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Nkana coach Zeddy Saileti says Wednesday’s home defeat against Zesco United is very painful.
The defeating champions lost 1-0 at Nkana Stadium to extend their ten-year winless run against fifth placed Zesco.
“It is very difficult to accept this loss because we knew what we are capable of doing at home. I think a draw was going to be enough for us,” Saileti said.
“We have to stay focused, we are still in contention, and we just need to work hard and the players need to stay focused to be mentally strong.”
The loss has left Nkana still seven points behind second placed Zesco and leaders Zanaco who are tied on 33 points.
Nkana, on 26 points from fourteen games with a match in hand, have a chance to redeem themselves away on saturday when they visit 10th placed Nchanga Rangers in Chingola.
Works and Supply Minister Yamfwa Mukanga was today taken to task by opposition Members of Parliament on why government is spending K6.5 million to rehabilitate the Presidential Guest House in Kitwe.
Mafinga Member of Parliament questioned what justification is there to spend such a huge amount of money on a structure which the President will only use once he visits Kitwe, when the money could have been spent on other needy areas.
Ms Namugala wondered why K6.5 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation of the Presidential Guest House when only about K4 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Community Development,Mother and Child Health towards children.
And Chembe Member of Parliament Mwansa Mbulakulima wondered whether the Kabelenga Presidential Guest in Ndola has now been abandoned for the government to embark on the rehabilitation of the one in Kitwe.
And Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa wondered how so much money was being spent on the Presidential Guest House when first republican President Kenneth Kaunda’s house cost less to construct.
And Muchinga MP Howard Kunda wondered why government could not use the money to create youth employment considering the high level of youth unemployment in the country.
But Mr Mukanga clarified that the construction of the retirement house for Dr Kaunda cost K7 million and not K4 million as claimed by Mr Shakafuswa.
Mr Mukanga further defended the cost of rehabilitating the Presidential Guest House pointing out that a number of things needed to be replaced.
He also stated that the Guest house is not only for the President but can also be used by other important guests of the President; hence the need to ensure that meets certain standards.
Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Bert Mushala
Zambia has finally awarded the digital migration tender to Chinese firm Star Software Technology Limited.
The contract valued at 9, 554, 124,. 49 is for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of Phase I of the national digital terrestrial broadcasting system in Zambia.
The project will be undertaken in three phases with the first one involving installation of equipment along the line of the rail from Chililabombwe to Livingstone for a period of eight months.
Phase II of the project will be for provincial centres including the purchases of studio equipment for Lusaka, Kitwe and Livingstone and expected to run from this year to January 2015.
This was announced by Information Permanent Secretary Bert Mushala at the signing ceremony held in Lusaka.
The third stage of the project will be implemented in 2015 in line with the International Telecommunication Union deadline and will include the installation of transmission sites in the rest of the country.
Mr Mushala announced that arrangements to im0lement the other phases are being made and therefor Zambia will ensure that it fulfills the international deadline as required by the ITU.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you may wish to appreciate that this programme has got full government backing with Cabinet having approved the Policy on Digital Migration on 10th March 2014 and June 12th 2014 the same was launched in the presence of all stakeholders. I wish to emphasize that Government is funding the Digital Migration Project as a demonstration of its commitment that Zambia moves with the rest of the world in embracing the digital television broadcasting technology,” Mr Mushala said.
He said, “With these measures in place, Government is on course and on schedule migrate from analogue to digital television broadcasting. We have no doubt that a company of Star Times expertise and experience will deliver as provided in the contract.”
Mr Mushala said with the approval of the Policy on Digital Migration and the signing of this contract today,
Government, through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services will scale up public sensitization on Digital Migration.
VICE PRESIDENT Dr. Guy Scott receives a bouquet of flowers on arrival at the official opening of this year’s International Trade Fair in Ndola
Republican Vice president Dr. Guy Scott said plans to revive the National Airline have reached an advanced stage and once finalized the coming of a national air liner will stimulate growth in the country’s economy.
The Vice President speaking through Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Rolland Msiska said the country has had no airline since the liquidation of Zambia Airways in 1994 but that will soon change as plans have reached an advanced stage.
Dr. Scott who was speaking during at the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Africa – Indian Ocean Planning and Implementation Regional Group being held in Lusaka, said government has also embarked on a program to revamp the air navigation system at four main Airports in the country at a total cost of US $900 Million.
Dr. Scott said among the major projects the government has embarked on includes the improvement of Air equipment and Upgrade of Kenneth Kaunda, Harry Mwanga Nkumbula, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe International Airports.
