Debt swap out

THE debt swap for civil servants has been suspended to allow Government to review and assess the programme, Vice President Mutale Nalumango told Parliament yesterday.

Answering to a question raised by Chikankata MP, Jacqueline Sabao, who wanted to know the position of Government on the debt swap, Ms Nalumango said the programme was not well articulated and there will be need to assess whether it can be continued. She reaffirmed the UPND government’s commitment to the plight of public workers.

Ms Nalumango said the PF portrayed as though the civil servant owed the debt 100 percent when the fact is that some of the debt was as a result of the previous government’s failure to remit to financial institutions money that was deducted from the workers’ salaries.

She also said part of the reason for the suspension is that financial lending institutions like those under the Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) did not seem to be ready for the programme.

On suspension of appointments and promotions in the public service, Vice President Nalumango said the move was due to the merging, dissolution and re-alignment of some ministries.

She said once all requirements are gazetted and put in place, employment, promotions in the civil service will resume

Ms. Nalumango said there were implications that would have come if the suspensions were not effected.

“When you are making changes such as the dissolving of ministries, re-alignment and merging others, you can’t continue to employ or promote because the structure or establishment must first be clear and known as to who should be employed and what qualifications are necessary,” she added.