THE Patriotic Front is angry with foreign affairs minister Harry Kalaba for writing Cabinet Office asking for modalities in which he can pay back salaries and other emoluments he received after parliament was dissolved last year.

Kalaba wrote Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Roland Msiska last week through his acting permanent secretary Tobias Chomba asking for guidance on the repayment of money he and other ministers received during their stay in office, which the Constitutional Court has ruled that it was illegal.

The ConCourt has further maintained its order that the ministers pay back the money.

“RE: REQUEST FOR PAYMENT MODALITIES – HON. HARRY KALABA, MP. The above subject matter refers. Sir, following the Constitutional Court ruling that Honourable Ministers who remained in Office after the dissolution of Parliament are required to pay the monies that were paid to them during the period under review, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs is seeking guidance on how much is due to be paid back and when the same is to be paid. Further, guidance is sought on the modalities of payment. I submit for your urgent consideration and further guidance,” stated the letter signed by Chomba dated November 24, 2017.

Kalaba’s stance has, however, angered some of his fellow ministers and PF officials who feel the ConCourt order should be ignored as advised by President Edgar Lungu.

“That decision of ba Kalaba to write cabinet over the payment of money the ministers received hasn’t gone down well. A number of his fellow ministers are not happy with his stance, including the PF leadership, some of whom have had issues with him kwamene uku kuma Luapula kwabo and have even blamed him for their loss in last year’s elections. The moment we saw your story, we knew that it will bring issues mu party, but so far, State House is just quiet about it,” said a senior PF source. “The one who is most unhappy niba SG (Davies Mwila). Kaili he has blamed ba Kalaba for his loss ku Chipili where he was defeated by an independent.”

Several phone calls to Mwila for his comment went unanswered.

PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri and deputy spokesperson Frank were equally unreachable as their mobile phones were switched off while party media director Sunday Chanda sent a text message saying he was in a meeting by press time.