State Benefits for the Vice President in retirement
..especially now that the position of Vice President enjoys direct suffrage, state benefits must accrue to them…
By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
I have always advocated that former Vice Presidents, especially now that the position enjoys direct universal suffrage, or election from the people, must be paid a monthly salary of 80% of their incumbents and minimum state benefits such as living expenses, state security and other retirement benefits must acrue to them.
I have stated that Hon. Inonge Wina must enjoy retirement benefits like former President, Edgar Lungu, as she was elected directly by the people as a running mate to President Edgar Lungu.
To this effect, I have stated that we should cause an amendment to the Former Presidents Benefits Act of 1993, to include retirement benefits to accrue to the holder of the position of Vice President.
However the recent conduct of both Dr. Nevers Mumba and Hon. Enoch Kavindele, where they have reduced themselves to desperate low levels of praise singers, for President Hakainde Hichilema, leaves much to be desired.
The information emerging that the two former Vice Presidents and others have been placed on payroll, in my view, is a welcome development, but this should NOT cause them to be used as door mats or turn them i to loud praise singers to President Hichilema.
These payments must be made as this is an entitltement because of the positions they held and their service to the nation.
We must state that former Speaker’s of the National Assembly, former Judges, former commanders in the defence and security, are on state benefits already.
Therefore, President Hichilema must normalize these payments to the former Vice Presidents, by causing an official amendment to the law, in order to pay them properly.
I also hold a firm view that the former President, in this case, Edgar Lungu, must be accorded state benefits as prescribed by the law, whatever his position on the current state of politics is.
Both Jacob Zuma (who has formed a new political party) and Thabo Mbeki, who regularly campaigns for the ANC, enjoy full state benefits.
This is not because of their current activities but because they earned the benefits because of the position they attained.
It’s like you, will your retirement benefits stop because you have joined politics?
We must remember that we got the principle and inspiration of paying state benefits for former Presidents from the USA.
Barack Obama still campaigns actively for the Democratic Party, in Opposition and in Government.
Such payments must not be hidden in a back-door administrative process as is being done to Dr. Nevers Mumba and Hon. Enoch Kavindele, such as being appointed as Ambassadors of Goodwill, a position that doesnt attract remuneration, except for costs associated with the particular assignment.
Therefore the payments may raise serious audit querries in future.
The promise of life state benefits to the President and his Vice President, are intended to be a motivation to avoid abusing or plundering state resources while they hold the position and discharge their functions.
Therefore Hon. Inonge Wina, Dr. Never Mumba, Hon. Enoch Kavindele, Lt. Gen.(retired) Malimba Masheke, deserve to enjoy state benefits, as a matter of right and entitlement, and NOT because they should desperately prostrate themselves before President Hichilema.
Similarly, salary and state benefits including security must be reinstated to former President Edgar Lungu, in his capacity as Zambia’s Sixth President.
It is destined only a rare handful of persons will hold these positions in the life of our country, and therefore such benefits are affordable.
You cannot refer to south Africa’s Jacob Zuma as a reference point for Edgar Lungu’s benefits. The law in Zambia is explicit to what happens when former presidents remain active politicians. Edgar lungu has relinquished his entitlement to benefits, which by the way he called crumbs.
So imwe ba Bwamba you wanted them to praise PeeEfu for failing to recognise the role of former vice presidents and renumerate them accordingly? This is another fili zero by HH.
Learn to recognise good things that you and your fellow misleaders failed to do when you were in power. Your greed and selfishness is your undoing. Dr Mumba and Kavindele have every right to give positive feedback. Mwa nyala.
Bad leaders will always leave challenges for their successors to resolve. This is a true case of PF leadership. They knew when they amended the constitution that Bo Inonge Wina as a running mate had the same mandate as ECL yet did nothing to better her retirement . Am sure this was deliberately done out of I’ll will . This failing is now going to affect Madam Nalumango. As the law does not operate restrospectively, any amendment to the former vice presidents retirement would not benefit Bo Inonge Wina. Sadly the likes of Dr Guy Scott, Dr . Mumbai , Mr Kavindele, a d Brig.Genetal Miranda were all appointed vice presidents and not elected into those positions. Their circumstances will have to be different . Any beneficiation and restrospective application of the law will mean paying the Late Christon Tembo, The Late Lupando Mwape and George Kunda. The Big question is what would happen to the late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and Rupiah Banda? Would they forfeit the Vice Presidents benefits in account that they later became Republican Presidents? Won’t this actually not bring in serious legal action from the families of the former presidents in question? Here in lies the dilemma. Even if we were to speak to only the former vice presidents who were running mates , would this law have to again have a retrospective action to capture BO INONGE WINA? Such is the mess awaiting this preposition.
Leave constitutional law to lawyers!!!
All former Civil servant should be paid 80% of the salary of the incumbent salary on the position on which they retired if the thieving is end in Zambia.
Emmanuel’s delusions will result in confusion, Instead the state should just seize ECLs properties which were fraudulently acquired and distribute them among the former vice presidents.
Everyone must work for their money. That is why there is entrepreneurship. Whether you were president or not. If you never invested during your working years then eat humble pie. Why get 80% of incumbent’s salary when you are not working. There is nothing special about being president!!!! Don’t support laziness. What is wrong with this useless continent? You find 90 year olds selling in a shop or working as a driver…even former Presidents in Europe. Let them just learn to be responsible not baby-sit them. If professionals with PhDs work after retirement why should a clowning and dull politician enjoy a free ride after eating free food and getting free fuel at state house???? That is why Africa is a lost continent because of lazy chaps like Emmanuel Mwamba making wild suggestions. Politics should be a service not a ticket to free meals
How many people are we going to keep on giving free money. In a poor country like ours can we afford to keep on paying salaries to former vp? In fact even the president once he retires must fend for himself just like any other employee.