Former Labour Minister in the Frederick Chiluba administration, Newstead Zimba says opposition leaders who boycotted yesterday’s Labour Day celebrations should consider themselves irrelevant.
Mr Zimba noted that Labour Day is a platform where Union labour leaders, leaders of political parties have an opportunity to meet government leaders to share and exchange ideas on how to tackle challenges faced by public service workers.
Mr Zimba, who was also Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) General Secretary, said Labour Day is not only for government and the labour movement to celebrate but for all because it is commemorated world-wide and Zambia is not an exceptional.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Zimba who also served as Information Minister took a swipe at the opposition political parties who conspicuously absented themselves from the Labour Day celebrations despite being invited by government to be part of the event which cut across party lines.
“First of all, why stay away from such a national event, staying away means opposition parties should declare themselves irrelevant because Labour Day is not only for the government but for all of us,” Mr Zimba said.
The former ruling party, Movement for Multiparty Democracy-MMD, United Party for National Development-UPND, National Restoration Party-NRP, Alliance for Democracy and Development-ADD, United National Independence Party-UNIP, Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD and Heritage Party were all missing at the event.
The only political party present at the celebrations was the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) with some members clad in the party regalia and gave solidarity of the national event.
Secretary to the Cabinet Evans Chibiliti revealed that he invited all the opposition political parties and regretted that the opposition did not honour the invitation.
Yesterday Zambia joined the rest of the world in commemorating the Labour Day.
Republican President Michael Sata graced the event in Lusaka where he said his administration will target youths in job creation because they make up 68 percent of the Zambian population and constitute a larger number of unemployed people in the country.
This year’s Labour Day was commemorated under the theme “enhancing workers’ rights for sustainable national development”.
ZANIS
Ba newstead, you want your job back to go into the diplomatic service? Iwe nkote ilibe nzelu.
Munalepela kale ku vina gule baba
Whatever Newstead is, or was, he has a point. The opposition did not just boycott PF. Infact, they did not even boycott PF, because this was not a PF convention. They boycotted the labour movement. It should be embarrassing that someone not so smart like Newstead is seeing more sense.
How can you attend national functions where you will be harassed or beaten by the ruling party cadres, this is where it has taken us now.
Ba Zimba Kneeling down looking for job. Learn to survive outside GRZ! Shaa!
What political party was Zimba representing then?
But these job seekers have no shame,, njala obvious is nyokolaling this finished libidinous. The same opposition you keep insulting daily you want them to attend your functions… Aikona.
when madness leaks up to the pants, all hallucinations leak through mouths
They are frustrated opposition parties. What good has ever come out of HH. As for MMD they have no leader so far since the man from UNIP abandoned them. Go Zambia Go PF. Constitution of the people is almost there.
We have very high respect for Mr. Zimba as a former Trade Unionist, Minister of Labour and Diplomat. However, our dear Mr. Zimba needs to be reminded that May 1 is an International Labour Day when workers are expected to celebrate fruits of their labour. This is a Day when Employers reward some their best workers. Apparently the majority of Zambians are extremely unemployed and have no idea how to raise even a single meal a day. The involvement of political parties on Labour Day is a misplaced phenomenon for both the rulling and opposition parties. These simple facts will help Mr. Zimba to sober up. Mr, Zimba”s sentiments may only succeed to embarass the PF Govt which has failed to deliver promises of jobs and more money in workers pockets.
But sata himself used ignore these functions ,so what is special that others should his functions.after all if zimba is saying these are international issues, then the ngambela can hold his function without the of zed government and hh can hold his with cadres.why cry foal .me I can hold it with family or friends .why I go and stand with fool of yours .who even at funerals can’t behave.
latest newstead or is it oldstead zimba appointed as chairman of RDA
Boycots did not work for UNIP. It only helped fade. MMD and UPND should wise up. Their members who are Workers were not consulted. What did they achieve??
Yamuchita njala mudala uyu.
He is talking as if pathetic future (pf) never boycotted any functions when they were in opposition. Given the fact that we are supposed to be living in a democracy and not North Korea, it is the opposition’s right to choose whether or not they want to participate in these functions. The fact that this shameless old man with a libido as high as Ukwa’s, is commenting on the opposition’s action just goes to show that their boycott has made an impact.
This was not a PF party convention. This was an event for the LABOUR MOVEMENT. The opposition did not boycott PF. They boycotted THE LABOUR MOVEMENT; THE WORKERS OF ZAMBIA: That is what the opposition boycotted, whichever way you want to look at it.
What a nuisance this kneeling has been is!
Belly Politics. At the helm of ZCTU, you guys used to agitate for boycotts, what hypocrisy?All that squatting at Labor Day was `much ado about nothing ` but kissing sata` s A*S*S ,a prelude to a favor.
Can this man who suddenly emerged form hibernation really walk with his head high? News Z really sank so low, what a sycophant!
Antiques are taking over while the youth, supposedly the future are being marginalized. Is their light on the horizon?
Zimba needs a job now, we know, probably the young wife left him.
