President Edgar Lungu says Government will this year pilot the Simplified Registration System aimed at formalising entrepreneurs in the informal economy in order to help boost their incomes to meet various household needs.

President Lungu said that a baseline survey on the prevailing minimum wages in the various sectors has been done and will help in the revision and determination of the minimum wage for among others domestic, shop workers and general workers.

The Head of State has since directed the Minister of Labour and Social Security and Social Partners to expedite the revision of the minimum wages as quickly as possible.

Speaking when he graced this year’s Labour Day celebrations, President Lungu said that the PF Administration has an ambitious 7NDP for the period 2017 to 2021 to enhance creation of decent job opportunities in Zambia.

President Lungu said government has put in place a number of strategic interventions such as the development of value chains to support young entrepreneurs in both urban and rural areas to add value to local products.

Mr Lungu said government has been providing women and youth led projects with technical and financial support to boost their businesses and will continue to do so to facilitate industrialization, economic diversification and job creation.

The Head of State cited the Mumbwa Ginnery project which has created over 24 thousand jobs as well as the CEEC funded soya processing plant in kasama which was operationalized in 2017and has since created over 1,000 jobs for the farmers who are growing soya beans.

President Lungu said the Nakonde milling plant which is now the largest milling company in Muchinga province is another success story under the value chain programme which has also created over 1, 000 jobs for farmers.

President Lungu said government is vigorously promoting the growth of cooperatives as a business model and expanding their scope beyond agriculture into other growth sectors such as manufacturing, tourism and financial services.

The President said government is implementing the work based learning programme for youths and school leavers to smoothen the transition from school to work life through internships and apprenticeships.

Mr Lungu said that this years’ Labour Day theme of “building partnerships for sustainable national development through decent job creation and social justice” places emphasis on the need for workers, employers and government to collaborate through strong ties and linkages.

Mr Lungu said there is need for the country to recognize the sacrifices being made by low income earners in the country and ensure that their potential is harnessed to help contribute to the sustainable development of the country.

President Lungu pointed out that the marketeer in Sioma, salon owner in Kaputa, nurse in Serenje , miner in Maamba and others all need special recognition due to their immense contribution to the national development.

The head of state said government places great emphasis on the need to strengthen partnerships and synergies which will help foster the creation of decent jobs to support national development.

He said Government, the labour movement and private sector need each other to tackle unemployment and poverty levels by growing the economy and providing decent jobs.

President Lungu has since assured of government’s commitment to realise and safeguard the actualization of policies and programmes aimed at creating an enabling environment to achieve partnerships for economic growth and job creation.

President Lungu said government will continue to develop an inclusive and participatory community atmosphere at work in line with the 8th goal of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, on creation of decent jobs for our people in order to protect jobs and promote social protection of workers.

He said government is working with its cooperating partners to develop a policy on occupational safety, health and wellness and several legislative reforms have been undertaken in the employment and labour sectors aimed at harmonizing and modernizing the various laws .

President Lungu challenged the labour movement to effectively execute its role in ensuring that workers’ rights are protected without compromise while educating the membership to also play their part in enhancing productivity.

President Edgar Lungu has directed the Minister of labour to speed up the process of revising the minimum wage.

President Lungu says this will allow workers to have decent pay and provide food for their families.

He says in an effort to create more jobs government will continue promoting value addition.

President Lungu says government is also promoting the growth of cooperatives in various sectors of the economy.

He says some companies that have been funded by Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) are doing well in various rural parts of Zambia and have since created employment.

He said this during this year’s Labour Day cerebration.

Meanwhile president Lungu says government will continue consulting stakeholders on various issues affecting the nation.

He said for economic growth to be achieved, there is need for strong ties among stakeholders.

He said the labour movement will be consulted even on the National Health Insurance bill.

And speaking at the same function, Minister of Labour Joyce Simukoko challenged Unions to broaden the parameters of their negotiations.

Ms. Simukoko said unions should not only be happy when there is a salary increment but also push for their workers to have access to mortgage.

Speaking earlier, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Chishimba Nkole said his union will continue fighting for better conditions of service for workers.

