President Edgar Chagwa Lungu of Zambia on Friday 27 December 2019 announced that he was cutting his salary and those of senior officials such as Cabinet Ministers by between 10%-20% amidst an energy crisis. The cut was with immediate effect. Lungu also directed Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Simon Miti to cascade the directive to all non-unionised public officers including parastatal executives. According to News24, the price of petrol in Zambia gained 10% to 17.62 kwacha ($1.27) per litre on Thursday 26 December 2019, while that for diesel fuel rose by 9.6% to 15.59 kwacha. The cost of electricity is to soar by 115% starting 1 January 2020.
In a statement released by his office, Lungu, a lawyer by
profession said, “I have decided to cut salaries of highly paid public
workers to cushion the impact on the vulnerable due to recent tariff hikes. The
cuts start with me as President and my Cabinet Ministers with immediate effect.
I have also directed the Secretary to Cabinet to cascade the directive to all
non-unionised public officers, including parastatal executives. The slashing of
salaries for highly paid public officers in both Government and the parastatal
sector is aimed at cushioning the impact on citizens arising from the increase
in fuel prices and electricity tariffs announced by the Energy Regulation Board
(ERB) yesterday (Thursday).”
The Presidential directive indicated that public officials would have their salaries cut by 20% whereas those in the middle would have their reduced by 15%, and those in the lower rung would be down by 10%.
” I have shown the way, and those willing to work with me should be ready to sacrifice. God bless Zambia.”
President Edgar Lungu
“The money realised from this decision will go towards
ameliorating the impact that the increase would have brought on the masses.” Lungu
added, “I remain optimistic that the economy will rebound in 2020 due to
the measures that my Government has put in place, including the implementation
of cost-cutting measures relating to the travel of senior government officials
and protecting the vulnerable through ring-fencing the resources to social
sectors”.
“Public officers in the highest salary brackets will
have their salaries cut by 20% whereas those in the middle will have theirs
reduced by 15%, and those in the lower rung will be down by 10%. Much as the
increase in the pricing of the two essential commodities was inevitable; the
Zambian people needed a cushion, hence my directive. The money realised from
this decision will go towards ameliorating the impact that the increase would
have brought on the masses. I have shown the way, and those willing to work
with me should be ready to sacrifice. God bless Zambia,” Lungu said.
Zambia has been undergoing an energy crisis in recent times.
Lungu has been President of Zambia since 2015.
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