Zambian gov't denies diverting public workers' salaries to campaigns

The Zambian government on Tuesday denied reports that the delay to pay public workers their salaries was because the funds were being diverted to fund campaigns of the ruling party.

On Monday, a union that represents public workers, the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union (CSAWU), said public workers were angry and disappointed with the government's consistent delays in paying their salaries.

Davy Chiyobe, the union's president, said the government should refrain from using funds meant for workers' salaries for other programs such as funding political campaigns ahead of the August 11 polls.

But chief government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili denied assertions that the government was diverting money meant for workers' salaries to fund campaigns of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).

"The government wishes to state that under multi-party dispensation, a ruling party cannot be allowed to use public resources in political campaigns," he said in an emailed statement to Xinhua.

The spokesperson, who is also information and broadcasting services minister, said the reports were unfortunate, unfounded and inordinate, adding that such careless statements had the capacity to flare anger among citizens and cooperating partners who may be forced to withhold aid to Zambia.

He said the delay in paying public workers' salaries in recent months was due to reduced cash inflows caused by various economic factors. Endit