Govt has reduced travel budget to 65 percent – Msiska

Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska has disclosed that government has reduced the travel budget to 65 percent as part of the announced austerity measures.

He says this has been made possible following the creation of a civil service travel agency which now analyzes the best of options for traveling abroad.

Dr. Msiska says government is equally making direct savings of up to K68 million per year by using e-government system which has done away with paper and toner.

He says more details on how much government is saving by using e-government will be revealed in the Accountant General’s report which he says is currently being compiled.

Meanwhile Dr Msiska has clarified that the recent circular announcing government’s decision to stop paying leave days for civil servants is not necessarily a cost saving measure.

Dr. Msiska says the circular seeks to remind civil servants that each human being needs to rest from work.

In an interview with QTV News, Dr. Msiska says government has observed that some civil servants have not been going on leave at the expense of their health.

Dr. Msiska says the impression government took from this, is that some civil servants want to continue working until they drop dead.

He states that in reality, the said circular should be seen as a primary health measure.