Government has warned Truck Drivers not to go ahead with their planned work stoppages and allow government and their representatives’ resolve their issues.
Transport and Communications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya is concerned with the voice and text messages circulating on social media by a selection of serving drivers and non-serving drivers who are inciting other drivers to go on a work stoppage.
Mr. Kafwaya is concerned that this is being done without respecting the process that has been agreed upon by the Drivers Associations, Driver Unions and Government through his Ministry and Ministry of Labour and Social Security to address the many issues affecting them including low salaries.
“I want to urge all well-meaning drivers to be patriotic to this country and ignore those that are bent at negating the positive contribution of your services to this economy”, he said.
Mr. Kafwaya said government is concerned with the conduct of some transporters that pay meagre salaries to their drivers and will do everything possible through his Ministry and Ministry of Labour and Social Security to ensure that conditions of service are harmonized and improved in earnest.
He said his Ministry will also ensure that employment of foreign drivers when such services can be offered by local drivers is stopped with immediate effect.
Mr. Kafwaya said he is aware that some demands have already been acted upon by his Ministry through the Road Transport and Safety Agency while other Ministries are equally working on the components that relate to their respective portfolio functions.
He said going forward, Government will immediately embark on consultations to consider implementing sector based minimum wage for the transport sector and has called on all drivers to call off their impending action and wait for the execution of the agreed actions with your union.
Mr. Kafwaya said his Ministry remains open to positive contribution from all Zambians for the country to achieve its Vision of becoming the hub of transport and logistics in Southern Africa by 2030.
He has urged all Professional truck drivers to have a united front through their union and engage the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for guidance on the means of uplifting working conditions for all drivers in the sector.
Mr. Kafwaya has also requested all stakeholders in the road transport sector to work with Government to enhance a sustainable road transport system for the country.
Had this PamaFi government listened to the good advice and took on Prof Clive Chirwa as the CEO and managing Director of Zambia Railways, this time the Railway company could have made billions of Kwachas and could have employed thousands of our young people currently just mingling around today – hungry and with no future…
New routes could have been opened in the Congo DR, Angola and even Rwanda Burundi and we could have been transporting various goods including maize and other foods. Manje lelo just look at what’s happening? Shame on Zambia my country, my home and my pride…
These PF fooools are geniuses …when has issuing warnings ever stopped protests….really laughable …its like putting out a house fire with gasoline
Having worked abroad as professional truck driver and return home to work, was dismayed by what is obtaining on the ground. The salaries are too low and transporters do not even pay their drivers on time. Those who are lucky are paid under trailers (in secrets) and for you to be paid you have to beg or look really needful!
In other countries, the salaries are not negotiable. Each and every driver is paid like any other important or educated worker through an automated system by the banks. The drivers are not on the mercy of their employers to get their salaries.
I for one think the Zambian professional truck drivers are mistaken for fools who doesn’t deserve any good treatment.
The problem in Zambia is that some of our leaders own trucks and are benefiting from low salaries that are…