He also called for long term strategic planning in the aviation industry so as to over came the challenges of infrastructure development.
And International Civil Aviation Organisation Chairman for Eastern and Southern Africa Meshesha Belayneh hoped that the Conference will come up with positive results for the development of the aviation industry of the member states.
The Mkushi Regional Mining Bureau (MRMB) has bemoaned the escalating pattern of illegal mining activities taking place in both Mkushi and Luano districts.
MRMB Filed Surveyor, Mwanga Chishimba, confirmed the development to ZANIS, saying illegal mining activities have been rampant since the beginning of this year.
He singled out miners in possession of prospecting licenses as being amongst the major perpetrators of these unlawful activities.
The Field Surveyor pointed out that the issue of illegal mining presented situations in which the aspects of safety for workers as well as environmental concerns, were overlooked.
Mr Chishimba noted that illegal miners overlooked these aspects as they felt that they had no obligation other than to get profit from production of minerals and gemstones.
He said that in view of this, his department had never relented in sensitising the miners on the importance of formalising mining operations by obtaining valid licenses from the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development.
He said the department had also applied another strategy in which the local leadership, such as District Administration, traditional leaders as well as civic leaders, would play a major role in encouraging miners to formalise their operations.
Mr Chishimba further attributed the easy access to market for manganese rock within the district as being amongst the factors that precipitated the escalation of illegal mining.
“Although the average price for manganese is currently at about K30 ($5) per
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) public relations manager, Cris Akufuna
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set September 11, 2014 as the date for the Solwezi Central, Vubwi, Kasenengwa, Mkushi South and Zambezi West Parliamentary by elections.
Electoral Commission of Zambia Public Relation Manager, Crispin Akufuna, said this follows the Supreme Court Judgment of July 3, 2014.
Mr Akufuna revealed the development in press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He said the polls will take place from 06:00 hours to 18:00 hours, adding that aspiring candidates for the said by elections should lodge their completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers on August 12.
Mr Akufuna stated that the said papers should be subscribed before a magistrate, Local Court Magistrate, head of a government Primary or Secondary School, Principal of a College, Commissioner of Oath, election Officer or the returning officer on that date between 09:00hrs and 15:00hrs.
He said candidates from all the said constituencies should take along with them Nine (9) supporters who must be dully registered voters in that particular constituency.
Mr Akufuna stated that supporters must have in their possession a green National Registration Card and a voters card.
He also anounced that the aspiring candidates will be required to pay K500.00 non-refundable nomination fee, adding they are also required to attend nomination briefing on Saturday 09, 2014 at the Civic Centres in the respective districts.
Mr Akufuna noted that campaign period will start on August 12, 2014 after 15:00hrs and urged media personnel and registered Non-Governmental Organizations wishing to monitor or observe the elections to apply for accreditation from the ECZ from Monday August 04, 2014.
And Mr Akufuna has also announced that Local Government by elections will be held in Mkushi South, Vubwi, Kasenengwa , Solwezi Central and Zambezi West wards respectively.
Government has been urged to acknowledge its own mistakes and accept the choice of the Bemba speaking people for Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.
Patrick Mucheleke a member of the Bemba Royal Establishment (BRE) says the choice of Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu is final.
Mr. Mucheleka, who is also Lubansenshi Constituency Independent Member of Parliament, says the Bemba Royal Establishment followed the laid-down procedures leading to the enthronement of Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.
He says he does not understand government’s basis of argument that the right procedure was not followed in choosing the Paramount Chief Chitimukulu when everything was done in accordance with the laid-down procedure.
Mr Mucheleka adds that government is not part of the Bemba Royal Council hence has no powers to interfere in the royal succession.
File: President Michael Sata shakes hands with former Republican president Rupiah Banda at the commemoration of Africa Freedom Day at the freedom statue in Lusaka
APC leader Nason Msoni has proposed that the ruling Patriotic Front PF government nominate a person from within cabinet to act as president while the country prepares for fresh elections as president Sata is out of the political equation due to his alleged failing health.
Mr. Msoni said the PF should come to terms with the fact that their leader can not continue to be president of the nation because it is becoming more and more apparent that the president is unable to perform his duties.
He advised PF cabinet preferably under the leadership of the vice president to come up with a name/person who should take over from president Sata in the interim as the country prepares for presidential by elections.
Mr. Msoni noted that no matter how much government hides the truth from the public the fact is that president Sata is sick and can not continue being president while he is incapacitated.
” Let Guy Scott constitute cabinet and appoint some one to act as president as we prepare for fresh elections because I think that Mr. Sata is out of the political equation by reason of his health.
