faculties to workout all his schemes & this is probably the only one judgement he has got right.

    • This is why, America elects rich people, rich people are not excited with indeke or helicopter,,, now you elect someone from chawama with no village,, they throw away their bicycles and they want fly to Soweto market in a chopper,,, sick!!!!

    • Dude Lungu is a crook who know how to manage public perception. Who knows very well that Zambians are not analytical. That reduction is nothing, he knows where he gets his money of course.

    • Supposing Lungu had increased his salary by 50%, would the opposition have said the increase means nothing%?

      This makes the difference between people in Africa and those in the West.

      Those in the west are rational and objective while those in Africa are often irrational and sensational.

      Most of the time Africans, and worse still Zambians politicize everything.

      There is nothing in politicizing issues, but the problem comes when the politics themselves are born from feelings rather than an act of rationality.

    • @ 1.9 Fwebene,

      I totally agree with you – having me in your midst has to be a very serious problem.

      It is just like putting a lion in the midst of goats; you are gona create an untold problem for the goats.

      So, I appreciate your honesty in freely and courageously acknowledging that problem without shying away.

    • Constructive criticism is always a good thing! Mr Sinkamba yours is constructive unlike the usual vitriol insults, hate speech and mis-information from UPND cretins. Yes fewer trips, less members in the entourage would be a step in the right direction etc however take note that some trips which are by way of invitation might be paid for by the country that is inviting the Head Of State HE ECL Still there are other areas such as the unnecessary use of SUVs by Top govt officials that must be debated on- Magafuli has done away with that as well and I pray HE ECL will take a leaf from that.

    • Bantu Botatwe, it is difficult to dispel the fact that we are foolish because we actually voted for him…meaning the greater majority endorsed his actions and his ways!

  1. The “cutting” of his salary is so that his sycophants like Kennedy Kamba can sing his praises.
    What I need as a Zambian is for the govt system to cut on its wastefulness. Like GP has aptly put it what Edward is doing is juggling a single ball & deluding us to think he’s holding a myriad number of balls.

    • Only your master hardcore swindler and a drunkard can vote for because even baw1s0 can find it difficult to unless you are of same calibre.

    • It is illegal to cut salary by 50%, its either you earn as entitled or decline salary in full. this means Edgar will be paying less tax on PAYE. ZRA should move in and close that office for taxes.

  2. He cuts his “salary” by 50% but increases trips abroad with his State House drinking team and continues hiring private jets to places he is staying for 5 days whilst it is waiting for him on the tarmac. ..what joker this Lazy Bum is…How do you go about a salary in the first place? Do you tell Ministry of Finance to pay you half?

  3. Lungu has cut his salary by 50% the question is by what percent have you cut yours? If you are not ready to cut yours just shut up.

    • I think Sinkamba is right coz there is a lot of other ways of cutting government expenditure than donating half his salary . He gets free food , electricity , fuel etc while the rest of the poor people have to pay higher prices for the same

  4. When Lungu increases his salary you will condemn and today he has cut his salary you have also complained. What is wrong with you?

    • Me and them have contributed through taxes while lungu fuc.ks up the economy and still gets paid. He pretends to cut his salary while corruption increases by 100 %.

    • @ 9.1 Spaka like lilo,

      Who said Lungu does not contribute through tax?

      You also cut your salary and contribute beyond taxes. That is what Lungu has done.

      So if all you can contribute is criticise, you are most to be pitted.

  5. Supposing Lungu had increased his salary by 50%, would the opposition have said the increase means nothing?

    This makes the difference between people in Africa and those in the West.

    Those in the west are rational and objective while those in Africa are often irrational and sensational.

    Most of the time Africans, and worse still Zambians politicize everything.

    There is nothing wrong in politicizing issues, but the problem comes when the politics themselves are born from feelings rather than an act of rationality.

    Most of the actions and reactions in African, and especially Zambian society, are based on feeling other thank critical thought.

    This why even any chamba smokey can simply get high and say something, majority will be tickled into laughter without rationale.

    • Lungu has messed up the economy. We owe 10 billion US and he is taking us back to the IMF. in the west he would have resigned as principle.

