THE Government has said education grants to children of Zambian diplomats in the diaspora should be discontinued immediately after their parents are recalled from diplomatic missions.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, who is acting Foreign Affair minister told Parliament on Thursday night that it was illegal for a child abroad to continue receiving grants when their parents were recalled.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha was responding to a question by Mwansabombwe Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Chitonge during the questions and answer session.
Mr Chitonge wanted to know what the entitlements for Zambian diplomats in missions abroad were as of August 30, 2009 in relation to spouse, children and dependants.
“Children studying abroad when their parents are serving in the foreign service are like any other Zambian child who should not be denied a right to education. However, if that child’s parent is recalled from foreign service, their grants are discontinued and any further sponsorship of this child on the Government grant is an illegal act,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said the entitlement for foreign dignitaries in foreign service ranged from US$300 to US$150 and for the grants for the spouses, children and dependants was in the range of US$150.
And Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani, who is acting leader of the House presented on behalf of Vice-President George Kunda, a bill on the Plea Negotiations and Amendments.
The bill is aimed at providing for the introduction and implementation of plea negotiations and plea agreements in the criminal justice system.
Mr Mangani also presented a bill on the registration of business names which is aimed to amend the registration of business names.
He presented the bill on behalf of Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati.
And on Wednesday evening Mr Kunda said the Disaster Management Bill, once put in place will address the evacuation mechanism for disaster-affected citizens.
In a speech read for him by Government Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga, Mr Kunda said that for years, there had been no mechanism to evacuate the victims of disaster, resulting in some deaths that could have been saved.
He said there was need to set conditions under which an evacuation could be ordered and managed.
Among the objectives of the bill, Mr Kunda said, was the establishment of the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), provision for the declaration of disasters, and establishment of the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund.
Further, he said the bill would strengthen the coordination role of the DMMU and defining the functions of various stakeholders at different levels.
“From the past experience, the House may appreciate that the enactment of the disaster management bill is indeed long overdue and cannot be over emphasised, it is therefore necessary to have an Act of Parliament on disaster management,” Mr Kunda said.
Contributing to the debate, chairperson of the joint committee on Energy, Environment and Tourism and Health and Community Development and Social Welfare Ng’andu Magande (MMD) said as much as the committee was in support of the bill, it felt the title should be changed to Disaster Management and Mitigation Bill.
In its proposed form, he said, the bill was not placing emphasis on mitigating disasters.
There was need for Zambia to use internationally-recognised terminologies in line with the rest of the world.
Mr Magande also said the committee was also of the view that the Public Service Commission, and not the president as proposed in the draft bill, should appoint the coordinator for the DMMU.
[Times of Zambia]
The good thing is that the cost of education abroad is not exaggerated compared to Zambia. My advice to the parents: start saving up for your children’s education as soon as you reach your designated country so that when you are recalled, there are still enough funds for your children to continue their studies on. Upkeep is the smallest problem – students always find a place of temporal stay (for example with good friends) until they begin work.
its good that he finally woke up. im sure iit was just a power nap..
Why can’t GRZ give education allowances to children of civil servants in Zed? Diplomats to get a salaries and they should budget for their children from their salaries like everyone else. Now we know how much more money is being wasted at these missions which don’t even serve the interests of their fellow zambians in the diaspora.
I think that would be unfair on those taking on serious education, they should atleat give them 6 months to 1 year to sort themselves out.
Those civil servants left the country to do a service and just because they have been recalled doesnt mean you have the right to just desrapt the lives.
One always sacrifices a lot when they leave the country but we always just look at the benefits simply because we are a poor country.
Stop the payment to this useless diplomats. Let them pay just like any other Zambian
I hope you will include the fees the Government is paying for your son Tivo Shikapwasha in the USA we mdala Chief RB Bootlicker
Most of these embassies are a waste of tax payers money and of no benefit to Zambia. Our embassies are actually dumping grounds of people who the current govt would like to have outside the country because they cause a political risk or threat if they were at home. Are these embassies actually bringing in investments in Zambia by advertising the country or the guys simply wait for the next paycheck! I know an embassy of an African country where there is only one or two persons employed. In the morning the individuals carries out other business of their own and after lunch they handle work related to the embassy. Our embassies can be streamlined and all the dead wood removed. I believe the current setup does not reflect the technology available today where some of the work can be automated.
Capitalist/Senior citizen say something,we are waiting 4 yo comments.
Wakey, wakey Reverend, are you sure you know what you are talking about or you are still drowsy from the long slumber? Dream on!
good good good yes let Capitalist and Senior Citizen also praise this budget saving move!