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The Post Newspapers Say SATA Deserves His Salary Increment ‘Pay to Caesar what is worth of his work’
Listening to the discourse on the 10 per cent increase in the President’s salary, one wonders what we Zambians really believe in.
There are so many views being expressed on this issue. And it seems there is no view so crazy about this issue that no one in this country holds it. Every crazy view on this issue, it seems someone holds it. This, it seems, is not such a bad thing but the beauty of democracy.
Our President is certainly not one of the highest paid presidents in this region or on our continent. The new annual salary of our President will be K414,406 with a special annual allowance of K108,934, which translates to K43,611 per month. This may sound too high but there are many people working for government and quasi-governmental organisations who are earning far much more than this. For instance, the governor of the Bank of Zambia earns not less than K150,000 per month. And the salaries of most chief executives of parastatal entities are far more than the new salary of the President.
Sata (l) with Post Newspapers Editor-In-Chief Fred M’membe (bald head).
We need to be very careful with some of these things. Sacrifices are needed but they shouldn’t lead to other bigger or worse problems. If an individual thinks that dedicating one’s life to political leadership means that in return, he should not have such worries as that his son lacks certain things, or that his children’s shoes are worn out, or that his family lacks some necessity, then he is entering into rationalisations which open his mind to infection by the seeds of future corruption.
The children of our political leaders should have or should go without those things that the children of the average man have or go without, and their families should understand this and strive to uphold this standard. Progress in our country is made through the individual, but the individual must forge his progressive spirit day by day.
Of course, in the political leadership of our country and given the dangers of the present situation, we need men and women who fight to escape from the realm of necessity to enter that of freedom.
In these circumstances, one must have a great deal of humanity and a strong sense of justice and truth in order not to fall to the temptations of corruption and isolate themselves from the masses.
Our leaders must strive every day so that this love of living humanity will be transformed into actual deeds, into acts that serve as examples.
Of course, we should not lose sight of the fact that a dangerous tendency has shown itself of late among many of our politicians – an unwillingness to share the joys and hardships of the masses, a concern for personal fame and gain. We have leaders who are more concerned about themselves than they are about the plight of the people. But all this should not lead us to cynicism, to criticising things for the sake of it. We should be able to distinguish right from wrong. And in the political life of our people, how should right be distinguished from wrong in one’s words and actions?
Broadly speaking, we consider that words and actions should help unite, and not divide, our people and their leaders. They should be beneficial, and not harmful, to the social and economic transformations going on in our country. They should help to consolidate, and not undermine or weaken our democracy. They should help to consolidate, and not to undermine or weaken, the governance of our country. They should help to strengthen, and not discard or weaken, the leadership of our country.
We must undoubtedly criticise wrong ideas and actions of every description. It certainly would not be right to refrain from criticism, to look on while wrong ideas and actions spread unchecked and allow them to monopolise the field. Mistakes must be criticised and poisonous weeds fought wherever they crop up. However, such criticism should be reasonable and honest. What is needed is a convincing argument.
These are difficult times for all of us. Many things are not going well in our country. But this should not make us lose sight of some of the good things happening around us. In times of difficulty, we must not lose sight of our achievements, we must see the bright future and must pluck up our courage. It is sheer fantasy to imagine that the cause of progress in our country will be plain-sailing and easy success, without difficulties and setbacks or exertion of tremendous effort. We must all take this fully into account and be prepared to overcome all difficulties with an indomitable will and in a planned way. Negative and cynical forces will always be there. But both those who are trying to do good and those who are negative have difficulties. However, the difficulties of the negative elements are insurmountable because they are forces on the verge of death and have no future. The difficulties of progressive, well-intentioned and well-meaning people can be overcome because they are new and rising forces and have a bright future.
At certain times in any progressive political struggle, the difficulties outweigh the favourable conditions and so constitute the principal aspect of the contradiction and the favourable conditions constitute the secondary aspect. But through the efforts of our well-meaning citizens and their leaders, we can overcome the difficulties step by step and open up a favourable new situation; thus a difficult situation yields to a favourable one. Therefore, there is no need to give up to cynics, to those who criticise everything and everyone apart from themselves and their own actions.