      He pretends to cut his salary while corruption increases by 100%.

      Cut your ministers perks and arrest and recover our money stolen through corruption.

    • @ 10.1 Spaka like lilo

      It is a pity that you expect Lungu to fix the price of copper.

      I don’t blame you, because it is our tradition – we expect our chiefs to possess all power.

      So how can we understand presidency differently?

    • who is talking about copper here? I think what spaka is talking about among others are ways of saving. You cant keep on spending on trips and vacation when your income is dwindling. A poor mind thinks only copper can revive Zambia. this is what HH was saying. We need to change our mindset.

  6. Only BRAIN-WASHED PF00ls will be singing praise for someone who hires A PRIVATE JET @ $400,000 to USA & Morocco then upon arrival announces he’s cut his pay of $3600. That’s on top of creating 4 useless ministries.

    I remember being on the same Emirates plane with the late M. Sata (MHSRIP) when the economy when tip-top. Today some “humble”citizens” feel to high class to share a plane with citizens or even use the Challenger plane.

    MCHSSSXSXSXSXSXM!!!

    • Chief Puta once said there are people who are possessed with the spirit of opposition.

      Whether one does what is right and what they expect, they will still oppose because of the spirit of opposition upon them.

      They are controlled by the spirit of opposition and have no power to agree.

  7. Mr Sinkamba, under normal circumstances your point would pass scrutiny, but the problem is that you smoke and you have smoked so we have to analyse carefully what you say.
    When you say that the President has increased his trips abroad, is there a baseline from which we can measure the increase? Did the President have a fixed number of trips per year which you can say has now been increased?
    The President will always have trips abroad, so your argument sounds like if you Sinkamba walk to your office because the price of fuel.has gone up, then the President must do the same. In the extreme, but perfectly reasonable when you take the green stuff, (or think like a donkey, you know whom) if you Sinkamba failed to become President then nobody else should be President.
    I thought you could…

  8. I thought you Sinkamba could help the debate if you avoided cheap and flawed arithmetic by simply asking the President to consider reducing his entourage when he does travel. Comparing with Magufuli does not help either, much as we admire and respect him and his opinion. Our President has different objectives from other Presidents with regard to foreign trips. To me, Presidential trips can yield immense benefits for the country in the way of FDI as they are an important marketing tool for the country. I don’t think that the President travels abroad merely to have some fun, as donkeys in UPND keep harping hiho hiho hiho hiho. Sinkamba, come on brother, despite the green stuff, you can actually make a better President than HH, so don’t cheapen yourself like him. There is 2021 coming and…

  9. Contd…
    There is 2021 coming and we the voters are gauging the next Prezident, having already discarded the possibility of HH as an alternative way back in 2015.

  10. PF will show their right hand while hiding their left hand in another cookie. Serious sincerity from PF is asking for too much. Lets not forget how they assumed office in 2015

  11. Has cut his salary? Does he have power to cut his salary? Is this not decided by an independent body for any and all presidents. The right thing to do is to take your salary and give 50% or whatever to a cause of choice. Africa really does not run on rules.

    • That is what one Dipak Patel did when he came MP for Bauleni in the 1990s he donated all his salary to his constituency….Lazy Lungu and his Grandma Inonge are telling lies…

  12. You semiliterate visionless pf cadres, you know that what mr sinkamba has analysed cannot be put any better than what he has said but in your distorted reasoning you are blindly refusing to accept the truth. Lungu knows the majority of citizens are illiterate who can easily buy into what he says without question, more especially if he mentions god. The truth is, lungu is a simple thief who stole from a poor window and was convicted of the crime. In a normal society lungu cannot hold public office.

  13. Not just cost of trips abroad, count the cost of lower 3% economic growth,the huge cost of closing mines,the job losses, the halving of forex reserves,the costs of lost bummper harvests .

    PF misrule has been far more costly than the paltry savings Lungu is trying to fool us with.

