Govt releases K584m for civil servants salaries

Ministry of Finance Public Relations Officer Chileshe Kandeta with Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda

Government through the Ministry of Finance yesterday released K584 Million for salaries for civil servants.

Ministry of Finance Public Relations Officer Chileshe Kandeta has told QFM News in a statement that consistent with government’s objective of strengthening cash and treasury management, all civil servants salaries are on the Direct-Debit and Credit Clearing [DDAC] System.

Mr. Kandeta explains that this entails the receipt of salaries by civil servants within 24 hours of release by the Treasury, in accordance with the terms of reference and stipulations given to various commercial banks through which civil servants get their salaries.

Mr. Kandeta says in this regard, the Treasury expects that all workers should get their salaries with minimal delays from commercial banks.

Meanwhile, Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo has expressed sadness with civil servants in eastern province who were threatening to protest if their salaries did not reach their bank accounts by end of today.

Mr. Kasolo says the payment of civil servant is paid for working from the first of the month to the last day of the month and is supposed to be paid at the last day of the month citing that if government pays them before that, it is out of mercy.

Mr. Kasolo says nobody asks government why it pays them early if it pays them before the last day of the month but are quick to react if there is a delay pointing out that government has not even delayed as it is not yet monthend.

He has warned that he will not tolerate such kind of behavior in his province in his province but will discipline civil servants wanting to protest because of not being paid earlier than the last day in the month.

Mr. Kasolo has told QFM News in a telephone interview that civil servants should understand the rules of the civil servants stressing that government can pay them any time as long as it is before the last day of the month.

He further states that in future, any civil servant wanting to go on strike or protest in his province will be putting their job at risk and should not complain if they lose their jobs because what they were planning to do was illegal.

Earlier, some civil servants in eastern province threatened to protest over alleged delayed salaries.