“We have to face the reality and begin the process of having presidential by elections because Mr. Sata is completely out of the political equation.
What is true is that Mr. Sata is completely out of the political equation, he is incapacitated, he cannot and we don’t believe that he will continue to do his job so we have to be prudent and start the process towards holding presidential by elections,” Mr. Msoni said.
And political activist Dante Saunders has commended individuals pushing for the stepping down of the president through the judiciary.
Mr. Saunders said the continued debate on the health of the president is a national issue which needs the input of every citizen in finding a lasting solution to the current debate.
Mr. Saunders said people like Mr. Changala who have gone a step further and taken the current debate to the courts should be commended and that MPs should pick up from the current momentum and press for the stepping down of the president.
Republican president Michael Sata has not been seen in public since swearing in ambassadors for Malawi and South Korea a few days after African Freedom Day; a day he was supposed to officially open Heroes Stadium but did not, something which led to speculations about his health.
NGOCC chairperson Beatrice Grillo talking during the meeting that was held to demand for the release of the draft Zambian constitution
The Grand Coalition on the people driven constitution has expressed shock at the proposal by Young African Leaders Initiative YALI to have the 2016 elections under the same constitution.
Speaking in an interview Coalition Vice Chairperson Beatrice Grilo said the group was taken aback by Mr. Ntewewe’s YALI proposal which does not reflect the consortium’s aspirations.
Ms. Grilo noted that the behavior by YALI was surprising to the consortium but that such actions from such a diverse group was to be expected from some members.
Ms. Grilo said the consortium will however sturdy the document before issuing a comprehensive statement on the matter.
“Like you and us we were taken by surprised by the proposal by YALI because we just saw in the media.
We will issue a comprehensive statement once will study the proposal as you know YALI is one of our members so we want to find out what he is up to.”
Asked if there are some members within the consortium in support of the proposal Ms. Grilo said no group had come out so far and that the coalition was hopeful that non will support the proposal.
Meanwhile NAREP Youth Secretary General Bwalya Nondo challenged Mr. Ntewewe to clearly explain the proposal to the youths in the country as his proposal does not reflect the wishes of the majority of youths.
Mr. Ndondo said many youths in the country are wallowing in abject poverty because of the defective constitution that the nation is currently using which does not guarantee certain rights hence postponing the enactment of the new constitution to 2016 is not in the best interest of the youths in the country.
He further challenged YALI to tell the youths in the country what has changed for it to have a change of heart when a few months ago it was part of the people agitating for the new constitution.
The Zambia Police says it will not act on Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkandu Luo’s directive to arrest any person masquerading as a chief before gathering evidence.
Zambia Police assistant public relations officer Rae Hamoonga said the police would first investigate the matter before effecting any arrest.
Mr Hamoonga said the police would first thoroughly investigate those suspected of masquerading as chiefs before anyone was arrested.He said this is because courts of law depended on proof and not the directive.
“No one has been arrested and we cannot arrest anyone before investigation because we need evidence, if such cases are taken to court,” Mr Hamoonga said.
And a Bemba representative, Mulenga Kombe said the government should stop using threats as a weapon to solve traditional problems.Mr Kombe said government was worsening traditional problems because of their interference in traditional affairs.
He said it was a recipe for anarchy for government to defy traditional authority.
On Sunday, Professor Luo directed law enforcement agencies to arrest any person masquerading as a chief in any chiefdom that has a gazetted traditional ruler.
Professor Luo said it was criminal for any person to claim to be a Chief of any chiefdom when there was a sitting traditional leader.
She was referring to an incident in which a man masquerading as Chief Puta went to the chiefdom in an attempt to overthrow the sitting traditional leader in Chiengi district.
Prof Luo who described the act as criminal said government would ensure that chiefs in the country were protected and commended the police for taking quick action at the time of the incident in Chief Puta’s area.
She further said government only recognized chiefs that are gazetted as the rightful traditional leaders adding that the State would not tolerate any person whose intention is to destabilize chiefs it had gazetted.
In May this year Foil Vedanta released a video showing Vedanta boss Anil Agarwal mocking the Zambian parliament and bragging that he makes $500 million per year from Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), having bought the company for $25 million, against a $400 million asking price. The video caused outrage in Zambia, where KCM has failed to pay taxes, and is indebted to contractors. A few days later hundreds protested in the streets in Lusaka demanding that Vedanta pay taxes and improve the conditions for workers. In light of the profitability of KCM claimed by Agarwal, this article examines the poor treatment of KCM workers by Vedanta, and some of the recent protests by current and former miners.
