THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) has with effect from this month slashed all diplomats’ allowances due to the prevailing economic challenges.
Presenting a report on the visit to Kuwait last month by a delegation of local legislators that was led by the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda, Zanu-PF Makonde lawmaker, Cde Kindness Paradza told the House that diplomats’ allowances had been cut by up to 25 percent.
The delegation was in Kuwait from 25 to 29 April on a bilateral visit following an invitation extended by the Speaker of the National Assembly of that country, MarZouq Ali al-Ghanem.
The delegation revealed that treasury had effected cost cutting measures.
Cde Paradza said they had established that lack of resources was affecting operations at the country’s embassy in Kuwait and the situation could be worse at other missions.
Monthly allowances, school fees, rental and medical allowances had been reduced in line with the new cost cutting measures.
“The Civil Service Commission, with effect from May 1, 2016, downgraded the conditions of service for all diplomats manning our embassies abroad with monthly allowances for ambassadors, ministers plenipotentiary and ministers counsellors reduced by 25 percent, and 22 percent for counsellors, first and second secretaries while third secretaries had theirs cut by 18,5 percent.
“Among other cost-cutting measures, Treasury will pay a maximum of $1,340 as school fees in secondary schools and $560 for primary education, while rental ceilings for staff accommodation has been set according to rank with mission staff directed to join group medical insurance schemes wherever they’re stationed or make arrangements with the Premier Service Medical Aid Society back home for a similar package,” said Cde Paradza.
The government has been battling to meet a number of obligations due to the country’s economic challenges and there are efforts to contain civil servants wage bill.
1 Comment