TOURISM and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo has taken a swipe at Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) officers in Livingstone for locking the main gate to Mosi-oa-tunya National Park and several other tourism entities during their protests on Monday.
ZAWA officers on Monday protested over poor conditions of service and locked the main gate at Chrismar Hotel in Livingstone.
The locking of the gate blocked several motorists and tourists who were going to David Livingstone Safari Lodge, Zambezi Water Front, African Queen, Taonga Safari, Zambezi Boat Club and Mosi-oa-tunya National Park among other places beyond the gate.
After some time, police officers led by Southern Province assistant Commissioner of Police Kashif Mphande rushed to the scene and opened the ZAWA gate.
Speaking in an interview upon her arrival at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport on Monday afternoon, Ms Masebo said it was disappointing, unnecessary and unacceptable for ZAWA officers to lock up the main gate at Chrismar Hotel in Livingstone.
She said although any person had a right to protest, closing the ZAWA gate in a tourist city was unfortunate because the country would lose revenue from such an action.
“You don’t help Government because it is the same tourists that bring money and if you are going to interrupt the same tourists who bring in revenue for the treasury, how do you have your salaries increased? I was very disappointed and I am happy that the police acted quickly,” she said.
She said ZAWA should appreciate that in the last six months from January to date; all the funds used came from the treasury and not from their operations.
Ms Masebo said the Ministry of Finance had in the past six months released almost K70 million and the money went beyond the budget of about K30 million.
“So you can see the money which Government has given to ZAWA to keep them is more than double than what was approved in the budget. It is unacceptable for ZAWA to block the road. You can protest and go home and not to block the road because you inconvenience people who have nothing to do with Government business and ZAWA problems,” she said.
She said ZAWA was not part of the civil service but it was a statutory body with its own conditions of service and hence workers should not expect the salary hike given to civil servants.
“I do appreciate that the lower workers of ZAWA their conditions of service are not good. I was disappointed to hear that ZAWA protested yesterday and locked up the ZAWA gate at Chrismar Hotel,” she said.
And speaking when she addressed ZAWA officers at Livingstone City Council Chambers yesterday, Ms Masebo reiterated her earlier sentiments that it was not correct for officers to lock the ZAWA gate leading to the Park and several other business entities.
Emmanuel Mtonga, who spoke on behalf of ZAWA officers in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, told Ms Masebo that poor conditions of service prompted the protest.
alwce send me feed news on my email
Hoops the madam needs to change the medication to Maraviroc or Fuzeon. But since she is in an advanced stage maybe zidovudine and lamivudine can do because the weight needs to improve. But these days elvitegravir and cobicistat including tenofovir/emtricitabine also works well. I hope she takes my medical proposition on board.
Recently ZAWA bought nice executive vehicles for senior officers.
Where is the president to resolve all this problem sure mwebantu ?
Of course senior management always get well paid for doing very little.
Where does Masebo operate from.Lusaka or L/stone?
I think it’s from a transit lounge.
I WANT YOU TO CLOSE IT AGAIN BY TOMMORO
@ wajimona, Ms Masebo operates from both Cities and for a reason. She operates from Lusaka because that s where paper work is done. Remember, Lusaka is the Hqs and that s where you find the Ministry of Tourism and Arts. Livingstone is the Tourist Capital of Zambia and being Tourism Minister that she is, she is obliged to be there all the time. Livingstone is, after all in Zambia, isn’t it? Can I ask you a question wajimona? Where do you expect to find the Minister of Lands working or the Minister of Foreign Affairs?
Sikufele sounds very personal. L/stone is not the only tourist attraction. Besides, L/stone is relatively much more developed. We therefore expect the Minister to concentrate on developing other areas such as the northern corridor – Kasaba Bay etc. Ministers are expected to monitor projects but there is more work at the office than outside it and that also goes for the Minister of Lands and Foreign Affairs. Get to know the job descriptions of Ministers and civil servants. Let us not expose ignorance as we defend leaders because we end up embarrassing them sometimes.
@say it as it is.Thank you my Bro/sister for advising Sikufele.He was high on chavuma water(Lituku)
Where was the PS and ZAWA DG in all this? Does it always have to be the minister when there are people below her? She is supposed to concentrate on policy and not operations!!!!
More budget over run.
officers are lowly paid. Expect corruption and conniving with poachers in zawa. it is better they complain. if someone does not complain but with low salary in the para-military know that corruption is rife. go ahead with arrogance masebo. you will reap what you sow.
km,m,ml;.,l;’l