He said ZCTU wants the economy to be owned by Zambians.

And Vice president Inonge Wina says government is working towards enhancing partnerships in the labour market by championing dialogue among stakeholders as a way to creating sustainable jobs.

Mrs. Wina says government is creating an enabling environment to strengthen the synergies that allow for the different economic sectors to progress and be able to create jobs.

The vice president was speaking in Kitwe today during the Labour Day celebrations under the theme,” building partnerships for sustainable national development through decent job creation and social justice”

Mrs. Wina stated that among the interventions government is doing in line with this year’s theme is the recent commissioned Global Industries plant and refinery by President Edgar Lungu in Ndola last month.

“As a result of the commissioning of the plant more jobs have been created by both the plant and the local farmers who are now producing more soya beans which the plant requires for its production,” she said.

The vice president said government has taken cognizance that the working population worldwide including Zambia is going through challenges that require concerted efforts by stakeholders to address and government is making efforts to alleviating these challenges.

She implored all employers in private and public companies to ensure they offer employees humane working conditions and fair wages and also to give women and men equal opportunities.

“Government is alive to the fact Zambia‘s development agenda cannot be realized if adequate investment is not made in the youth that constitute the majority of the country population, this is why government has come up with youth empowerment programmes in the country.

She added that government also intends to enhance decent job opportunities through promotion of industrialization whose strategies will embark on addressing job creation and youth unemployment in the country.

She said further government will continue to pursue the implementation of the private sector development initiatives that promote and facilitate development of a competitive private sector that will be able to create sustainable and decent jobs.

And Zambia Free Trade Union Trustee nelson Mwale has urged political parties to sober up and stop insulting each other because war of words has never advanced human dignity has this only brings about destruction.

Mr Mwale said politicians must stop insulting each other but respect one another and focus on national development.

“The Federation of free Trade Union of Zambia is worried with the high degree of social media abuse in the country which he said is being used to disrespect leadership.

On the health insurance, Mr Mwale said the union has thanked president Lungu for signing into law the national health insurance bill as it will ensure all Zambians have equitable access to quality health care.

Minister of Defence Davies Chama has appealed to Civil Servants to desist from over borrowing and engage in farming activities to boost their income.
Mr. Davies Chama observes that most civil servants were complaining of high cost of living because they have over borrowed from private lending institutions.
Mr. Chama says civil servants should strive to ensure that they are also involved in farming as opposed to obtaining loans from private lending institutions.
He said most of civil servants were over borrowing from lending institution when they do not have capacity to pay back a situation he described as sad.
The minister was speaking during the Labour Day celebrations held at the president’s park in luwingu district in Northern Province.
The Labour Day was celebrated under theme building partnership for sustainable national development through decent job creation and social justice.
Meanwhile Mr. Chama appealed to the government workers to refrain from partisan politics and concentrate on their core of duty.
He said government is committed to dialogue with political parties in the country in order to continue fostering development and attract investors.
Mr Chama said the government is aware the challenges civil servants were going through especially in rural areas saying that government is slowly addressing some of the problems.
Meanwhile Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) representative Mr. Happy Phiri said the union is concerned with lack of political dialogue among the political players in the country.

Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo has implored Councilors in his constituency to intensify their efforts in delivering development to the people.

Mr. Lusambo who is also Lusaka Province Minister said this in Ndola on Monday when he met Kabushi Councilors and ward including constituency officials.He said the Councilors have a mandate to deliver to the expectations of the people in line with the campaign promises.

Mr Lusambo also announced that he will not interfere in the management of the Ward and Constituency Development Funds.He said the selection and implementation of projects will be solely done by the Ward and Constituency Development Committees as a way of enhancing transparency.

Mr. Lusambo challenged the Councilors and party officials to continue mobilsing the party ahead of 2021 general elections.He said the PF in Kabushi should strive to ensure that it maintains the number one spot it attained in the 2016 general elections by delivering development to the people.

Mr. Lusambo said he got the highest number of votes on the Copperbelt when he polled 21,901 representing 75.1% because of the hard work of the party structures who mobilized for him during the campaigns.

