- The minister said, “As promised on Saturday, I have today decided to take a step in regards to respecting the decision of the Constitutional Court pertaining to payment of the monies we accumulated while in office.
By SILUMESI MALUMO
MINISTER of Tourism and Arts Ronald Chitotela and Democratic Party president Harry Kalaba have become the first ministers who illegally stayed in office to pay back.
Mr Chitotela had paid back yesterday the sum of K50, 811.
The minister said, “As promised on Saturday, I have today decided to take a step in regards to respecting the decision of the Constitutional Court pertaining to payment of the monies we accumulated while in office.
“As much as I may not have agreed or have issues with the ruling or judgement, I am a law abiding Zambian and leader who respects all arms of Government.
In simple terms, I have today (yesterday) December 15, 2020, paid the money as directed by the court,” Mr Chitotela said.
And Democratic Party president Mr Kalaba paid the sum of K60, 434.88.
“I am happy to announce to you today (yesterday) that as I pledged to the people of Zambia, that I am ready to pay back the salary that I and my fellow ministers were paid in 2016 at the time we should have been out of the office but continued to perform some official duties.
I will not belabour the point of misinformation or poor guidance by the appointing authority but rather hasten to say that I have today (yesterday) honoured that obligation. Mr Kalaba said he decided to pay back because he saw it fit to respect the Constitutional Court judgement.
Author
