The United Party for National Development (UPND) has received the proposed salary increments for cabinet ministers and top government officials with a deep sense of shock and dismay.

Party President Hakainde Hichilema said at a press briefing today that the proposed increments are a disgrace on the part of government in as far as the management of public resources is concerned.

Mr. Hichilema said the correct thing for government would have been to increase the salaries of the lowly paid civil servants such as teachers, nurses and police officers.

He explained that increasing the salary of a lowly paid civil servant by 15 percent does not justify increasing the salary of an already well paid Minister by the same 15 percent saying the move is an indication of not understanding the principle of fairness and equity in the distribution the country’s income.

He wondered why cabinet has decided to approve hefty salary increments for themselves when they have not implemented various developmental projects under the pretext of not having adequate funds.

Mr. Hichilema noted that government’s statement that parliament will make the final decision on the proposed increments is unacceptable saying under the current parliamentary procedure MPs are not allowed to debate matters which affect them.

He cited government’s refusal to increase the meal allowances and Salaries for University of Zambia students and lecturers respectively as an example of government’s unfair approach to the distribution of Zambia’s resources.

He described the proposed increments which include Ministers’ fuel allowance, vehicle sale, President and Speakers’ pension and gratuity as unacceptable and unjustifiable.

Mr. Hichilema alleged that government did not spend almost K1 trillion from last year’s budget in order to award themselves huge amounts of allowances at the expense of developing the country’s education, health and agricultures sectors among others.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hichilema says government should recapitalize the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) at a commercially viable level.

Mr. Hichilema told journalists at a press briefing today that the current National Agricultural policy is dismal hence the problems being faced at NCZ.

He said there is need for a more explicit and viable policy to improve agriculture in the country.

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The proposed salary and allowance increments for ministers and constitutional office holders is in line with public service workers collective bargaining.

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says when public service workers get a salary increment, ministers and constitutional office holders also benefit.

ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba told ZNBC news that this practice is old.

He said there is no problem if ministers and constitutional office holders are awarded a 15 percent increment, as this is what public service workers got this year.

However Mr. Hikaumba said people should only worry if what ministers and constitutional office holders got, is more than 15 percent.

And the Anti Voter Apathy (AVAP) has strongly condemned Cabinet’s approval of salary and allowance increments for constitutional office holders.

AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo said that it was sad that cabinet took advantage of President Mwanawasa’s absence who was strongly opposed to the increment.

He urged the ministers to focus on praying for president Mwanawasa’s speedy recovery and studying the national economy rather than awarding themselves hefty salaries at the expense of national development.

Mr. Tembo said the ministers should also consider the high poverty levels in the country before awarding themselves more money which should be channeled to addressing poverty.

Mr. Tembo has since called on the Vice President, Rupiah Banda, to reconsider and withdraw the cabinet’s approval of salary and allowance increment.

“We condemn cabinet for awarding itself the increments especially that we should not be celebrating over the wealth which has come before us but it’s the time that we should be praying and fasting for the recovery of the President who was instrumental to the creation of this wealth,” Mr. Tembo said.

He said that if there were extra funds government needed to first consider increasing salaries for civil servants or take it to poverty reduction initiatives to improve the general welfare of the people.

Mr. Tembo said this during the AVAP Advocacy Session on Constituency Development Funds (ASCDF) in Mansa yesterday.

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The law does not bar an acting President from approving salary increments to ministers and holders of constitutional offices.

Chief government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said this is why there should be no uproar, just because President Mwanawasa did not approve the salary increment for ministers.

He told ZNBC news that the approval of the 15 percent pay rise corresponds with the percentage that has been offered to civil servants.

Meanwhile MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba believes the recently reported pay rise has come after a long process of consultations.

Dr. Kalumba urged government and the treasury to collectively explain to the people details culminating into the reported pay rise

VICE-President Rupiah Banda says parliament is yet to approve the proposed salary increaments for cabinet and senior government officers.

Speaking to journalists at Livingstone International Airport before departure for Lusaka on Tuesday, Mr Banda said the matter had to be tabled before parliament first adding that no one had so far received the proposed salary adjustments.

”No salary adjustment has been effected. I have not received that money yet. The matter has to go to parliament and we have not announced anything yet,” he said.

And Mr Banda has said government will find a lasting solution to problems that have continued to rock the University of Zambia Great East Road Campus.

Meanwhile Mr Banda has urged the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in Livingstone to remain united and focussed.

”You must remain united. We have talked about this many times but the moment I go, people turn their backs and do something else. We have lost elections in this province before. Please work together and organise our party,” he said.

The Vice-President who was addressing the new executive committee of the party at Livingstone International Airport said party work was voluntary adding that it was not a job where members should expect to be paid.

He said the party had the huge responsibility of looking after the country in the absence of Dr Levy Mwanawasa so that when he comes he should find the party intact to move the country’s development agenda forward.

The Vice President was in Livingstone to officiate at the Lwiindi traditional ceremony of the Toka-Leya people of Kazungula district.

He was accompanied by his wife,Thandiwe, Presidential Affairs Minister Cecil Homes, Community Development Minister Catherine Namugala, Finance deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa and othet senior government officials.

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Parliament resumes its sittings Tuesday after having adjourned sine die on March 20th.Before the start of business, Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa is expected to call for a moment of silence.

This will be in honour of the late Kanchibiya Patriotic Front Member of Parliament Albert Kanyanyamina who died on July 18, after an illness.

Newly elected MilanziI Member of Parliament, Reuben Banda is expected to take up his seat, replacing UNIP’s Chosani Njovu who died on March 19, in Slovenia.

In the previous sitting, the House approved this year’s K13.7 Trillion National budget and also passed several Bills and motions.

Notable among them was the Income Tax Amendment Bill which introduced and graduated Windfall Tax on base metals and precious metals.

The Road Traffic amendment Bill Act of 2002 was considered to revise the taxes payable per annum in respect of motor vehicles and trailer licenses.

[ZNBC]

The Minister for local government says nepotism and tribalism are vices which have contributed to the poor performance in local authorities.Sylvia Masebo says this has led to misapplication of government grants to councils.

She said this is despite a sharp rise in government grants to local authorities over the last four years.

Ms. Masebo also noted that most of the councils have employed ill qualified staff.

The Minister was speaking when she addressed Town Clerks, Mayors, Districts Administrative officers and council secretaries from 70 districts.

This was at a consultative meeting on the re-establishment of the local government service commission.

The local government service commission will oversee the employment of workers in councils to ensure qualified people are recruited.

And the National Housing Authority (NHA) may be forced to scale down the construction of houses in Lusaka due to lack of land.

Public Relations Manager, Tamika Mulenga told ZNBC news that the Authority has already exhausted the land in the capital city.

Mrs. Mulenga said the Housing Authority will now concentrate on building houses in other parts of the country.

This will also include the 300 housing units in Solwezi scheduled to take off early next year.

[ZNBC]