KCM breaches workers contracts
KCM is Zambia’s biggest employer with 18,000 workers, 11,000 of which are reported to be on short contracts and un-unionised. Vedanta took over KCM from Anglo American in 2004. Since KCM was privatised in 2002, miners claim their conditions have worsened, and protests have become even more regular in recent years.
One active group are the Former KCM Miners Association. They represent more than a thousand retrenched and discharged KCM miners, including the 752 who were made redundant when Vedanta closed the Nkana smelter in 2009. (The Nkana smelter had not long been refurbished with an $81 million loan from the UK’s Department for International Development in 2001). The former miners have produced lengthy documents evidencing in detail how the 752 miners retrenched in 2009 were never paid the terminal benefits owed to them, due to deliberate manipulations by KCM (owned by Vedanta). In January 2013, in a letter to a news blog site, they claimed:
We are more than 700 ex-miners languishing in poverty after KCM breached our contracts. We have all the necessary agreements.
Since 2009, we have been spending sleepless night engaging government officials like Mr Musukwa, Ronald Msisika, Mr. Shamenda, Mr Simuusa, Mr Mikanga, Mr Mbulu. Even the President is aware but it is like KCM is bigger than our leaders. We visited Cabinet office on 12th February, 2012 but to no avail. We spent 180 days at intercity bus terminals in Lusaka surviving on pamelas and cabbages.
According to the Standard Code Book issued by the Industrial Relations Bureau, and not changed since 1996, the terminal benefits owed to miners should be ‘28 months basic pay, plus one month’s basic pay per completed year of service less any monies owed by you by [the mining company]‘. In 2000, the state mining company ZCCM became ZCCM Ltd and ZCCM Smelterco. Employment contracts were re-issued to ‘reaffirm KCM’s responsibility to honour its contractual obligations’, and though some of them contained the original, and legal, terminal benefits, others stated a new redundancy package of just ’2 months basic pay per completed year of service’, removing the 28 months basic pay workers remain entitled to according to the Standard Code Book. Employees noticed the discrepancy and refused to sign the new document, claiming this change was illegal under labour laws.
The pictures below show two versions of ZCCM Smelterco’s new contracts issued in 2000, with the legal, and illegal redundancy packages.
In 2009, around 700 workers were made redundant from the Nkana smelter and, in violation of their contract, were prohibited from re-entering the plant on the day they received their termination letters. A few months later more employees were retrenched at KCM’s Nampundwe mine. An information sheet issued by KCM at the time stated that there would be two different rates of redundancy pay for the workers – those transferring to other IBUs, and those taking voluntary separation. The former would get the legal 28 months plus 2 months (in this case) per year of completed service, which the latter would get only the 2 months per year of completed service. (see below)
The former miners give examples of two of the workers retrenched in 2009. Mr Wambizi worked 25 years, but was only paid 28 months plus 5 years service (calculated from 2004 when Vedanta took over ZCCM Smelterco and it became KCM Plc). Mr Chitu worked 5 years, and was paid 2 months basic pay per year of service. The miners have fought this discrepancy ever since, demanding the full payment from Konkola Copper Mines, the Mine Workers Union and government departments.
KCM sends false records to ZRA
In January 2011 the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) contacted the retrenched miners to say they had underpaid tax on their redundancy payments, showing a record of payouts of the full amount (28 months plus 1 months pay per completed year of service). The miners claim this suggests that KCM sent termination slips with the correct amount of terminal benefit due to the tax office, while sending the reduced payments and termination slips to the miners.
In December 2013, 76 workers retrenched in a spate of new redundancies by KCM claimed they had also been paid ‘peanuts’ in benefits.
In February this year the former KCM miners protested again, stating that they are owed over two hundred and seventy two thousand kwacha in terminal payments.
But it is not just former KCM miners who are getting a raw deal. On 8th May around 400 KCM contract workers stormed the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) offices in Kitwe during a protest over KCM’s refusal to implement the minimum wage. One worker, Mr Chisenga, told the Zambia News and Information Service that the workers were paid as low as K600 when their colleagues on the full time payroll were paid above K3000. According to the Lusaka Times:
He said the workers were demanding a pay rise to a level where the lowest should be paid at least K2000. He added that the workers were not provided with safety clothing while on duty which he said was putting their lives at risk. He said government should not allow workers in the mining sector to be exploited with poor wages when the investors in the sector were making a lot of money from the Zambian mineral resources. Mr Mulenga also complained that the police tear gassed the workers who were peaceful and did not commit any crime but merely walked to ZNBC studios to air their grievances.
