Treasury still working on paying ex-MYPs
The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development says it is making efforts in the verification exercise of former Malawi Young Pioneers (MYPs) to make sure that money is given to the right beneficiaries.
The disbanded ex-MYPs on Monday gave government a five-day ultimatum to give them their dues or face unspecified action.
But speaking in an interview Thursday, Secretary to Treasury Ben Botolo, said the verification exercise of beneficiaries is ongoing.
“The process is a combination of a multi-disciplinary team as there are officers from the Auditor General’s office, people from the Department of Human Resource Management and Development [DHRMD] and others cross-checking the files.
“Some of them [ex-MYPs] were given money; they retired and now they have resurfaced asking for more money. These are some of the complications.”
Botolo further explained that government cannot be splashing money anyhow, hence, the verification exercise.
One of the officers from the DHRMD taking part in the verification exercise, Edwin Khuleya, was optimistic that the exercise will be finalised by the end of next week.
“We are compiling information to see who is on pension and who is not, who received gratuity and who will receive [compensation] so that everybody gets their dues accordingly,” said Khuleya.
Presenting a petition to Lilongwe City Council (LCC) acting director of administration on Monday, leader of the ex-MYPs Franco Chilemba, said their grievances have been overdue and they have exhausted all the efforts to come to an understanding with government.
He said the group’s interest was to bring the matter to the attention of the President.
“We are owed compensation, gratuity, arrears, including compensation for personal property which was lost during Operation Bwezani in 1993,” he said.
Chilemba said the ex-MYP officers are demanding K1.6 billion from government to be paid to about 2 765 State employees who were forcibly retired.
“We are seeking K500 000 each as compensation,” he said.
