PP asks Finance Minister to come clear on civil servants salary rise

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe has been asked to come clear on when government will raise the salary on civil servants with Mangochi Monkey Bay MP and People’s Party (PP) spokesperson on finance in Parliament, Ralph Jooma saying the minister has not been “transparent enough.”

Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe delivers 2015-2016 Financial year Budget in Parliament - Pic by Stanley Makuti
Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe delivered the  2015-2016 Financial year Budget in Parliament – Pic by Stanley Makuti

Gondwe presented to Parliament for deliberation a K901.6 billion (US$2.1 billion) national budget in which government seeks to increase the annual salaries and wages from the current K198 billion (US$440 million) to K228 billion (US$506.7 million), which would result in 25 percent of the financial plan being spent on salaries and wages for less than 200 000 public servants out of 16 million people.

In his critique to the financial plan, Jooma said the Finance Minister has not been “transparent enough” with regard to the proposal for salary increments.

“In this budget, Mr Speaker, Sir, inflation is projected at 16.4 per cent, but what we are hearing about civil servants increment is not getting to the point,” said Jooma.

Jooma said transparency and inclusiveness are desired elements in salary increments.

He noted that Gondwe only said there will be an increment of salaries for junior grade-staff and that will be implemented in “December, 2016.”

Said Jooma: “We think he meant 2015, but in the book it is written 2016. But the question is, which grades will benefit and at what rate? It is our hope that issues of inflation will be factored in on arriving at an appropriate increment rate.

“The problem with such oblique assertions, Mr Speaker, Sir, is more likely to result into what we saw last year where senior officers received higher rate of increment than junior officers and in the process, increasing the disparity between the rich and the poor.”

The Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) has given the government a 21-day ultimatum to act on their demand for salary increment.

CSTU Secretary General Madalitso Njolomole said that the civil servants feel betrayed by their employer, the government, on the salary revision for the 2015/16 financial year.

“The information we have from the Treasury indicates that government will not honour what was agreed during the salary negotiations revision,” he said.

He said the body wants the government to honour and implement the salary adjustments during the next financial year which starts on July 1.

Meanwhile, Jooma told parliament that people are asking whether the 2015/16 budget is pro-poor or not

“We know what the impoverished in our society want because we stay with them. For us to know whether a budget is pro-poor or not, we must visionalise a life of a village household. What does a typical village household need from morning to the end of the day? Fellow Members will agree with me that they do not ask for too much. They need food, clean water, medical facilities, good schools and finally, they need good community roads.

“Now, on food. We are told that this budget has resources to buy maize for both distribution and sale because Mr Speaker, Sir, this country has been hit by severe hunger. We would like to ask government to be fair, transparent and inclusive in the whole process,” said Jooma.

Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya said it its expected that the debate on the budget estimates will be curtailed on Friday, 19th June, 2015 immediately before adjournment of the House at 12:30 p.m.

He said Finance Minister will deliver his winding up speech on the budget estimates on Monday 22nd June at 2:00 p.m. Immediately thereafter, it will be the Committee of Supply, Appropriation Bill and other related bills to be taken between the afternoon of Monday 22nd June and Friday, 26th June, 2015

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m.m
m.m
9 years ago

These people just wanted to be voted akukanika kunena kuti awonjezera mwakuti bwanji akuwopa chani mayesa ndiwomwewo amanena kuti a malawi amalandira ma change?lero zikuvuta bwanji nkumanenanso kuti muwakwezera December eeeh anzanu onse ammbuyomu amapereka july chaka chatha mwawabera chinonso?kachitani manyazi moyo unadula uwu apatseni ma 100pcnt awone kusintha july uno.

mulhomwe wakwa Goliyati
mulhomwe wakwa Goliyati
9 years ago

Limenelo ndiye boma timalifuna lija tiye naloni kuzunzika mpaka 2019!!!! 2012 mzimayi anaonjezera 40% comes 2013 mzimayi anaonjezeranso 61% woooohhhhhh koma lero ichi mwanena icho mwasintha kkkkkkkkkkkk, Pitala umayesa kuyendetsa boma ndi phada eti?????? MCTU athandizeni ma Civial Servants boma ili likuwatenga AMALAWI 4grntd!!!!!

LORENI
LORENI
9 years ago

I have gone through the first 22 comments only to be surprised that only one comment backs the government. This is a clear indication that the one backing the government is sick in his head. Civil service is the engine of the countrys economy. If people still in the government its because of what they get. I swear cashgate will never stop as long as the civil servants are paid meagre salaries. How ever had you try to stop cahgate you never succeed

Totolitotoli
Totolitotoli
9 years ago

ALL civil servants including the police get ready for the shoedown.People are talking nonsense on the increment of salary for the civil servants.POLICE NKHONDOYI NDI YATONSE,NO TEARGASSING JUST COME AND JOIN, IF THE BATTLE IS WELL FOUGHT, WE SHALL ALL BE WINNERS.ATIMVA MANDIMU PETER NDI NKHALAMBA IZAKEYO GOODALL.

Lutepo
Lutepo
9 years ago

Tionetsana,goodall you are not clever mphwanga, ndiponso za December zo ndi zopusa zimenezo , ngati chaka cha boma chimayambira July inunso mukweza kwayambira july. Ma nurse get ready,teachers do you hear me? Capital hill are you with me?

WaNakabaghe
WaNakabaghe
9 years ago

Gondwe, mwakula kapumeni chonde! Saraly imakwera july 1 osati dec wakoyo.

Tryson Mwalwanda
9 years ago

Sakunama a Jooma. Awaganizile ma junior civil servants coz anthuwa akuvutika kwambiri.

Mphatso
Mphatso
9 years ago

Mr Jooma your problem is that this government is not transparent and inclusive in determining salary increments, as result seniors more than juniors.

Jooma, walasa la nyani.

magaula
magaula
9 years ago

tikufuna makobidi ife jooma akunena zoona

Elliam Kamanga
9 years ago

Only those who live in darkness will fail to appreciate what Ralph and PP did tocivil servants. PP raised salaries more than any govt. What Ralph is saying should be taken care of by Goodall. DPP has usually cheated civil servants on increaments.

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