He said it is important that the party maintains that position in the 2021 election and even increases the percentage of the total votes to around 85 percent.

Mr. Lusambo also announced that he will in the next few weeks launch an aggressive youth and women economic empowerment drive in Kabushi constituency.

The Kabushi lawmaker said he will target youths and women in block making, car washing and taxi businesses as a way of economically empowering them.

And one of the Councilors interviewed after the meeting commended Mr. Lusambo for working with the party structures on the ground.He said the Councilors in Kabushi are fully committed to ensuring that all campaign promises are fulfilled.

By Tendai Mugabe

Zimbabweans should give President Mnangagwa a chance to fully implement his economic vision by voting for him in the forthcoming harmonised elections, prominent Zambian politician Dr Vernon Johnson Mwaanga has said.

Dr Mwaanga is a former Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister and also once served as Minister of Information, including serving as director-general of the Southern African country’s intelligence services.
He is famed for being appointed as Zambia’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1965 at the age of 21.
Two years later, he was deployed as permanent secretary in the Office of the President.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Herald on Friday, Dr Mwaanga, who is commonly known as Dr VJ, said President Mnangagwa was a practical person who could transform Zimbabwe economically if given a full mandate.

He said during the few months that President Mnangagwa has been in office, he had implemented several policies, pointing to a great future for Zimbabwe.

“I have a feeling that once given his own mandate, he will then be able to form a Government which will reflect his own vision about the future of Zimbabwe,” said Dr Mwaanga.

“He (President Mnangagwa) kept repeating to me that my brother VJ, Zimbabwe is open for business. I keep a close eye on what is happening in Zimbabwe and I think once free, fair and credible elections are held, Zimbabwe will move forward. Once given a chance to rebuild the country, I am convinced that President Mnangagwa will do the right thing for the country and put Zimbabwe back on the growth trajectory so that the economy begins to grow.

“When I went to Parirenyatwa (Hospital in Harare) and just chatted with doctors there, they highlighted shortages of medicines and other things and President Mnangagwa is very much aware of these challenges and I think if he is given his own mandate, he will be able to pay particular attention to that and other issues relating to infrastructure development.

“A number of factories that were closed are beginning to open, but they need an injection of capital and I believe that he (President Mnangagwa) is very mindful of this and that he will certainly do his best with the team he chooses to take the country forward,” he said.

Dr Mwaanga said he was confident that Zimbabwe would rise to its past glory under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa.

He said ordinary Zimbabweans he interacted with were impressed by President Mnangagwa’s economic policies and re-engagement efforts and were keen to vote for him.

Said Dr Mwaanga: “Given the work culture of the people of Zimbabwe and the priorities that I heard President Mnangagwa talking about, I am sure that Zimbabwe will rise up again. It is my hope that they (Zimbabweans) will be able to give President Mnangagwa the support that he needs so that he wins the next elections and appoints a Cabinet that will reflect his own vision for the future of Zimbabwe. A Cabinet that will work hard not to embrace the concept of what I call me, myself and I, but the concept of working for the people of Zimbabwe.”

Dr Mwaanga also commended President Mnangagwa’s all-embracing character, saying: “I got the impression that he is doing, by and large, the right things — that he is more tolerant also to the opposition. I noticed that when (MDC-T leader) Morgan Tsvangirai died, he accorded him a State funeral.
“The Government even helped to pay some of the expenses for his funeral and some of his medical bills he had incurred in South African hospitals. Each time I have talked to President Mnangagwa since he has been in office, he bears no bitterness, no hatred towards the other opposition party leaders or towards anybody.”

The Herald

AUTHOR: Media Editor, Barotseland Post

The people of Barotseland will be shocked to discover that the so-called BRE/GRZ dialogue on Barotseland Agreement 1964 (BA’64) will, in fact, be used to completely wipe out both the 1964 agreement, which gives the region semi-autonomy and the 2012 Barotse National Council (BNC) resolutions for Barotseland independence.

An inquiry into the matter has revealed that neither RESTORATION of the 1964 agreement nor INDEPENDENCE will be considered. Instead, the dialogue will be used to officially ‘bury’ the old agreement ‘together’ so that Zambia will no longer be blamed for having annulled it unilaterally!