  14. As much as some PF or Lungu sympathisers are trying to character assassinate Sinkamba, they have exposed their immaturity and lack of analytical skills to see that the moral arc bends towards justice. Austerity measures are not suppose to be applied already on the poor of the poorest. If it’s true this gesture by Lungu is born out of his conviction that he wants to save money then, he must cut his trips, free food, allowances this includes ministers, head of armed and security services. At Parliament motel MPs to start buying their own meals and drinks as well as paying for their accommodations. Govt vehicles to be parked over weekends. Reducing his ministerial posts and never again to deputy ministers these are areas where billions are spent. Sinkamba is right and on this one has shown…

  15. @15 Kubweka, exactly what I am saying, that Sinkamba must prepare to offer himself for another shot at the Presidency in 2021. By polishing up his arguments as I have suggested. Even @20, Pafwenamwine is beginning to understand my argument but he is not quite there yet, I will give him a little more time to learn not to confuse himself as it takes time. The things you are talking about like MPs buying their own lunch at parliament are the suggedtions that we want. About Sinkamba all I said is that he must give us a base. Does the Presudent have a fuxed number of trips which we can cut from? You have to cut from something diwn ti something in order to effect a reduction, not just saying cut down your trips.
    @Kubweka, I am sure you also agree that HH is past sell-by date and will not be…

  16. @11 Maloza, the Challenger has technical limitations in how far it can fly. It cannot make an intercontinental flight to America. Besides, you are obviously ignorant that Zambian planes were banned from European airspace although they are now sorting that one out. Research bwana and not every time waiting for the fake economist HH to think for you, which he is too lazy to do so he tells you all sorts of lies and all you say is hiho hiho hiho hiho he has spoken. Which is why he has failed to be President because he has no one to assist him in thinking correctly.

  17. UPND cadres have nothing else to contribute as they have not received new instructions from the person who possesses the monopoly of thinking for them. He has run out of ideas too as it has proved too .much to “think” for every Jim and Jack in UPND. After all these years attempting to be President he just realised that he is not God after all.
    Have you observed how hard but futile GBM tries to pretend that only HH can think in UPND. He is a bemba you know, supposed to be independent minded.
    NEXT TOPIC PLEASE!

  18. Lungu has contributed 50% tell us what you have contributed for you to criticise him. We know some tribes and money its life and death. If you can’t give how can you appreciate 50%?

  19. Only those tribes that give will appreciate what Lungu has done. If you can’t give how do you know how it feels to give? Life is in giving. Our president has given let’s also give. No one is too poor to say he can’t give. Even cleaning the street. Give something then insult Lungu

  20. ON BLOOMBERG NEWS THEY ANOUNCED THAT THE PRESIDENTS SALARY IS USD 45,000 PER MONTH ! EVEN IF THEY CUT IT IN HALF IT STILL MEANS THAT HE EARNS OVER $20,000 PER MONTH !

  21. What we want is for him to cut his foreign trips by half.His half salary is too insignificant to make any impact.Who is he deceiving?

    • More importantly he should cut his mismanagement by at least 50%.Thats why his new misinformation minister is consulting the person he has fired to run the ministry.

  22. the president does not pay any tax. his food is free, beer free, tax free salary and allowances
    he does not feel the economic hardships

  23. TO ME THE REDUCTION IS A WELCOME MOVE BUT I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ACTIONS THAT FOLLOW SUCH A PRONOUNCEMENT. TODAY HE CUTS HIS SALARY BY HALF, TOMORROW HE SENDS FREEDOM SIKAZWE TO DONATE A K 250, 000.00 AT CHURCH. WE ARE JUST COMING FROM AN ELECTIONS WHERE THESE GUYS SPENT BIG TIME. ONE SHOULD THINK THEY ARE STILL BROKE TO MANAGE SUCH A HUGE SUM. WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY GETTING SUCH MONIES WHEN CASH HAS BECOME SO HARD TO COME BY?

  24. Please give credit where it due. Don’t just oppose anything. Mr Lungu is a humble and listening leader and above all God-fearing person and that is why the opposition are finding it very difficult to defeat him. God bless Zambia!

    • “why the opposition are finding it very difficult to defeat him”…..

      IS RIGGING, DISHONESTY. BRIBING of CONCOURT and SUPPRESSING MEDIA FREEDOM!

      God fearing? RUBBISH! Lying hypocrite is nearer to the TRUTH!

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