There is clearly nothing wrong with the 10 per cent salary increment given to the President by the necessary and legitimate committee of Parliament. It doesn’t do us any good as a nation to try and portray Michael as a greedy and selfish leader. Yes, Michael has many weaknesses, failings and shortcomings for which he deserves criticism, but selfishness, greed and vanity are not part of them. Let’s criticise our leaders in a fair and just way. If criticism is valid, it must be made. If criticism is not valid, it shouldn’t be made. And over this 10 per cent salary increment, criticism is not valid and as such, it shouldn’t be made. Let Michael get a salary that is in line with the current conditions and circumstances of our country. And we don’t think the salary that Parliament has given the President is unjustified, unreasonable in the conditions and circumstances of our country. These are salaries we are giving to many public workers. And there is no good reason why the President of this country should not be paid such a salary.
Yes, there is need for politics. But we should not allow the politics of our country to be relegated to trivialities chosen precisely because they salve the consciences of the powerful, of the power-hungry, of the cynics and conceal the realities of our country.
If we are against corruption, let us not leave our people, our leaders open to situations that tempt them to engage in corruption. A president who is not able to meet the needs of his family is one open to corruption, to favour-seeking and consequently to being held hostage by those who give him money and who extend all sorts of favours to him. Let’s create a situation where our leaders are not tempted to sell government policies and decisions to the highest bidders by paying them reasonable salaries.
Pay to Caesar what is worth of Caesar’s work!
PostNewspaper
Posted by Editor
on October 17, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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sure
October 17, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Disgraced post! chiwamina garu kuluma mbuzi! RB incraesed his salary using the same system your man has used and he condemned it. You are wasting your time trying to defend what cannot be defended. Employ your man as Chief Executive and I am sure he will get more. Or let him join bank of Zambia. You cant compare an uneducated person to successful businessmen or executives and this is the case world over!
Tumfweko
October 17, 2013 at 10:38 pm
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yee
October 17, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Infact he is a run away president. George Chella is the defacto president and it is clear from the language of the statements made on behalf of the man that they are not original from him. At times I am sure he too is surprised of what is attributed to him. Remember him reading speech when he was swearing in his relatives as ambasodors? There is no way he could read issues surrounding problems in pf clearly shows that he was just given to read and never came from his mouth!! Yeee I pity him
Yaba
October 17, 2013 at 3:49 pm
The bald head man cant face the other! Ashamed of himself!
wabo
October 17, 2013 at 4:03 pm
membe muli suite,you look nice big man.
chabakalipa ba mumbwe
Isaac
October 17, 2013 at 4:12 pm
President Sata is changing the face of Zambia. There is no district which is not having either roads being constructed or bridges or indeed anything else of developmental nature of late. He deserves it really.
whyman
October 17, 2013 at 4:19 pm
First of all, am staunch supporter of the pf, but I would like to differ with mr M’membe not long ago when RB increase his salary using the same parliament fred was the first person create the impression that RB doesn’t care about the poor. He further went on to sugest that even the mps should forgo their new salarie if they care about the poor. But today am surprised he is the first to defend our president who campained on pro poor stratege. I can surely assume that this fred has some hidden agenda. And I can only say time matters and for sure it is ticking slowly but sure.
maps
October 17, 2013 at 4:24 pm
ths increment z justifiable, i actually earn mo than him.
Kofya
October 17, 2013 at 4:45 pm
Ba politician efyo babomba. Ifwe tulefwayafye development epela
shaka
October 17, 2013 at 5:42 pm
iwe ka M’membe just pay that 16bn you stole…we shall fix you in 2016.
uknown
October 17, 2013 at 5:47 pm
sata is a dictator and membe is bein intimideted by the p fools call aspade a spade thats not jounalsm wat are thos buyin with 4rmuknown
1 diva!
