Govt fails to pay ex-EAC workers
 
2005-09-21 07:49:52
By Judica Tarimo

	Former EAC employee,Mohamed Seif Mbonde speaks to reporters outside the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Dar es Salaam where EAC retirees had gone to enquire about payment of their terminal benefits yesterday.(Photo:Seleman Mpochi)

Thousands of the former East African Community (EAC) employees could not be paid their terminal dues yesterday as result of a technicality.

The Guardian learnt that lawyers representing the government and EAC workers were still working on the modalities of settling the arrears.

’The drafting process of the deed of settlement is going on. I cannot say when the exercise will be completed,’ said Joham Lukwaro, a lawyer who represented EAC workers.

Interviewed by telephone yesterday, Lukwaro said: ’I cannot commit myself to any timeframe.’

Finance Minister Basil Mramba announced on Monday during President Benjamin Mkapa’s visit to the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) headquarters that the government would start paying the ex-EAC workers yesterday.

An on-spot check by The Guardian found that the target was out of reach of the officers preparing the salary arrears.

According to Lukwaro, the deed of settlement had not been prepared when the minister made the announcement.

He said officials and lawyers from the Finance Ministry and EAC workers are working on the draft deed of settlement.

He, however, declined to divulge details of the matter.

A deed of settlement is a crucial document that outlines terms of payment agreed on by both sides – Finance Ministry and EAC workers’ representatives on August 7.

After being drafted, the document must be taken to court for registration to pave the way for the Finance Ministry to start paying the workers.

As payment procedures were being sorted out, about 4,000 workers of the defunct EAC arrived from upcountry and Dar es Salaam and flocked to Treasury and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) offices to receive their terminal dues.

But they were disappointed on learning that payment could not be effected.

• SOURCE: Guardian