Government has asked all workers in the country to stop engaging in unnecessary protests and work stoppages.
Information, Broadcasting and Information Minister Given Lubinda observes that work stoppages and protests are a cost to the nation.
Mr. Lubinda says Government is determined to come up measures aimed at addressing issues associated with the minimum wage.
Mr. Lubinda was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka on Friday.
He says Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda will soon announce the acceptable minimum wage.
In another development, Mr. Lubinda who is also Kabwata MP, says President Sata can not be reckless to appoint Colonel Panji Kaunda as MP if he did not qualify.
His comments come in the wake of increased media reports questioning why President Sata appointed Col Kaunda who is said to be bankrupt.
Mr. Lubinda challenged the media to engage in research work before publishing articles of such a nature adding that Colonel Kaunda is not bankrupt as reported.
And Mr. Lubinda says Government is happy with the election of Judge Patrick Matibini as the Seventh Speaker of the National Assembly.
He says the Patriotic Front-PF is happy and pleased with the outcome of the voting by new MP’s.
Mr. Lubinda says the ruling party’s desire has come to pass.
Judge Matibini polled 78 votes against Richard Kapita who polled 77 vote
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Hakainde Hichilema has congratulated Judge Patrick Matibini on his election as Speaker of the National Assembly.
Mr. Hichilema says Judge Matibini’s election is a good achievement.
Mr. Hichilema was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka on Friday.
The UPND Leader has also congratulated Deputy Speaker Mkhondo Lungu and Chairperson of the Committees of the whole house Chifumu Banda on their election.
Mr. Hichilema, who proposed his vice Richard Kapita for the position of Speaker, thanked Members of Parliament for taking part in the vote.
And Mr. Hichilema says time is ripe for the country to have a new constitution.
Mr. Hichilema Says the new constitution should have a 50 per cent plus one threshold, in order for the country to enjoy a majority president.
He says the 50 per cent plus one threshold will unite the country further.
ZNBC
“Mr. Hichilema says Judge Matibini’s election is a good achievement”……Hope this is coming from deep down your right ventricle.??????????????????
Hon Lubinda those protests are not unnecessary they were long overdue…. people were scared of expressING their greivances. They thought “Better the few monies we are receiving then being fired for protesting” . But now their King  . .  or rather HE MCS is in POWER. He’ll protect them whilst there “ICHIMWELA”.
Yes I suport the minister fellow zdians let’s not help destroy wat ever we have left by RB And his team but instead let’s work even harder becoz now we know whatever we are working for is ours, I mean we zambians
Hichilema, if you have stuck to the PACT, you would have won elections, and speaker. And you would have been vice president. Learn from this.Â
@3 HH is better off as a non participant in this Tribal, Sexist and Kaponya govt!
It sounds good that even the opposition are happy of the out come. Why is MMD mute? Still nurcing the wounds? Bravo Matibis. Be prepared for the changes the country needed. Thankx to the parley, let not you look at issues as PF but what we need as zambian citizens. May be what you shall need also in future. Please be proactive on issues we beg thee.
#5 nshumfwa,
well said bro, indeed mr. speaker, be proactive.
@musiwa likota
HH is better off standing as ward councillor
Musiwa Likota, its actualy this government which is better off without Hichilema, the sooner UPND realises HH is not taking them anywhere the better fo them, UPND must elect a leader with a national appeal and charecter, as things stand, UPND will never win a parliamentary seat outside southern province and in its traditional cousins provinces. Wake up
He is beginning to forget about ‘MONEY IN OUR POCKETS’ slowly. by the time it is 90 days he will be saying no one said it.
The protests have also hit me hard. My servant has gone on strike demanding an increament of atleast 90%. Iam also considering the same from my employers who pay me a meagre salary. I tried to covince my servant that the government on their pronouncement , they were targeting the chinese, but fell on deaf ears. Please, Given, cralify this issue as it is affecting everybody.
PF is now finding out that you can can make as many promises as you want when you are not in power. Delivery is a different matter altogether. Lets hope the good times are not behind us.
While the comment from the information minister is a valuable one, it is also cardinal to look into the route cause of the vice and why it is necessary to address the situation at the earliest. A Zambian worker is not a slave and managements in the various operating companies across the country should take a keen interest in this matter. When is a Zambian worker going to enjoy his/ her sweat and be liberated from the slavery we see today ? I would urge the new Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda and his team to physically visit some of these companies especially the Mines, KCM Plc in particular to find out for himself the true picture on the ground regarding peoples’ salaries. A Zambian miner is not a dog and it is time things change for the better. Abash slavery in the mines
What Zambia needs is ‘MADE IN ZAMBIA’ stamped on manufatured goods. Poverty will persist until we can produce MANUFACTURED goods that other countries want to buy. We need people of original thought. The question is how can we produce them? These are the people that will create jobs. Governments do not create jobs. They can inflate the civil service but this does not bring wealth into the country.
