‘Pay teachers allowances’

PRESIDENT Lungu says deserving teachers need to be paid their outstanding rural hardship and settling-in allowances among others.
In a meeting with representatives of teacher unions who presented their challenges to him in Mkushi yesterday, Mr Lungu described as a scandal failure to pay some teachers their allowances.
The teachers were represented by Chikeyi Mweemba and Kapasa Chisanga.
Mr Lungu said it is demotivating for civil servants, including teachers, not to be paid allowances which they are entitled to.
The President said he will engage the ministries of General Education and Higher Education to resolve the matter expeditiously.
He, however, urged union leaders to be proactive, vigilant and constantly engage leaders on matters affecting their members.
“Make it a habit to interact with your leaders and I put a challenge to you as union leaders to be vigilant and be able to negotiate various other issues apart from salaries and other conditions of service,” Mr Lungu said.
The union officials informed the President that some of their members have not been paid their settling-in, rural hardship and repatriation allowances for as long as 10 years.
And President Lungu cautioned teachers against falling prey to unauthorised money lenders and that Government will endeavour to support the educators.
“You are an important stakeholder and that is why I took time to interact with you because you are all affected by the decisions we make,” he said.
President Lungu later inspected the Mkushi district hospital phase two project which is nearing completion and Mkushi district hospital where he interacted with members of staff and patients in the wards.
He also toured Tambalale market where he was mobbed by slogan-chanting traders and residents who jostled to catch a glimpse of him.
Mr Lungu later inspected the rehabilitation of 20 kilometres of township roads and construction of bridge projects in Mkushi.