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The Zambian government is reportedly still owing TAZARA workers three months of salary arrears, despite promises to resolve the six-month backlog, Mpika Constituency lawmaker Francis Kapyanga has alleged.
In a statement issued Thursday from Mpika District, Muchinga Province, Kapyanga expressed concern over workers’ uncertain future, claiming that only three months of the unpaid salaries have been settled so far.
Kapyanga called on the government to fulfill its commitment to place TAZARA workers on the government payroll, a pledge made in October 2019 by a ministerial council comprising officials from Zambia and Tanzania.
The agreement was intended to support the workers as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) undergoes recapitalization, with China’s involvement in financing the process.
“Tanzania has implemented this policy, but Zambia has yet to follow through, leaving our workers to suffer, even as the country prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence this month,” Kapyanga said.
As a representative of Mpika, home to TAZARA’s regional headquarters, Kapyanga urged the government to fully clear the remaining three months of salary arrears, arguing that the recent partial payment was insufficient to alleviate the workers’ struggles.
“These workers have financial obligations such as loans, school fees, and family needs, putting them in a difficult position,” Kapyanga stressed.
He added that the situation not only affected TAZARA workers but also had wider implications for the national economy and regional trade, underscoring the critical role these workers play.
Kapyanga appealed to the government to expedite the recapitalization of TAZARA, calling for new capital, expertise and efficiency to be injected into the railway authority.
He emphasized that in the interim, all TAZARA workers should be placed on the government payroll to ensure stability.
The lawmaker vowed to continue advocating for the rights of TAZARA workers and others across Zambia, stating, “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that their dedication and hard work are valued and respected. Our workers cannot wait any longer.”
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