By Isaac Zulu
Crews and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CRAWUZ) president Bevis Silumbe has said that the K19.8 million that the Zambian government has released towards dismantling salary arrears is a drop in the ocean.
Government, through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport has announced the release of an additional K19.8 million to enable TAZARA dismantle part of the salary arrears for its employees.
In April government funded K18 million towards the payment of salary arrears for TAZARA workers.
Commenting on the development, Silumbe explained that TAZARA workers are already in six months salary arrears, stating that the K19.8 million that government has released will only carter for two months salary arrears.
“This amount (K19.8) is too little. It is only going to carter for two months net salaries, which is January and February 2022. And yet TAZARA workers are in six months salary arrears. That K19.8 million that government has released towards the payment of salary arrears for TAZARA employees is a drop in the ocean,” said Silumbe in an interview. “Considering the fact that TAZARA workers have gone for so long without being paid, we expected the government to release a substantial amount to offset the salary arrears.
And Silumbe has said that there is need to find a lasting solution to the challenges facing TAZARA operations.
He pointed out that the solution to the perennial delayed payment of salaries for TAZARA employees does not ly in repairing the Chambishi bridge in Kasama, but finding a sustainable business plan.
“On the Chambishi bridge, we expect the repair works being to be concluded by the end of July. Yes, the repair of the Chambishi bridge might lighten the burden, to some extent; but a lasting solution to these salary arrears and other challenges facing operations at TAZARA is in ensuring that the US $500 million Bankable Business Plan that was formulated last year,” explained Silumbe.
In December 2021, the President Hakainde Hichilema issued a directive that a lasting solution for all challenges affecting the smooth operations of TAZARA should be found.
