By SIMON MUNTEMBA and ADRIAN MWANZA
KELVIN Bwalya Fube should not politicise the debt swap scheme because the unions and their members are happy, says National Union for Private and Public Educators national secretary Nelson Mwale.
Zambia National Union of Teachers general secretary Newman Bubala said opposition parties should not poke their noses in the debt restructuring process.
In an interview, Mr Mwale said it was disheartening that some politicians like Mr Fube want to politicise a good gesture from Government which was aimed at lifting some civil servants out of crippling debt.
“Let him not be our spokesperson. We as a union are happy with the debt swap initiative and let him not politicise it,” Mr Mwale said.
He was reacting to Mr Fube, of the UPND Alliance who accused Government of trying to hoodwink Zambians over the debt swap.
Mr Fube in a Facebook live post alleged that Government was not being sincere and that it was taking Zambians for a joy ride.
Meanwhile, Mr Bubala said that the move by Government to restructure the debts was a welcome move that would give civil servants breathing space. Mr Bubala said that civil servants were not partisan and that they did not care if the timing of the process was during the election period.
He said the unions’ aim and motivation was to improve the livelihoods of their members and the debt restructuring was part of that process.
“As you are aware we not partisan and what is important is that we have been relieved by the government taking over some of the debt that our members accrued due to a number of reasons,” Mr Bubala said. He said that the only concern was that their burden was lifted and that they were not concerned if the elections were a few days away.
Mr Bubala said the unions had tabulated the issue and that it was a win-win situation for them as there were no serious lacunas in the process.
“I must commend Government for the move because most civil servants were failing to be productive due to the stress and anxiety that comes with high debts,” he said.