Zimba needs a job now, we know, probably the young wife left him. Please assist him. Any way good job Zimba
Ba zimba learn to farm. Opposition may not be a factor here but i was happy with the large turrn out . Bravo Sata
Newstead Zimba must shut up. Not long ago he was on RB’s campaign trail and mislead RB to loose elections. This shameless hungry old fool must learn to survive outside GRZ
Create an economy in which people can retire and live comfortably. The man kneeling in front of Sata looks impoverished. He is fawning for a job. This is humiliating for a man that old.
PLEASE GO AHEAD WITH YOUR CEREBRATION, YOU DONT NEED TO FORCE PEPLE THEY MAY BE POISONED AS YOU DID TO JK. SO GUYS JUST ENY YOU LAST TERM IN OFFICE. YOU ARE BUSY EMPLOYING YOUR RELATIVES IN DIPLMATIC JOBS SO THAT THEY CAN HARRASE OTHER WORKERS, SHAME. SATA WAS SUPPOSED TO APPOINT PEOPLE WHO CAMPAINED FOR HIM, INSTEAD HE HAS RESORTED INTO GETTING HIS RELATIVES. CANADA MISSION HAS NOW TURNED INTO A CIRCUS , AS ALL THE NEW STAFF AT THE HIGH COMMISSION ARE SATAS RELATIVES, ITS REALLY PAINFULL, VERY VERY PAINFULL. MR SATA WHY, YOUR NIECE, YOUR SISTER IN LAW IN ONE OFFICE, EVERY ONE IN CANADA AT OTTAWA MISSION NOT SECURE AND NOT HAPPY TOO. MR PRESIDENT DONT YOU THINK THIS IS TOO MUCH. SLOW DOWN SIR.
Our leaders need to know time for politics and time for governance. It can not be politics everytime
The old man was moving around with RB during campaigns and campaigned against HE MCS, maybe Hon Shams is lobbying for him, but if they have given him a job, they better rescind the decision and give it to people who worked hard for the party. I even remmber the scandal the man was involved in and it was in the media, about his girfriend and wife. This was when he was minister during the FTJ reign. Thats why these chaps cant retire, when they have positions instead of investing they are spending on girfriends, all those years working for a salary, let the job be given to a young person. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
Is Mr Zimba ‘kneeling’ or ‘squatting’ – not that it makes much difference. But how was he expected to speak to the President? While standing over him? – and if there was no extra chair to pull over? Just wondering.
“First of all, why stay away from such a national event, staying away means opposition parties should declare themselves irrelevant because Labour Day is not only for the government but for all of us,” Mr Zimba said.
from this statement by implication PF is irrelevant since they did not attend state functions before, no wonder they find themselves alone. Newstead Zimba or Poverty Zimba just ask for a job, since this is a govt for the old we are sure they have a place for you. Strange how this country is looking for solutions using the same energy which caused the problem.
I agree Marie. I’m not all that big of a fan of pre-paid stuff. With funeral aeerngamrnts I think it’s good to have it all arranged at the funeral home, cemetery, church, etc. but not necessarily pre-paid through a special program. And communication with the rest of the family is crucial!
ba fikaala imwe these opposition parties at their secretariats they have workers who should have participated the celebrations .but hh because of his foolishness advice dull mmd wrongly not to attend.
Job hunting in public – you foolish man!!!
HH the president of all Zambians.
Under 5 bwill never be a president for all Zambian. Why is he always condeming on what ever the govenment has done? he eve condeming the draft constitution concerning freedom of press.
THAT IS WHY WE WILL NEVER VOTE FOR THE OPPOSITION THEY ARE DEAD.
Yamunyokola njala Zimba and he is now licking…. He should just go and dance vimbuza to survive instead of turning himself into a PF vuvuzela. Anyway since he is from Eastern Provinve Sata will give him a job because this is a government of cimbuya.
A govt of Chimbuya… this is a nice one.Blue Blood, you have made my day complete….LOL
Ba Newstead Zimba, bashi Muzipasi (the late). Ehhhh this bally still active? Buti zoana politics is a dirty game heh? Ass kissing MC now? Wow. Good luck bally!
disgraced job seeker at his age..atase..
Good to know that the legendary Unionist is around! How are you Sir? Too sad your friends have departed!
Zambia has many jokers.Look at people politicizing the International Labour Day.Why Absenting yourselves from such invents.At least staying away from September 20 cerebrations would give sense.When i ruled a country,when i invite you for such big ivents and you don’t show up then next time you deserve no invitations at all.Reasons:You have your rights to stay away..
Plse Educate me, i thot labour day was for unionesed employees. No there was few from security and Defence wings. now what has political parties ve to do with this? which union represent them?
Plse Educate me, i thot labour day was for unionesed employees. No wonder there was few from Defence and security wings. now what has political parties ve to do with this? which union represent them?
Newstead Zimba, why can’t you just shut up if you have nothing to say? Obviously you had to say something so that you are considered for a job. Sata and PF never attended any government functions when they were in opposition. What has changed now that the opposition feel the same way sata felt? You people forget so easily. Don’t blame the opposition. Blame the PF and Sata because they saw nothing good in the ruling government then, and the opposition, in the same way, have not seen anything good in this government to feel part of it. So lets be objective and not expose our stupidity the way Newstead Zimba is doing. Stupid Fool.