Council workers in Chama district have not been paid their salaries and wages for more than 27 months.
Acting Chama Council Secretary, Newton Nyirenda, disclosed this to ZANIS in Chama
and has attributed the development to government failure to give Chama grants to
enable the local authority meet wage bills of K12 million and other operation
costs.
Mr. Nyirenda also identified the small revenue base for the council as another
reason for the local authority’s failure to clear millions of kwacha in
outstanding salaries and wages for its workers.
He also said the situation has been worsened with power black out caused by Zesco
which has also resulted into the district experiencing a critical water shortage,
thereby forcing most water consumers refusing to pay outstanding water bills.
The council chief officer disclosed that water pumping machines have been rendered
useless because of poor electricity, saying unless Zesco addressed the power
problem, there would be a continuous water problem and a possible outbreak of a
diarrhoea disease soon.
Mr. Nyirenda said there is great need to speed up the rural electrification
programme so that the district could be connected to the national grid to enhance
development.
He further complained that Chama District lacks developmental projects due to power
failure.
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Meanwhile, a 15-year old girl of Chama Day Secondary School committed suicide
following a dispute with her young brother.
Both education authorities and family members confirmed the death of a girl which
happened last week to ZANIS in Chama in separate interviews, and named the deceased
as Ruth Kachali of Makeni Compound.
Ms Regina Mkandawire, a widow, disclosed that on the material day, while she was out
in Lundazi district on church programmes, Ruth drunk rat poison after being advised
by her young brother against coming home late in the absence of their mother.
She said her young brother only discovered the body of Ruth in her room the
following morning with a note in her pocket accusing the boy of subjecting her to
beatings and intimidation.
Bushi tefyo mwasalile ba Levy? Second term tapalapita 27 months apomwamusalile… Alatamulati! It is very unfortunate to have such uncaring government! Mr. Levy do something about this before I tell them to leave their offices for farming. Tell me Mr. President, is it possible for a common Zambian to work for 27 months without pay? My president, address this issue and then go back to the song of the new deal government entitled ‘CORRUPTION.’
Somebody wanted us to believe that these things ended in 2001. The only thing is these workers and their families are already too close to, or even below, poverty line, otherwise 2 years without pay should mean death. Its tough living in rural Zambia.
This is insane! how can people go without their salaries for this long! we the zambian people are to blame! ministers are being allocated millions of kwacha in form of fuel allowance (iyakuchitila ubu hule) and yet some people need the money to feed their hungary children! gentleman, then why do we vote if we still allow such things to happen! that ‘s why voting is for suckers! this is some BS i cannot stand! continue wasting your time and votes!
Why do the workers still report for work?? most of them are there on time every day.Fellow contributors there is more to this situation than meets the eye.it is probable that council revenue has been going into the pockets of these “poor” workers since time immemorial and the administration is comfortable with the status quo as they “earn” more money than being on the payroll!! the Govt. should send auditors to this council and i’m sure a true picture will evolve.
The ORIGINAL PUNDIT # 4,are you telling us that the workers are to blame? We should look at who is responsible of these poor Zambians salaries.Who is to blame if say,kids start doing wrong things (Prostitution)beacuse the parents dont buy food in the house? It is a waste of resources for the government to send Auditors to a council they have not supported.
Mr Zed(5), these councils are funded…check the local government ministry records!!whilst you are there check how much unretired imprest is outstanding,how much of the monthly funding goes to per diem payments!
Bwana, whilst it is not entirely their fault you will find that their actions have got them in the mess they are in.The local govt. accountants refuse to release further funding because the councils cannot account for the funding they have already received.When central govt sends them money the councillors all go on workshops and all get soft loans!!Go to some of these councils as some of us have and you will be equally disgusted with what goes on.I stick to my guns…..first Auditors then money afterwards!I’m sure ACC and DEC will be there before the money arrives becoz those are easy cases to prosecute.
Councils are really not funded. Forget about the auditors, the DEC commissioner alone is accused of misappropriating K1 billion. Lets stop being greedy and humiliating our brothers and sisters in small, poor rural areas. Zambia isnt going to be developed by having a few people amassing wealth meant for rural development and driving posh cars around Lusaka. This seems to be a typical African problem.
Francis(7),when you are sick you go to a doctor…when funds are being misapplied you send an auditor to verify the extent and find out who the culprit is and how to prevent a recurrence.There are no shortcuts Francis!!If you are sick and choose to treat yourself you are likely to prescribe the wrong medicine and make yourself worse.Central govt. disburses grants to councils monthly for recurrent and intermittently for approved capital expenditure.Any additional revenue a council generates is used by the local authority for projects deemed priority by it’s own councillors.An ideal situation is where a council generates enough funds to cover at least recurrent expenditure leaving capital expenditure to central govt.Lusaka Urban achieved this under King Cobra….a feat never repeated elsewhere!!Obviously our rural brothers have a problem!!So send in the auditors and if need be ACC and DEC to prosecute!!
There’s nothing in the article to support any speculation of misappropriation by Chama and other rural districts. So this debate is baseless. Unless you know something I dont know.
Councils raise revenue from economic activities in their manucipalities. However, economic activity in rural Zambia is depressed largely by the lack of investment in capital and people. Disbursements to councils are erratic and meagre. This is all I know.
BaFrancis(9) in another life, Local govt was my forte and symptoms of “financial gymnastics” include media reports such as these !!! you will be disgusted at the poor financial controls in rural councils.Hopefully Mama Chifungula will take a sample of councils to spot audit and we can resume this thread then.