In the past, the Zambian government has been blamed for abrogating the Barotseland Agreement 1964 without consulting the Litunga and the people of Barotseland, but now, the inquiry has uncovered the shocking government plan to use this dialogue to officially put that perception to rest, and also forge a new deal which does not threaten the unitary state of Zambia!

However, the proposed new deal will in reality completely wipe out any hopes for either internal or external autonomy for Barotseland as the only beneficiaries under it are the Litunga and the BRE! The Litunga will be conferred a superficial title of King, while all Chiefs, BRE Senior and Area Induna across all districts will be put on a government payroll.

“The 1964 agreement has been considered problematic because political activists could use it to claim self-determination in future. The proposed deal, therefore, will officially show that the Litunga, BRE and the people have now all agreed to put away the 1964 agreement and enter into a new deal which does not talk of self-determination or autonomy!”

With the monetary promises, the inquiry has revealed that the entire BRE structure, including the Royal Highnesses in the districts, have been convinced to support the so-called dialogue process, although some of them were made to believe that the dialogue process would result into the restoration of the 1964 agreement, which if implemented completely, would be somewhat beneficial to Barotseland. However, when the process has achieved its real plans, the entire BRE and their Royal Highnesses will come-out as complete sellouts who have abandoned their people and mortgaged Barotseland on account of monetary promises from the central government!

The inquiry has further revealed that Lubosi Imwiko II is ready to co-operate, as long as he will officially assume the title of ‘King’ in Zambia. What he does not realize, however, is that he will not, in fact, be the only one conferred that title, but like in South Africa, all the Paramount Chiefs in Zambia will eventually be called ‘kings’ without real executive or jurisdictional powers. The only difference is that Lubosi Imwiko II has been deceived to betray Barotseland, where he is King indeed, in exchange for a superficial kingly title in Zambia which other Paramount Chiefs will also be given for free!

The inquiry has further revealed that the invitation of Gawa Undi of the Chewa people in Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to officiate at the 2018 Kuomboka was, in fact, part of this new government strategy to emphasize that Barotseland is still part of Zambia! Soon, the Litunga will also be compelled to officiate at other Zambian traditional ceremonies to emphasize the ‘One Zambia One nation’ spirit and also show fraternity with other equals. The Gawa Undi’s presence at Kuomboka would also show the international community that the Litunga and the region are integrated within Zambia.

Most shocking, however, is how the government and the BRE have planned to entirely exclude the people out of this dialogue while showing the international community that the process has been broadly representative!

When announcing the planned dialogue, the BRE said that the Dialogue Council would comprise representatives of communities, Barotse political activists, the institutions of traditional governance structures and specific nominees of the BRE, to aid the BRE in managing the negotiation with the Government of Zambia.

Although the main independence advocates, Linyungandambo and the Barotse National Freedom Alliance (BNFA), have already declared their unwillingness to participate in the sham of a dialogue, the inquiry has revealed that they were never really to be involved in the first place!

Many expected that the plan to involve independence activists would see the immediate release of Afumba Mombotwa, the Linyungandambo leader currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in Zambia for having taken an oath of office as head of a transitional Barotseland Government, to take part in the dialogue. The inquiry has, however, revealed that the BRE and Lubosi Imwiko II have considered releasing Afumba and others now counterproductive to the planned ‘dialogue’ as they would always insist on carrying out the wishes of the people voiced through the 2012 BNC. So, their release should only be considered after the dialogue!

After all, Afumba Mombotwa, Likando Pelekelo and Inambao Kalima are in jail today for implementing the 2012 popular BNC resolutions!

Clement W Sinyinda, leader of the BNFA, has also been excluded from the dialogue process for similar reasons.

However, to show Barotse political activists participation, Mutungulu Wanga of MOREBA (Movement for the Restoration of Barotseland Agreement) and Nyambe Namushi of Barotse Freedom Movement (BFM), have been enlisted to lead and represent all Barotse political activists.

Some Barotse activists will be promised jobs in the Public and Foreign Services or investment capital for their co-operation.