October 17, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Shocking indeed!! Zambia is a middle income country nd th presidents pay is influenced by th country’s economy. We have less money in th country nd one wants to grab th little that’s thre fr devpt nd jst increasing th country’s debt to DCs. Shocking!!
Czar
October 17, 2013 at 7:38 pm
I am not surprised by the vomit from Fred the faggot. Sata is shielding him from facing the law. Just pay back the DBZ money idi.yot
bob
October 17, 2013 at 9:01 pm
selfish president,Mmembe is a hypocritic.
nel
October 18, 2013 at 12:03 am
Mmembe is da man whether you lik it o not, far beta than u idiots with empty mind.tel me who is worth geting a lot between the gavernor en Sata, en whose contributing a lot to peoples welfare betvn the two?
Isaac
October 18, 2013 at 10:55 am
What has innocent Mmembe got to do with all the imaginary trash that you’re cogitating? Leave him alone. Mmembe never went to DBZ as an individual to borrow money, it was the company to which at one time belonged to. The records doesn’t show Mmembe but his former company.Reason and have proper judgement!
coach bags
October 18, 2013 at 2:33 am
I always emailed this weblog post page to all my associates, because iff like to read it
afterward my links will too.
mbuy
October 18, 2013 at 3:35 am
MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS!!!!!! kekekekekekeke…..
yongwe
October 18, 2013 at 4:31 am
Honestly Ba Sata you just cant be human for once and just say no to the pay rise…at least we could have respected you and believe you when you say you were voted to serve not to enrich yourself…this is not the Sata peolple voted into power…what has happened Mr president sir…..are you just another deceiptive,selfish politician..then you have sunk too low to deserve another term sir…we are disappointed…..!!!!
duh!
October 18, 2013 at 5:48 am
When the PFost speaks its like a gay person saying homosexuality should be made legal or a rapist saying that rape should not be a crime or a thief saying that stealing shouldn’t be a punishable offence.
China
October 18, 2013 at 9:17 am
Sata needs prayers because once he falls into that trap of love of money ,it will be very dangerous he will see no sense in taking care of the country but his pockets, end results might be even worth than FTJ and RB.
kazeze
October 18, 2013 at 10:36 am
No sensible person has respect for the views of this dicredited tabloid.
AMUNA
October 18, 2013 at 10:42 am
COBRA AT WORK GUYS.THE WORST IS YET TO COME.2016 IS AT THE KONA GUYS.
Isaac
October 18, 2013 at 10:59 am
You will not manage to usher in your useless leaders come 2016. You can taught this and that today or tomorrow but the end results Sata will prevail, watch the space.
Isaac
October 18, 2013 at 11:01 am
Sorry i mean talk not taught.
AIDS patient
October 18, 2013 at 12:01 pm
“My father was a cook & I nkow how suffering is” those were th words of king cobra when he was in opposition
Mpangula Mputyu aka TeamDoraPetauke2013
October 18, 2013 at 12:29 pm
PF has reneged on promises made: Bloody Liars.
Labour minister Fackson Shamenda yesterday bluntly told the Daily Nation that the ruling Patriotic Front party had changed from the promises it made to the Zambian people as it was now in government.
In a phone interview, Shamenda said the people “should expect” the Patriotic Front (PF) to change as it was now in government and could not be expected to keep to what it promised whilst in opposition.
“Just because we preached against increasing the salary for the president Rupiah does not mean we still have to stick to that position; If you were a defender, your role would be different if you took up the role of a striker. We were in the opposition and our role was different but now we are in government,” Shamenda confessed.
And commenting on the Daily Nation revelations of President Sata’s salary increase, Shamenda said that without the K87 million increase, the President salary would be equal to cleaners.
“Why are you against President Sata’s salary increase? Do you want him to be getting the same salary with cleaners? You are playing politics by having published that story and let me tell you that there is nothing wrong with the President having his salary increased. In fact, would not mind increasing his salary three times in a year.