Nevers Mumba Comments On Proposed Pay Rise for MPs

The economy has backslid since the coming of PF into government. The cost of living has risen to unsustainable levels. Since coming into government, the PF has taken steps that have accelerated people’s slide into poverty. This government removed subsidies which cushioned the poor and as a result essential commodities like mealie-meal have reached record high from the MMD’s K37 to the current K100 per 25kg bag.

Transport costs have risen following the increase in fuel prices. In contradiction, mini bus and taxi drivers have been directed not to increase fares although fuel has gone up. Furthermore, ZESCO has increased their tariffs by over 25%, an increase considered to be economically immoral. Over borrowing by government has moved our national debt stock to over $4.5 billion within three years of getting into government. This will continue to exert unnecessary pressure on our limited resource envelope through abnormal interest rates.

This scenario has made everyday life very difficult for families in all social brackets. It is for this reason that the MMD considers the wage freeze as an immoral option. The cost of living continues to rise, the Kwacha has been stripped of its power but salaries have remained stagnant. It is for this reason that public workers should be allowed to negotiate through their unions.

While the MPs are not excluded from the harsh economic realities, it becomes morally complicated for them to lead the pack in demanding for more money. As leaders, we should work towards addressing the bigger picture which in the end gives relief to the majority of Zambians.

We are aware that the MPs find themselves in a very compromising position since they have no union which negotiates on their behalf and they have to negotiate for their own conditions. It is for this reason that MMD supports the establishment of a parliamentary service commission to handle the interests of members of parliament.

The timing to demand for more pay is inappropriate.

Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba
MMD President

Posted by Kunda on July 21, 2014. Filed under POLITICS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

13 Responses to Nevers Mumba Comments On Proposed Pay Rise for MPs

Mubita

July 21, 2014 at 4:18 pm

Well spoken Dr Mumba.This is actually the result of lack of morality and integrity among our leaders in politics.Morality calls for having a moral conscious which can say ‘No’to wrong decisions,especially wrong ones at the expense of the welfare of the majority pipo they perpot to represent.
Sally

July 21, 2014 at 4:30 pm

My prayer is that:Dr Mumba,indeed God has raised you at such a time as this,when there is rotteness and no morality in our Zambian politics.No concern for the poor,selfishness,dishonesty,greedness and corruption,and above all-No Fear for God-Too many lies(BUFI).I pray God can enable you to put things right which are lacking.Let God grant you wisdom and good health.No weapon fashioned against you shall prosper.The battle is the Lord’s.
Bo Sipopa

July 21, 2014 at 4:38 pm

@Sally-Amen, to your prayer Sally.God called His servant David from looking after sheep and made ruler or president over Israel(2Samuel 7:8).In other words,David as a Shepherd also became a politician.So is the same with Dr Mumba,I believe God has called him to be Shepherd over Zambia.Zambia Shall Be Saved.
HUMPHREY

July 21, 2014 at 4:46 pm

ITS FOOLISHNESS FOR NEVERS MUMBA TO BEGIN TO JUSTIFY MP’S DEMANDING RISE THEIR ALLOWANCES AND OTHER BENEFITS BY BEGINNING TO BLAME PF.HENCE HIS COMMENTS MEANS HE IS SUPPORTING MP’S DEMAND ESPECIALLY THAT ITS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITION WHO HAVE BEEN DEBATNG IN PARLEY AS IF TRULY THEIR REPRESENTS THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE YET NOW THEY HAVE SHOWN THAT THEIR THERE TO ENRICH THEMSELVES AND NOW THE HAVE PROBLEM TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.ITS MY PRAYER THAT MOST PF MP’S WILL STAND UP AND OPPOSE THIS MOVE OF DEMANDING MORE MONEY. WHETHER MORE MONEY TO THE MP’S OR NOT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE BETTER. ITS NOT MORE MONEY THAT MAKES ONE WORK HARD BUT THE LEADERSHIP VALUES AND THE LOVE OF HUMANINTY. SHAME ON NEVERS MUMBA, MMD AND HH WHO ESPECIALLY HAS DECIDED TO REMAIN QUITE SINCE ITS HAS COME FROM HIS MP’S.
Mulikita

July 21, 2014 at 9:42 pm

@Humphrey-why do you choose to read upside-down of what Dr Mumba has said?Your comments are totally different from what Dr Mumba is saying.You will never bring Dr Mumba down by your personal hatred for him.
Democrat

July 22, 2014 at 1:30 am

@Humphrey, it’s like you never learnt comprehension at secondary school for you to parade shame and disgrace in this manner. Read through Nevers’ article again before throwing your tantrums.
kaysis

July 22, 2014 at 7:52 am

Dr Mumba means no harm. I am a PF sympathizer. But Humphery, dude lets face it, Mumba is right…
Mubita

July 22, 2014 at 11:44 am

@kaysis-Thanks for being a very rare and objective PF Sympathizer.I wish we had more of your calibre.This Humphrey guy, is a piece of work and strange spicies.
John

July 22, 2014 at 12:36 pm

Milupi has said sense. MPs think they are elected to get rich from tax payers’ money. No! They are elected to serve. Just like all of us are not employed to get rich. A professional will work for 40 years of his life and end up building 2 houses on average. These guys are able to build 2 houses from their gratuity every 5 years. A competent MP who serves for 40 years will build16 houses. What more do they want? They shouldn’t think like H.E. who thinks he is a king upon the masses and is entitled to a larvish lifestyle while his subjects wallow in poverty like King Mswati. My advice, they should try the lottery not parliament.
The Opponent

July 22, 2014 at 3:42 pm

@kaysis and dude humfrey.litle did I know that dudists like u take keen interest in political comments like Seltricia, hehhh!!!
Mumba alifye bwino.
Mutuba

July 22, 2014 at 6:13 pm

We should give credit where it is due. Dr Mumba has spoken like a true leader who cares about his followers. This is positive thinking and we pray to God that all leaders aspiring to ascend to the highest office of the land should start thinking in such lines to win the votes. Bravo Nevers!
fatso

July 22, 2014 at 6:27 pm

ba Mumba wants to stand as mp in 2016 thats why he wants the rise in mps pay. lol
kas

July 22, 2014 at 8:53 pm

The voice Zambians need not confrontational, but substance.At least in pf aim seeing lot of constructions around the nation maybe that’s where the money is going.