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Ministry of Finance Spokesperson Chileshe Kandeta
Government has released K576.6 million for civil servants salaries for the month of September, 2015.
This brings the total amount of funds released for payment of salaries since January to K8.6 billion.
Ministry of Finance Public Relation Officer Chileshe Kandeta in a statement says it is expected that the released funds will be credited to the accounts of workers within 24 hours, in accordance with the service level agreements signed with various commercial banks and in the spirit of the enhanced cash and treasury management reforms which the government is undertaking.
Mr Kandeta says it is not the intention of government to snap the patience of workers in paying salaries in a timely manner.
He says in line with government’s commitment to the plight of workers, the treasury will endeavor to pay salaries timely and before the end of every single month.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Finance says the Development Bank of Zambia has recived K171 million for the purchase of hammer-mills in order to empowerment Zambian citizens and boost food security programs.
Mr Kandeta says the Public Service Micro-Finance Company received K30 million for concessional loans to public service workers, the Ministry of Youth Sport and Child Development received K11 million for the youth empowerment program, Citizen Economic Empowerment program K10 million and Zambia Cooperative Federation received K4.2 million for farming implements.
He says to date, the government has also released K3 billion for various road related programs such as construction of roads and bridges, maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrade, axle load control, and feasibility studies.
Mr Kandeta says further, upon receipt of works certificates from provincial authorities, the government has released K120 million towards the ongoing program of establishment of new districts.
He adds that ZESCO has been given K352 million for recapitalisation while the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone [MFEZ] received K25 million for continuous development of the facility in line with government’s industrialization and diversification strategies.