MINISTER of Defence George Mpombo says it is not right for people to insinuate that President Banda snubbed yesterday’s Labour Day celebrations by travelling to Zimbabwe.
Mr Mpombo was reacting to insinuations by Zambia Congress of Trade Unions first vice-president Sam Phiri and Federation of Free Trade Unions in Zambia national executive secretary Lyson Mando that President Banda’s absence is an indication that Government does not respect workers.
Mr Mpombo said Mr Banda’s trip to Zimbabwe is being blown out of proportion, adding that he is in Zimbabwe on national duty.
He said the programme to see the emancipation of Zimbabwe from the economic malaise has not began now, adding that it was spearheaded by President Mwanawasa and can not be abandoned midway.
Mr Mpombo said Mr Banda has continued with that quest and that it is a move that all SADC member countries are pursuing.
He said Zimbabweans flock into Zambia to seek ways of survival because their country is facing economic challenges and Zambia cannot watch its neighbour suffering.
“President Banda’s absence does not take away the importance of this day. He is out on national duty and it should not be blown out of proportion,” he said.
However, Mr Mpombo said Labour Day should be used to reflect on the challenges that workers face while striving to contribute effectively to the socio-economic development of the nation.
He described this year’s Labour Day theme as appropriate, saying it is a wake-up call for the nation to the realisation of the economic down turn and the need for workers and employers to work together to ensure a quick recovery of the economy.
“The theme also encourages us that by working together, we can mitigate the impact of the economic meltdown and make progress on the development agenda,” he said.
He assured the nation that the Government has put in place measures to mitigate the impact of the global economic crisis, adding that the 2009 national budget focuses on mitigation measures to address job losses in the mining industry.
Mr Mpombo said the national budget has provided measures to intensify diversification of the economy from mining to other sectors such as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.
And Mr Mpombo said the decision by the Zambia Union of Financial and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) to openly declare their political preference and support for the Patriotic Front in last years’ Presidential election was not right.
“As Government, we get concerned when certain unions such as the ZUFIAW sign pacts with the Patriotic Front. That was very bad and can be dangerous,” he said.
And Mr Phiri said the policy of the ZCTU is to remain non-partisan, but that the labour movement will not remain silent when politicians misbehave.
He said the labour movement would like to engage Government into constructive issues rather than involve themselves in unnecessary quarrels.
Mr Phiri cautioned Government on the way it handles foreign investors, saying some of them have no respect for Zambian labour laws.
In Ndola, Minister of Works and Supply Mike Mulongoti said Mr Banda’s absence was justified.
“It was a plea that we worked so hard to try to bring about unity in Zimbabwe because if we leave them alone, no one will believe that the unity Government is working,” Mr Mulongoti said.
Mr Mulongoti was reacting to ZCTU trustee, Benson Ngula who earlier said the union was not happy that Mr Banda was absent from this year’s Labour Day celebrations.
Mr Ngula said the ZCTU would have liked Mr Banda to give hope and assurance to workers in view of the job losses as a result of the global recession.
Earlier, Mr Mulongoti assured workers that Government is taking measures to put the economy back on track as a way of working towards attainment of the Vision 2030.
At the same function, Zambia Federation of Employers representative, Kevin Shone said the country needs a well defined strategy that will enhance productivity.
He also advised workers to be reasonable in their demand for improved conditions of service by taking into consideration the effects of the global financial crisis.
ZCTU Ndola district chairman, Chrispin Mikabo urged Government to consider the plight of the workers in Ndola by looking for investors to resuscitate companies that have closed as a result of the global economic meltdown.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Mwashibukene bonse?
Rupiah is a joke, Labour day if not being treasure from the man from upstairs why should his subordinates cherish it. He should not have gone to zimbabwe.
Who is older ba Rupiah or Ba Sata?
If not,why not…………the man wasn´t reminded of the fact that it was labour day yesterday.
ba mudala tabakwata ama priority
When the Late President LP Mwanawasa a renown Lawyer likened Zimbabwe to a sinking titanic ship who supported him ? Today it is called national duty to avoid the labour day celebrations in preferences of the sank titanic.. . You hypocrites , you certainly have no sense of decency . How you are so quick to betray your Friend LMP . Shameless liars ,please just keep quiet , everyone can see your naked lies .Hon Mpombo and Mike know when to speak and when to cover your head s due to shame
These so called MMD ministers will always defend their master whether he is in the wrong or not. They have no guts to admit the wrongs perpetrated by their master for fear of loosing their jobs and in turn lose the opportunity to plunder.
no:2, Sata and Rupiah are age mates, both 72 years old..
