By Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Finance has cautioned interest groups to refrain from issuing unfounded, inaccurate and misleading statements, not only on salaries but all matters related to the government’s management of the fiscal governance framework.
And the ministry has warned the general public against participating in the fraudulent “ponzi pyramid”
The ministry’s sentiments were addressing recent public comments allegedly made by an interest group, alleging that there were persistent delays in the payment of salaries to government workers.
The ministry stated that in line with the Constitution and the Public Service Finance Management Act of 2018, the the treasury had never failed to pay public service workers on time during the last four years of the UPND administration.
It stated that while the ministry understood the anxiety some public service workers may experience a few days before monthly salaries were credited, interest groups must refrain from issuing statements on the same.
In another statement issues yesterday, the office of the treasury stated that it had nothing to do with ponzi pyramid scheme
“The Ministry of Finance and National Planning strongly cautions the general public against participating in or circulating fraudulent “ponzi” pyramid or other purported fast money making schemes falsely linked to us or any public organization,” it stated.
“The public is also informed that the audio-visual production on a fast money making scheme alleging to have been endorsed by this Ministry, circulating on social media, is malicious, illegal and intended to deceive unsuspecting citizens. It does not have endorsement or approval of the ministry or any wing of government.”
The ministry further stated that the government did not give money directly to individuals outside the parliamentary approved national budget.
“We reiterate that this Ministry does not and will never support or run “ponzi pyramid or other purported fast money making “scheme. The Government does not give money directly to individuals outside the parliamentary approved national budget processes,” it stated.
“And the circulated audio visual promoting the scheme, is most likely Al generated, fake and criminally intended to tarnish the Ministry’s reputation and injure the integrity of its personnel.”
However, the ministry warned all those behind the criminal activity.
“The government will not hesitate to pursue them relentlessly and they face the severest punishment permissible under Zambian law including long term imprisonment and seizure of proceeds of the crime which they are committing,” it stated.
The ministry also warned the public against participating in ponzi, praymid, or fast making schemes, because they risked losing money to fraudsters.
