Legislators have adopted a Public Appointments Committee (PAC) report which, among others, recommends that housing allowance for a retired Chief Justice be fixed at K2 million monthly.    

The adopted PAC report further endorses that terminal benefits should be applicable to all living retired Chief Justices.

Speaking to YONECO FM after presenting the report, the Committee’s Chairperson Joyce Chitsulo said the recommendation will have a positive impact.

“It will have an impact because you know, things change. The value of the houses may change the house and you know, the rates may change. So, we say it shouldn’t be fixed, but we should pay a certain percentage to the current chief justice.

“So, to take care of such kind of you know, change the slope necessarily having a fixed one. It’s easier that way. Then each time they come to us and say you fixed it, that is what to raise, but automatically we are dealing with the current Chief Justice definitely will be taking care of the retired ones,” said Chitsulo.

Commenting on the development, the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has applauded the move saying that it is a motivating factor.

“To us is a motivation, that they are motivating the judiciary, and they will be happy for that when somebody is motivated, he delivers well and that to us as a legal affair committee, we are very thankful for the house that they have adopted the recommendation.

“You know you are deprived of your benefits yet is provided for in the law and that is has been very unfair to them. But now with this I think they will be happy, thy are motivated they will lead a better life and they will die happy,” said Albert Mbawala, the committee’s chairperson.

According to Chitsulo, the moment the Committees revises housing allowances or the conditions of service for the judiciary, automatically, the percentage will change because it is still looking at a percentage of that current value of a house with the Chief Justice.