Reinstate debt swap for civil servants – Church

By NATION REPORTER

THE Bishops Council of Zambia (BCZ) has called on government to consider reintroducing the Debt Swap programme owing to the increased levels of poverty among civil servants especially teachers.

BCZ general secretary, Able Kaela said with the rising cost of living coupled with massive deductions from lending institutions civil servants were being suffocated and poverty among them was fast increasing.

Bishop Kaela said the introduction of the Debt Swap by the Patriotic Front (PF) was wonderful strategy to take away the burden of debt that most civil servants had and that it would be a good idea if the reintroduction of programme would be put into consideration.

 He said prior to the 2021 elections, the PF came up with an idea to buy off debt from the civil servants so that they could be taking home some money from their wage, which was not possible if a lot of deductions were made from their pay slips.

Bishop Kaela said when the UPND took over power, the new government immediately scrapped the Debt Swap without giving unions defend their members.

He said teachers in Zambia were highly indebted, which was affecting the quality of service they were providing because they were wallowing in abject poverty as the debt was chocking them.

“I have a lot of friend, children, neighbors, family members who were complaining about the debt which makes them look as though they are working for nothing, with the eve rising cost of living teachers are going home with nothing,” Bishop Kaela said.

Bishop Kaela said government had not clearly explained why the Debt Swap was scrapped and that people need to know whether the initiative was corrupt.

He said teachers should have a peace of mind as they were executing their duties that was why government needed to come in and help resolve their indebtedness challenges they were facing.