‘Civil servants deserve better conditions of service’
By JIMMY CHIBUYECHIEF Justice Ernest Sakala says conditions of service for civil servants should be improved to deter public workers from engaging in corruption and misapplying public funds.
Mr Justice Sakala said Government should enhance the conditions of service for its workers because they are the backborne of the nation.
He said this at the swearing-in-ceremony of commissioners for the Salaries Review Commission in Lusaka on Thursday.
“We all know that civil servants deserve good conditions of service. The reasoning behind this is not only to motivate them but this is also to deter them from the temptations of corruption and misapplication of public funds,” Mr Justice Sakala said.
He said with improved conditions of service, workers will closely guard their jobs and refrain from activities which may compromise their job security.
Mr Justice Sakala said it is not uncommon that certain civil servants receive salaries in United States dollars while their counterparts in other institutions with same qualifications receive them in Kwacha.
He said this phenomenon has distorted the standards of living and the economy.
Mr Justice Sakala expressed confidence that the commissioners will cover the concerns and adequately make recommendations that will address the current problems affecting the civil service.
He said the economy may not sustain the whole wish list of the workers in the civil service but there is need to balance the competing needs of the country in general and those in the civil service.
Mr Justice Sakala challenged the commissioners to ensure that the civil service gets better conditions of service by harmonising the current discrepancies.
Those sworn in are Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi, retired chief justice Mathew Ngulube, Japhet Msimuko, Mabvuto Sakala, Yuyi Kwalombota Libakeni, Lloyd Sichilongo, Redson Lusale and Danny Musenge.
Others are Meamui Georgina Linyama Kongwa, George Kawatu, Edgar Imasiku, Professor Mutale Chanda, Nana Mudenda, Roy Mwaba and Danny Longwe.
The Salaries Review Commission is a body which will review salaries, salary structures and conditions of service for public workers.
The Salaries Review Commission was last constituted in 1993.
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