Congratulations to judge Patrick Matibini and new IG Dr. Martin Malama. This is rare among the many appointments, o! forgot my colleague Max Nkhole welldone guys you deserve to help your own nation. Wait a minute, what is Lubinda on about? PROMISES, PROmises Promises “More Money in your pockets” honour your words and unnecessary strikes will fizzle out. My concern is that you will have these labour strikes throughout your term in government because with PF govt policy if ever there is one, its normal to strike as long as you are a Zambian who has been underpaid all these years gone by.
all those supporting the govt of micheal sata chilufya and his thurgery behaviour and decide to attack innocent citizens paint a picture that WE TONGAS are tribal.Can u explain the composition of the satan govt.Dont just be a vuvuzella for nothing u will never be be given a job by the BEMBA CLAN .Hope in future such things will be avoided
Congrates to Judge Matibini and his deputy. “more money in your pocket indeed”. What Zambia needs is a weath, heathy productive work force that should always be ready to put in their best in what ever they do. Whilst we appreciate the need to have a minimum living wage as workers also we have a lot to do in terms of atitude transformation. We need to start conducting daily self evaluations on how much positive contribution we have put in what ever work we do if we are to realise the best out of a conducive work evnironment.
As an Easterner where wisdom stems from I know this any government, we shall have massive representation period. Sata Knows this thus our numbers still hold strong. Zambia for all Zambians though. I was dissapointed the opposition were not calous enough to elect their own into speaker position, imagine how wonderful Zambia’s separation of power would have been, but alas the stomach drove them. Great words mister minister, may the Lord bless and protect our new president, great worker is he, always my Lusaka governor.
Congratulations mostly to the new Speaker and the IG of police Kabonde was keeping our families leaving in fear. Now elevate the work of the police service and RSTA.
*living in fear*
@voice of reasons: governments are primarily responsible for creation of jobs by putting in place good laws that allow innovation and investments. for developing countries, governments are primarily responsible for mobilising resources for development of primary infrastructure (roads, energy, telecoms etc). private sector dont bring in this kind of money.
@muna dekhana: one needs order to put in place measures that ensure money in pipo’s pockets. strikes are okay but they can end up being conter productive in the long run.
@Peter Banda: Simple answer to your basic question is cabinets appointed from elected members of the cabinet. PF has a strong northern character and you would expect cabinet to be dominated by as such.Â
I`m a little cynical. How well vested is Given as a propagandist? I mean how given or skilled is he as a spin machine? Am yet to see his prowess to be convinced.Probably he should have just been a Local government Ministry guy.
“More money in our pockets” yes indeed and it can be achieved in so many ways apart from salary increments. The causes of this outcry lie in the inability to afford the basic needs and services. There is wayward sky rocketing pricing on food, clothing and housing including energy/electricity and transportation. For instance one wonders how fees are arrived at for goods and services, check rentals, visit Kabwata highrise flats and the surrounding residences and experience the array of rental charges for the same type accommodation! JCTR can help immensely on arriving at a living wage but other areas need to be addressed. Â
#21 Inge Cabinet does/need not only come from typical cadres. Cabinet in the case of PF govt should have come from an array of competent Zambians committed to PF beliefs and ideals if they have any. Reasons are clear PFgeneral membership is not so refined in a lot of areas, hence outcry from public about cabinet. Eg Chilaizya what competence has he to run ZNBC professionally?. Its true PF has Northern character, hence TRIBAL. PF fails to gun down national character. That would have been chance to draw cabinet from the whole Zambia. But you & me know what TRIBALISM can bring. PF is in denial being tribal but its a FACT. They risk continuous of party times ahead.
Lubinda, if Panji is not bankrupt, can you produce the judgement from the High Court rehabilitating the fellow. Your current pronouncements on him do not hold water unless you can show us the rehabilitation judgement. Otherwise, seems to me like you’re replacing the rubbish you’re removing with your own. Or is it “donchi kubeba” to the citizens now? We’re not gonna rest until you uphold the law on this issue.
Why use the ministry on this one…A Presidential Decree would solve the problem as we are lead to believe is the case with corruption. But seriously, I think I mentioned this in a blog previously! Empty Rhetoric in pre-election times that cant easily be put into practice. The Chinese were Sata’s game and I beilieve the Chinese High Commissioner was the first to be invited to State House…There were no decrees but just a measured statement that “abide by our labour laws”…Then the Windfall Tax! Again no decree but a measured statement from the Ministry…It seems the Presidential decrees are only effective on Zambians believed to be “in bed” with the previous Administration…
Food for thought; rainy season is just around the corner, I hope the 90 days miracle provided to deal with drainage issues when the deluge arrives, lest the torrential rains and people whining cause the canoe to capsize in the flood.Â
New govt needs to learn something here, like the saying
Goes it’s about economy stupid,with labor being a greater
Component of the economy ,that should take first priority
not telling ppl to wait
Mahtani got his bank back within hours,poor working ppl
Need their issues fixed too
look a the cabinet the Sata(nist) has given us indeed a tribalised one.Sata(na) was in forefront comndeming Mwanawsa that his government was a family tree!how can we have a cabinet from two provinces and we give it a blind eye?Praise should go where it is due not blind loyalty.every Province in this country is important.what shame