By KETRA KALUNGA
GOVERNMENT should open negotiations over debt swap after assessing the initiative because the debt in the civil service needs serious attention, the Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) has said.
The government this month suspended the debt swap, citing a lack of proper engagement with the banking sector by the previous government and promised to re-look into the signed document for possible restructuring.
ZNUT general secretary, Newman Bubala, said in an interview when the matter is finalized and proposals made, the government should consult the teachers on the way forward as the affected party.
Mr Bubala said bargaining was one of the best ways in which civil servants could be relieved of the debt that they were entangled in.
“Let’s come to the table, we sit together we discuss, the debt swap was a signed document, they present their proposal on what is possible and we also present ours, that is bargaining,” he said.
Mr. Bubala said civil servants werebready to comply with the debt swap provisions because the programme was the only to cushion the highly indebted public service workers.
The previous government introduced the debt swap for about 60 000 civil servants who had loans with financial institutions but the programme has been suspended by the new regime for further review.
By KETRA KALUNGA
GOVERNMENT should open negotiations over debt swap after assessing the initiative because the debt in the civil service needs serious attention, the Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) has said.
The government this month suspended the debt swap, citing a lack of proper engagement with the banking sector by the previous government and promised to re-look into the signed document for possible restructuring.
ZNUT general secretary, Newman Bubala, said in an interview when the matter is finalized and proposals made, the government should consult the teachers on the way forward as the affected party.
Mr Bubala said bargaining was one of the best ways in which civil servants could be relieved of the debt that they were entangled in.
“Let’s come to the table, we sit together we discuss, the debt swap was a signed document, they present their proposal on what is possible and we also present ours, that is bargaining,” he said.
Mr. Bubala said civil servants werebready to comply with the debt swap provisions because the programme was the only to cushion the highly indebted public service workers.
The previous government introduced the debt swap for about 60 000 civil servants who had loans with financial institutions but the programme has been suspended by the new regime for further review.
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