…two months into new fiscal year, she refuses to reinstate suspended benefits following austerity measures
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The embattled and controversial Secretary to the President (SPC) Collen Zamba is in trouble again again for founding herself on the wrong side of the equation.
Two months into the new 2024/25 Financial Year, the first civil servant is refusing hard to reinstate entitled benefits of cabinet ministers and senior public servants.
President Lazarus Chakwera announced the tough measures last on November 15 as a way of cushioning the troubled economy.
He addressed the nation immediately after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had announced the approval of a new four-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) worth US$174 million.
Among others, he suspended his international trips and those of cabinet ministers and also those of other public officers “with immediate effect until the new financial year.”
The President also ordered that all fuel entitlements for cabinet ministers, principal secretaries, directors, and members of senior management of public institutions be slashed by half.
But two months into the new financial year, Maravi Post has established that Zamba is no where near reinstating the snatched entitlements, a situation which has sent tongues wagging among civil servants including some senior cabinet ministers who are bitter with the woman.
Said one of senior public servants: “Everyone is shocked at how this woman is handling such a simple and clear transition to have the entitlements back. It was made clear that the president said they will be reinstated in the new financial year and this is May but nothing has been done and it’s Zamba who is at the center of controversy again.”
Another impeccable source at Capital Hill said: “When people went to ask her for guidance on fuel entitlements she told the off and to me she is happy to see civil service suffering.Now the economy has improved and their is no justification for her refusal whatsoever.”
This publication has also established that some disgruntled civil servants feel demotivated and are also baying for her blood to have her chopped from her post.
“She is simply Mrs-It-All.You can’t treat the entire crucial civil service with such insensitivity and stubbornness.Its hypocrisy of highest order,” fumed one source who opted for anonymity.
This publication understands that Zamba travels everywhere where the president goes internationally, pocketing government-sponsored dollars which makes her safe and at comfort zone, according to our sources.
Zamba was not available for comment on the matter as she was with President Chakwera abroad.