Civil Servant Salaries Increase Is Reduction In Real Terms

Government has this week confirmed that the 8% salary increment given to education and health workers applies to all civil servants, with workers in the health sector given an additional two percent as an infectious allowance.

In November the rate of inflation reached a four year high, with consumer prices rising 17.4% from 2019. The rate increased from 16% in October. This means that once inflation is factored in the increment will not cover the additional expenses resulting from the increased cost of living.

Commenting on the increment UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema described the rise as a “reduction in real terms.”

“A civil servant who gets K3,300 has had their salary 'increased' by a paltry K264 to K3,564. Meanwhile the inflation rate is at 17.5%. Using K3,300 as base, if inflation was factored into the increment, the minimum increment should have been K577.50 making the basic pay K3,877.50,” Hichilema writes.

“When we take into account that the purchasing power of the kwacha against the US$ for example, has eroded by about 60% since November 2019, you will realise that the 8% salary adjustment is nothing,” he continues.

“When we say during our time the base salary will be matched to the cost of living, we mean it. There is no way the basic food and needs basket is at about K7,000; a Government can pride itself in paying a civil servant K4,000 against this high cost of living. Jokes! Jokes! Jokes! Mantoombwa in Tonga or Ukubuta in Bemba, this is what this Government is about,” Hichilema concludes.

Food inflation during November stood at 16.8%, while non-food prices increased by 18.2%.

The target rate set by the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) is between 6% and 8%. However, the target has not been met in 19 months and according to BOZ Governor Christopher Mvunga it is considered unlikely to fall back within the target range for the next two years.