Former Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation,(ZESCO) workers in Mongu in Western Province have appealed to President Levy Mwanawasa to intervene in the case in which they are owed about K400 million terminal benefits.
One of the retired employees Katwala Kakulekelo told ZANIS that an organisation called Local Separation Fund (LASAF) that is funded by ZESCO has not paid them their dues since 2005.
He claimed that LASAF receives about K20 billion every month from ZESCO to pay retired workers their termianl benefits saying LASAF has always been giving excuses that ZESCO did not funded them.
Mr. Kakulekelo named the other affected retirees as Peter Fumbelo, Benny Makula and Bargrey Mwanamwalye addig that the other two have not been paid since 2004.
He explained that the matter was reported to Energy Minister Kenneth Konga in August, 2007 who promised to look into the matter.
The retiree also said that Local Government Minister Silvia Masebo was also aware of the matter.
Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa has returned home from Mozambique where he went to witness the official hand over of the Caborabassa hydro electric dam from the Portuguese Government to the Mozambican government
The President who touched down at Lusaka International Airport at 18:00 hours in the evening was received by senior government officials, MMD party officials and service chiefs.
Dr. Mwanawasa, who however could not talk to the press, was accompanied by Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Kalombo Mwansa, Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga, and Deputy Statehouse Minister Richard Taima.
President Mwanawasa joined six other SADC Heads of State to witness the occasion.
President Mwanawasa described the handover of the Cahorabassa Hydro Electric Power Dam from the Portuguese Government to the Mozambican Government as the major economic achievement not only for the people of Mozambique but the entire region.
Dr Mwanawasa said that Mozambique like many other African countries that gained political independence long time ago, it is only now that they are getting true economic emancipation.
This is contained in a statement issued tonight by State House Chief Analyst for Press and Public Relations David Kombe and made available to ZANIS.
The Handover Ceremony follows the payment of US$700 million by the Mozambican Government to the Portuguese Government for the acquisition of 85 precent shares.
The remaining 15 percent shares will remain with the Portuguese Government.
The Cahorabassa Hydro Electric Dam was constructed by the Portuguese Government in 1970 who until 26th November 2007 owned 82 percent of the shares while the Government of Mozambique owned only 18 percent.
Unnessary spending of resources by Mwanawasa. How much does it cost the nation to fly his jet to and from ‘His handover ceremony’ in Mozambique. Its a pity to see how many people on govenment expense went to see him off on his return 3 hour trip to Mozambique. What a shame to have such a clown as President of Zambia. And yet he was educated in a humble way at Chiwala Secondary School and a bursary at UNZA. Today, he abuses the little resources the Country has just to fatten himself. Levy OUT.