Isaac Zulu
Government has released K30 million to pay salary arrears for TAZARA workers on the Zambian side.
Workers Union of TAZARA general secretary Jacob Lombe has confirmed the development in an interview with Daily Revelation, saying all TAZARA employees on the Zambian side have been paid their three months’ salary arrears.
“The position is that all outstanding salaries have now been paid and all TAZARA workers have been paid their three months’ salary arrears. The government has released K30 million to pay those salaries,” Lombe
said.
He said TAZARA employees are grateful to the UPND government for honouring its commitment of clearing salary arrears.
“We are grateful to the UPND government for addressing the challenge of non-payment of salaries for TAZARA workers. From the time the UPND formed government, it pledged to pay salary arrears for TAZARA employees. Specifically, we would like to thank Minister Frank Tayali
who has taken it as a personal responsibility to pay outstanding salary arrears to TAZARA employees. From the time we started engaging him and explaining to him the challenges that TAZARA employees have been facing, he has demonstrated true commitment to resolving the
operational challenges at TAZARA,” said Lombe.
Last week, Lombe disclosed that TAZARA workers have gone for three months without being paid.
Lombe also said the issue of delayed payment of salaries does not abound in Tanzania because the government in that country has incorporated the wage bill for TAZARA workers in the National Budget.
Lombe further urged the Zambian government to emulate their Tanzanian counterparts on this score.