Although the enlisted individuals do not actually represent Barotse independence movements, their respective organizations, MOREBA and BFM, are considered part of the BNFA which fronts itself as an alliance or umbrella body for all Barotseland independence movements! In fact, both Mutungulu Wanga and Nyambe Namushi lost their elective positions in BNFA leadership at a general conference last year, which they later rubbished as illegal, and have since continued to operate as members of the BNFA Executive Committee!

So, whether their BNFA membership is disputed or bona fide, the two will represent all Barotse political activists under the BNFA banner.

However, the BNFA is only an alliance of willing Barotse groupings, hence, some like the Linyungandambo, who were unwilling to join BNFA from inception, are actually not BNFA members!

Although many Barotse people prefer independence to dialogue on restoration, the government feels confident pursuing it because independence activists have not put up any noticeable revolt against Lubosi Imwiko II and the BRE for agreeing to talk with the Zambian government over the dead 1964 agreement! The government is also happy that generally urban Lozi people are actually looking forward to the dialogue, hoping that it will bring the Barotseland Agreement saga to an amicable end!

“The BRE and the Litunga are simply not afraid of the people currently!”

Neither are they expecting any revolt! A splendid Kuomboka would make people very happy with the Litunga and the BRE! In fact, the ceremony this year was to be so enchanting to erase any evidence of dissension in the region. Thousands would be transported to Kuomboka from across the region at government’s expense through the District Commissioners!

The inquiry has further clarified that there is no separate parliament, treasury, courts, police or army for Barotseland as some Lozi naively believed! In fact, there is no devolution of power at all! Barotseland will still be under the central government in Lusaka. Lubosi Imwiko will be superficial King; his appointed (not elected) Ngambela will be Prime Minister, simply to replace Zambia’s Provincial Minister, with jurisdiction limited to the region only! Government officials, Permanent Secretaries and District Commissioners in the region will report to him while he will report to the Litunga.

The King’s domain or boundary is to be undefined in the proposed deal! He may actually be a king in name and title only, but without territorial jurisdiction! Lubosi Imwiko II is accordingly happy with this status as it officially puts him far above his subjects under the protection of the Zambian army and police, who will also brief him regularly!

The parliamentarians will represent their electorates at the dialogue as people’s representatives. Their participation will form democratic semblance to appease the international community!

Since the proposed deal does not threaten the Zambian state, and that all the members of parliament in Barotseland form part of Zambia’s opposition UPND, the dialogue outcomes would easily pass in parliament or may be implemented through a government Statutory Instrument (SI).

“The defunct 1964 agreement is considered a liberating agreement dreaded by the Zambian government!”

Therefore, no government would ever honor it. So, the government now wishes to negotiate a new arrangement which they can practically honor. They will lure Lubosi Imwiko with the meaningless title and BRE with money, while the people will get absolutely nothing besides the name Barotseland!

The 2012 BNC resolutions will not even be under discussion as they are considered illegal and unbinding!

With all the Senior chiefs, sub-chiefs, BRE Indunas, Parliamentarians, Barotse political activists and Zambian government representatives participating in the dialogue, it will be assumed that the process was consultative enough to deceive the international community!

Once the dialogue has concluded, the Zambian army and police will protect the Litunga and ruthlessly deal with anyone heard or seen advocating Barotseland self-determination again! These will be treated as trouble-makers going against the wishes of the majority, as concluded in the dialogue! This dialogue will be considered more binding than the supreme Barotse National Council (BNC) which draws the participation of all Barotse up to the family and village level!

“Lubosi Imwiko II does not want self-determination because he does not want to share power with his people,” the inquiry has observed.

And with only a handful of Induna supporting self-determination, and some Senior Indunas ignorantly hoping for the restoration of the 1964 agreement, the proposed dialogue is likely to be rushed to successfully conclude by the end of June this year!

The current docility of the independence activists in BNFA and Linyungandambo has presented a good opportunity for the implementation of the new government strategy! Therefore, Barotseland will be systematically annihilated, unless the proposed dialogue strategy is blocked by the people!

Source:Barotse Post