Civil servants hit back at Mutharika
President Professor Peter Mutharika might think his sentiments that “there will be no salary increment for the civil service and that those who want to get rich should go to the private sector” will threaten civil servants but the government workers have since retaliated by saying that they will continue pressing hard on government.
Speaking at a press briefing held Thursday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, Mutharika warned that there is no money in the country and that civil servants should stop putting deadlines on government.
Mutharika also warned the civil servants against disrespecting his government.
But his remarks failed to frustrate the civil servants, who have since described his anger on fellow civil servants, as disappointing.
According to Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) General Secretary, Madalitso Njolomole, no civil servant has unnecessarily asked government for a salary increase.
“As the Civil Servants Trade Union, we are very concerned with the remarks and we are also informing the civil servants and the general public that the total established positions of the civil servants is 170 000 and, currently we are 140 000. Suppose we filled all the vacant positions, what would have happened? So, this is not good enough for the civil servants and for our own leader to be saying that,” he said.
Njolomole also said what they have been demanding from government is the living wage which continues falling short of the basic needs of the civil servants due to the bad shape of the economy.
“We have never asked government to increase our monthly earnings to accumulate more money in our pockets. So civil servants should not be worried that what the President has said will frustrate us.
“We will continue negotiating with government more especially when there is high inflation because if we are going to stay mum on our salaries, we will live a miserable life at a time items like bread, sugar and soap are increasing in price silently,” said Njolomole.
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