By SYLVESTER MWALE –
THE Public service workers will today begin getting their salaries after the Government’s release of K576.6million to pay civil servants their September wages.
Finance Ministry spokesperson Chileshe Kandeta said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that the release brings the total amount to K8.6 billion that Government has disbursed for salaries since January this year.

. Kandeta

Mr Kandeta said to make sure that salaries were efficiently paid before the end of every month; all civil servants were on the Direct-Debit and Credit Clearing System.
In this regard, Government expected that the released funds would be credited to the accounts of the workers within 24 hours.
This was in accordance with the service level agreements signed with various commercial banks and in the spirit of the enhanced cash and treasury management reforms which the Government was undertaking.
Mr Kandeta said Government did not intend to snap the patience of workers in paying salaries in a timely manner.
“In line with Government’s commitment to the plight of workers, the treasury will endeavour to pay salaries timely and before the end of every single month,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kandeta revealed that the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) had received K171 million to procure hammer mills.
He said the Public Service Micro-Finance Company also received K30 million for concessional loans to public service workers while the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development received K11 million for the youth empowerment programme.
The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) got K10 million, while the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) received K4.2 million for farming implements.
Mr Kandeta said the Government had, to date, released K3 billion for various road related programmes such as construction of roads and bridges, maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrade, axle load control, and feasibility studies.
“Further, upon receipt of works certificates from provincial authorities, the Government has released K120 million towards the ongoing programmes to establish new districts,” he said.
Zesco received K352 million for recapitalisation, while the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) received K25 million for continuous development of the facility in line with Government’s industrialisation and diversification strategies.
Mr Kandeta said the Treasury would intensify providing treasury briefs to help the public in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of Government development programmes.