Lubumbashi: Tony Mwaba calls on the judiciary to eradicate the illegal withholding of teachers' salaries

While in Lubumbashi, the Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Justice of the Lubumbashi Court of Appeals, Judge Malagano Kalongila Pierre, at the courthouse in Lubumbashi, in Haut-Katanga Province. On the agenda for their discussions: the issue of the illegal withholding of teachers’ salaries by certain corrupt school administrators, particularly those at charter schools.

Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, who has been tasked, among other things, with reforming the EPST sub-sector, intends to spare no effort in eradicating all forms of misconduct, including the odious practice of withholding “tithes,” “offerings,” “alms,” and “thanksgiving contributions” from teachers’ salaries.

That is why, in addition to his executive arm—the General Inspectorate of the EPST—Professor Tony Mwaba is turning to the courts to track down all these corrupt administrators who resist the new direction brought about by the reforms he has implemented at the head of this Ministry, under the leadership of the President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Thshilombo, whose flagship program of free public primary education has become a reality four years later.

This is what prompted this meeting with the senior judge to convey his determination to support his provincial offices in this endeavor.

The Chief Justice of the Lubumbashi Court of Appeals pledged his support in this fight against anti-social behavior, stating that anyone caught in the act will be immediately arrested, brought before the competent authorities, and tried under summary proceedings. 

He did, however, ask Minister Tony Mwaba to instruct his departments to ensure that victims of this practice can come forward to the authorities to report it.

Christian BELLA