Retired civil servants want pension recalculated

Some retired civil servants have petitioned Parliament to lobby the government to pay them their pension and increase their take home, considering the recent 44 percent kwacha devaluation.

In the petition delivered to the National Assembly in Lilongwe, the pensioners, who retired three years ago, say since leaving the civil service, they have not received a tambala from the government.

Reads the petition in part: “The extended delays have surpassed our initial expectations and have placed us in a financially precarious situation, significantly impacting our quality of life in retirement.”

The petition further said the recent 44 percent kwacha devaluation has significantly affected the value of the pensions thereby compelling the pensioners to request for recalculations of their monthly take home.

In an interview yesterday, the grouping chairperson Ben Mitochi said they have been engaging Treasury on their pension; hence, petitioning Parliament to help on the matter.

“We want Parliament to look into the issue before the House rises,” he said.

Minister of Finance  and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithyola Banda and Secretary to Treasury McDonald Mafuta Mwale were not available for comment as their phones went unanswered yesterday.

Mulanje Bale legislator Victor Musowa, who has lately been pushing for the welfare of retired civil servants and received the petition on behalf of Parliament, said the concerns of the pensioners are genuine and it is high time the government paid them.

“I have engaged the Minister of Finance to look into the matter,” he said.