MINISTER of Home Affairs Edgar Lungu has advised the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leadership against proceeding with a planned march on Parliament, which he says is illegal.
As an alternative, Mr Lungu said the ZCTU leadership should consider further dialogue with Government to resolve any differences or issues that they have, instead of demonstrating.
“There is crystal clear evidence that the President Sata government has the ability to solve issues without breaking the law as demonstrated by constructive discussions that led to the minimum wage being adjusted upwards by over 100 percent,” Mr Lungu said.
The Home Affairs Minister, who is also in charge of the police, said: “Dialogue can get us out of any difference. Zambian public workers as at the end of last month became among the highest paid in the entire region taking home more money than before without having to demonstrate or march.”
Mr Lungu said his office is trying to establish who could have “erroneously” given ZCTU a permit to march on Parliament instead of having an ordinary meeting.
“I have spoken to the Inspector General of police [Stella Libongani] and she knows nothing about a march on Parliament so I don’t know where this despondency is coming from.”
Mr Lungu in his appeal for dialogue used a Bemba adage saying: Ukuboko bapota ukumine, meaning: “You can only twist an arm which is stiff.”
Mr Lungu advised the union not to put the proverbial cart before the horse and talk first before demonstrating because the government under President Sata has demonstrated that it can settle differences without spilling blood.
Who is that minister mention his name kabili…
Maybe Kabimba again in the mix
Bwana Lungu don’t worry about that Hikaumba and Joyce nonde are easily manipulated, just give them a brown envelope that’s it
When i take a good accessment of the situation, Eddie is right, how can you be heard whilst screaming on top of your voices all at the same time an expect much ear, the best is to sit down put everything on the table, why become defensive before you even see who is attacking, the government has been wrong to be fair, before you put food on your plate, make sure that your child has enough. This is just the begining of all protests, i hope PF is ready and this finger pointing of who the snich might be just shows how insecure and paranoid PF is getting, not a good sign at all.
Ba Cindy, what do you do when your child does not listen to you? You whip the naughty punk. That is exactly what our MPs need; a good beating! Both PF and Opposition MPs.
Yawn this article is too long mwe,yawn again…..pass out.
Really? Just because you have the attention span of a housefly….
it is not wise and I believe that our government is not for the people’s wish and has no sympathy for its citizens. No one is happy with what is happening. It has come to torment all its citizen.
My reason is this;
They promised to pay the peasant farmers on time but up to now most of us are not paid, and I hear in Mufumbwe areas they have told the people that they will be given fertilizer instead of money- one problem.
They promised & boasted to increase salaries by more than 100%- this is a joke, since last year there has never been an increase and today they say two years wage freeze,
They promised to create jobs -but two years Job freeze. What snerio does it have in mind?
Look all cabinet ministers, President have had more than 27% increment, in two years of rule it has 3x…
Lungu has the looks of a Somali narrowface or a Botswana bushman.
He looks like that because of mooba,, otherwise he would have looked much more Zambia.
The president when he was in opposition used to tease former president Banda that why has he increased his salary when late Mwanawasa refused to increase the salary and he condemned the act of 40% increment of presidential salary saying Zambians are suffering and the president is enjoying the tax payer’s money without caring, But what do we see in this PF governance, it is has increased 3 times for presidential Salary. Is it good?
I have many doubts if we are equal in what is said good governance.
Gentlemen be sober minded. GRZ is saying we are going to have budget overrun in the future.
One thing then is clear that they are not good at planning hence they are just leaving for the day and not ready for the future. Once you have such a situation then economic trouble is not far. For Lungu remind him threats belong to the past.
@Nshumfwa
Budget overrun in future?? No… that budget overrun is now!!!!.. those are desperate plans to try and cover up the overrun!!!
In the future? In that case, future is NOW
this article is useless because it failed to disclose the cabnet minister who is the master minder of the planned demos.why giving us incomplete news.
You are ganja farmer no one cares about what a pot head says its nit anyones fault that you fail to understand simple articles like this one reduce the weed maybe your family will accept you, but with the level of dullness you are displaying I doubt you even work
mmmmmmh! Maybe try to use your native language.
Translate into English please
Zambian workers are one of the laziest and shirker in whole of Africa.
Are you sure we are one of the highest paid in the region? I hope you are not only looking at your salaries and doctors salaries.
EDGAR ZAMBIAN CIVIL SERVANTS WELL PAID IN THE REGION?ANYWAY PEP UP YOUR LIPS MAYBE YOU WILL SAY SENSE
Very sad indeed! Threats after threats! When a people are annoyed, even the police can’t manage them!
Next time you vote, think quality AND FUTURE and not tribe.
viva ZCTU..lets see you do it the COSATU way..
Why should PF cadres be the only ones allowed to demonstrate. We couldn’t even carrying our anti Sata placards during Independence day.Since a permit has been given it shall go ahead.Stella Libongani is not = to police.There are many juniours who carry better heads on their shoulders.
Disclose the minister mweee! Thats why I like watchdog, hiding of news items.
I meant to say hiding of information, not their portion.
Demonstrating i.e. marches and placards is part of democracy. What dialogue are you asking for? One where you bribe the partcipants with a three course meal and whisky? Let the masses speak. Whether it is illegal or not the march should go ahead. Lets go ZCTU tell the govt how the workers are suffering.
@Umwina Zed,
The expression on Lungu’s face tells the full story, these chaps are feeling the heat and don’t know where to turn to.
No sir. Exercising one’s freedom of expression is not an illegal act. As a legal practitioner, you should know better
Don’t u have rules that both unions and govt follow for any action?Stop supporting even fo o lishness. 0 Zambians must adhere 2 principles nd values dat’re progressive unlike where every jim & jack wants 2 behave like hungry monks in a maize field.
Zambians can be lazy!That aside dialogue is important no matter how agrieved u maybe.When u approach issues in de manner the union wants l don’t know who’ll be the victor and who will b the looser.’Ukuitukumuna pa zed’!
When they called for the removal of former president Chiluba’s immunity all went to pertition parliament.Was that illegal?