(left) addresses new Zambia Railways Board members at his office as
the new Board Chairperson Davies Chama looks on in Lusaka
Government has released funds to clear all outstanding salary arrears for TAZARA employees who have been on a long running strike.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga, in a statement issued to QFM News says government expects operations at TAZARA to normalise with the release of the funds.
Mr Mukanga says government is further committed to securing more funds to dismantle the backlog of unpaid retiree benefits and for business operations in the near future.
He has since urged all TAZARA workers on the Zambian side to resume work immediately without fail.
Mr Mukanga adds that government will not be held at ransom by strike actions, especially when the right channels are not followed.
He says it is also important for the workers involved in the strike action to realize that any action that disrupts industrial harmony leads to losses on the part of the company like TAZARA which is not making profit.
Mr Mukanga has since reaffirmed government’s commitment in addressing the labour and operational challenges currently facing TAZARA in order to spur sustainable growth of the railway sector.
The Minister has also revealed that his ministry has engaged the Ministry of Finance and Management of Zambia Railways and the Union to work out modalities of how to settle the outstanding arrears for former Railway Systems of Zambia employees through the 2015 National Budget.
Good move by the government. I understand so many former Tazara workers have died without receiving their terminal benefits.
The plight of university retirees is equally bad. For CBU, the problem is worsening.
The problem at CBU is compounded by a poor and publicity seeking management team. It only focusses on issues which attract media attention.