By Mwansa Kaumba
The decision by President Hakainde Hichilema to hike the number of ministries from 24 to 30 will increase the already bloated public service wage bill, says the Citizens First (CF).
In a write-up to Daily Revelation, party spokesperson Stanley Mhango stated that the hike in ministries was coming on the heels of another steep hike in the number of members of parliament, from 164 (including the 8 who were nominated) to 285 members of parliament now.
”Government pronounces it will both merge and increase number of Ministries. This is confusion. You merge to reduce wage bill, but you increase to blow the wage bill. You cannot do both and claim reform,” Mhango stated. “If you continue the 51% trend and increase Ministries, the wage bill will go from 51% to 55% or 60%. Then what remains for development? Zero.”
Mhango stated that it was a fact that 51% of the national budget going towards personal emoluments had become a trend under UPND, which meant that more than half the budget was just meant for salaries, allowances, workshops.
”This was already bad. What is worse is that Government now pronounces it will continue this same trend while doing two things that will make it even worse,” Mhango stated.
He stated while ECZ’s decision to increase constituencies was good for representation, however, the same needed more money.
”Yet pronouncement is CDF allocation will be reduced,” Mhango stated. “
If you continue 51% for emoluments trend, you have no money for 226 constituencies. You have created 70 new constituencies with no money. You are funding more Ministries in Lusaka by starving 226 constituencies.”
He argued that pronouncements to increase ministries were made without line ministries and without public consultation.
”Even if Ministers are appointed tomorrow, Budget ceilings are done. Their input is zero. This lacks Cabinet collective responsibility under Article 116,” Mhango stated. “This is legalism at the expense of democratic principles. Government thinks arrogance of numbers in the House will save them.”
He stated that UNIP had arrogance of numbers, but collapsed, while MMD was rejected with its own arrogance of numbers. Mhango stated that the other former ruling party which relied on numbers, PF, left huge public debts.
”Numbers can pass a Budget, but numbers cannot make a bad Budget work,” stated Mhango. “A Budget process that continues a failed trend of 51% for emoluments, that merges and increases Ministries at the same time, that increases constituencies to 226 while reducing CDF, and that is done without Ministers and without Zambians, has no legitimacy. We are warning BEFORE presentation.”
