During the debate for the supplementary budget on 27th July 2022, I asked the Minister of Finance through the speaker if the allocation under rail and road transport was going to include the salary arrears for TAZARA workers, the response was in affirmation of the same.
The question was responded to by the Minister of Transport and Logistics, he stated that the accident that occurred on the Chambeshi Bridge halted TAZARA operations and led to the current situation. He also stated that the government through the supplementary budget will offset the salaries of the TAZARA workers.
However, Tazara workers and retirees have not been paid their five months salary arrears and benefits respectively despite the assurance during the supplementary budget debate by the Minister of Transport and Logistics. This situation has seen Tazara workers living miserable lives and some have had their properties grabbed by creditors and children chased out of Tertiary Education Institutions.
With the works on Chambeshi Bridge now standing at about 90% completion, we are hopeful that operations will resume and help finance the railway company going forward.
We want to send an appeal to the government to offset the salary arrears and to consider the retirees who are also having the same experience and challenges.
Further, the government should consider recapitalisation of TAZARA to enable the company be self-sufficient through utilising its capacity to produce different commodities.
Hon Francis Robert Kapyanga – MP
Mpika Constituency