Toadface has snubbed the celebrations. That’s a fact. He doesn’t respect workers and civil servants. That’s also a fact, in fact he doesn’t respect anything or anyone at all. Maybe he had no idea his 4-day trip would cross into May, poor calculations. He’s now obliged to bring something fruitful from Zimbabwe.
As for you Mr. Mpombo, being Minister of Defence doesn’t literally mean defending the president’s actions when he goes wrong.
ba foloko
ba mbuzi ba njovu are such names kutiwapaloko akanama. Did he take Tandi with him to zim zim. so ba Bwezani ba golegole?
So,Visiting his birth place is a national duty!!!!
another bootlicker
honestly!!!how does RB leave his own pipo when they most need him??i guess that zim trip would have waited for another day.Now am starting to beleive his from zim…
It’s hard to fathom how this govt operates. They seem to be in the opposite with reality. Jobs have never been lost like this before in the mines. this by common sense would call for a caring and responsible president to fast for his people, stay with them when they need him the most (on labour day), give a speech of relief so that they see light at the end of their jobs. Veep would have opened the zim fair. I arrest my case, I have a feeling RB got himself very wrong advisers.
People this President of ours does not know what it means to set priorities. I am sure not even his advisors know his agenda. It just shows how disorganized he is. People an end to this nuisance in 2011 please. Also allow us to vote Online.
Actually LT you can open up a Online Vote to see how votes would be cast if today was that very day in 2011.
J Zim and Bob`s problems are obviously more important.
I think he is right. One should not forget where he comes from and it`s natural. Can`t wait for the time Obama visits his father`s birth place. Go easy on the man people.
We mpombo we! RB is still on honey moon.We are in shit because the ship has no captain.
We mpombo we! RB is still on honey moon,is it difficult for you to see.Our country has in problems bane.
Brace yourselves Zambians. Next stop Windsor Castle to see the queen.
iwe 3RqU @shani mudala wandi. Ku Zambia when people suffer they just blame the presido.
Its always the result when people with do no have an agenda find themselves in such postions as a president. The whole country expected him to address the nation on the labour day looking at how people are losing jobs and the mines being shut down. Honestly he has no agenda and does not care. Its very stupid for the MMD govt to give priority to the Zim problems, when Zambia is equally in the similar situation. The chap has no priorities at all. The entire MMD govt is full of shit people who cannot even advise their boss but busy defending his Ass all the time he f**ks up!
There is problem with him visiting his place of birth except ba bwezani does things at a wrong time! He has no priorities.
I meant the re is no problem :D!
J @shani man. Awe ine nshimwenepo problem apa. Where does it say in the constitution that the president has to be in Zambia on May day?
Please Lekeni bapangeko ka allowance, Bali pabulendo mu 2011. Finshi bakapela Thandi na abana nga mwaboma Zwaa? Labour day ni Celebration. He has nothing to celebrate.
Very sad reading indeed. Is labour day the only day when it was prophesied that Zambian president shall emancipate Zimbabwe from its economic mess? Can somebody help me on this/. So our president had to go to emancipate Zimbabwe in order to fulfill the prophesy? There are so many days why only choosing labor day when the suffering workers are patiently waiting to hear from their President how he would give them Jobs? Awe kwena Ba MMD fipuba . Amano tabakwata iyoo. They are a bunch of bootlickers surely.
He had no agenda 4 zambians from the begining.We told u pipo of zambia.
What happened to Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shikapwasha? I thought he was the one fit to give us this information as Chief GRZ Spoekesman when President RB Banda was away showing his family and children where he was born and the man who paid for his school fees.
On “He said Zimbabweans flock into Zambia to seek ways of survival because their country is facing economic challenges and Zambia cannot watch its neighbour suffering “, why not give them Zambian Citizenship for we need more people to fill in the 93% empty space of our idle land? Following ““President Banda’s absence does not take away the importance of this day. He is out on national duty and it should not be blown out of proportion,” he said”, what national duties are in helping Mugabe’s…
mawe, Zambia
Does Zambian issues matter to Rupiah Banda? When did Zambia become more important to than Zimbabwe’s birth places? After all Zimbabwe needs him more than those workers losing their jobs in Zambia. He did what Zambians voted him for, see his birth place and the guy his age who paid for his schooling. How wonderful. Zimbabwe needs his attention right now. He will take care of your problems in 2011. What are going do about it? After all you are a docile people and really, really afraid of problems. Next time you all have to go and line up along Airport Road as he comes back from Zimbabwe. All the problem in Zambia are caused by Fr. Bwalya. After all he is the one who sent RB to Zimbabwe on Labor Day. Fr Bwalya is the one who laid off all those miners from their jobs.