The news crew that rushed to the scene found scores of employees heading to the Labor Offices at government offices otherwise known as BOMA in Kitwe, but were dispersed by police in riot gear before they could reach BOMA.
When reached for comment, management run away from journalist and declined to comment.
A soundbite in local language from the demonstration can be heard here.
On 17th March over 100 miners at Konkola Copper Mines’ Shaft No 1 in Chilililabombwe refused to come out from underground after their day shift in protest against management’s decision to stop giving meals to those that had worked overtime. They stayed underground from morning until 9pm. According to reports:
The miners alleged that management had started implementing harsh conditions of service for them as a way of saving on costs, a situation that was making their working conditions unbearable.
“We are passing through difficult times as employees; salaries leave much to be desired, our unions have tried to make things better but it’s really difficult with the style of management being applied by these investors. Now because they have tightened their financial management issues, they have cut on our meals and the issue of miners getting meals is an age-old tradition, which cannot be abolished in such a manner. We cannot continue operating like that. We demand respect from KCM management,” one of the miners said.
Retrenchments
In May 2013 KCM’s management announced their intention to retrench 2000 workers to streamline and mechanise operations. This was met with outrage by both miners, and Zambia’s President Michael Sata, who threatened that he would revoke the mine’s license if redundancies went ahead. Some commentators claimed the retrenchment threat was being used to prevent the Zambian exchequer charging a $586 million tax bill on exports of copper cathode which had no import certificates from the port of destination.
Following this announcement hundreds of KCM miners from Chililabombwe, Chingola and Kitwe stormed the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) head offices in Kitwe to protest KCM’s plans.
Malambo Malambo who spoke on behalf of members of the three unions accused KCM management of trying to use the retrenchment as a tool to negotiate for mineral royalty tax and increased electricity tariffs. He said it was unjustifiable for KCM management to attribute their planned downsising to workers not meeting their targets.
“It is not true that KCM employees are failing to meet their targets. It is because of management’s failure to provide tools and equipment, change of contractors which takes time for them to mobilise and settle,” Mr Malambo said. He said the decline in production levels at KCM was not as a result of workers but management itself which had engaged contractors that were ill-qualified. “Ninety per cent of the work at KCM is done by contractors and why should they blame workers for low productivity,” he asked.
In November 2013 200 unionised workers refused to go underground and assembled in Chingola, protesting the deduction of 20% of pay from October’s salaries. KCM justified the deduction as they claimed miners had not met targets specified by management, but the miners were adamant that they had met targets and stormed the union offices accusing Mine Contractors and Allied Workers Union of Zambia President, Benny Isao of failing to represent them, as this video shows.
KCM had been deducting excess tax from workers since the retrenchment was announced in May, by claiming the workers had previously underpaid tax, and deducting the backdated amount from the paycheques, leaving them with up to half their usual salary. This went on for a few months until union action put a stop to it and the excess tax was eventually refunded.
Firing Zambian managers
Back in February 2013, KCM was embroiled in another scandal when 11 Zambian managers were fired ahead of planned ‘downsizing’. When information on the terminations was reported in the media, KCM bosses became angry and ordered some workers to leave the premises immediately without collecting their belongings.
Affected workers, who sought anonymity, wondered why KCM had taken such an action when expatriate workers, who were not affected in the purported downsizing were getting more than US$17,000 (KR371,000) on a monthly basis compared to what Zambians were getting.
“We were questioned about who leaked the information to the media and we wonder why the so-called reducing of labour force has only affected Zambians and not expatriates because some expatriates are getting a lot of money as compared to what we are getting and yet it’s the locals doing most of the job,” they complained.
Meanwhile at Vedanta’s Annual General Meeting in London in August 2013 Agarwal brazenly claimed that the company has not retrenched a single worker at any of their operations.
Reduced standard of living on the Copperbelt despite huge profits
Each mine worker is estimated to have between 10 and 12 dependants, who rely on school fees, food and essential assistance from their working relative. Hence, the well being of the Copperbelt, and much of the rest of Zambia, is heavily dependant on the conditions of the mine workers. At the bare minimum workers should be entitled to full time contracts, a living minimum wage, and fair redundancy benefits. When Vedanta is raking in $500 million per year in profit, it is scandalous that the very basic workers rights are not being met.
Foil Vedanta will continue to work in solidarity with miners who demand fair treatment and labour rights, and will bring their issues to London to hold Vedanta to account. It is our hope that the Government of Zambia will also stand up for the rights of its miners and mine workers.
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) public relations manager, Cris Akufuna
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) public relations manager, Cris Akufuna has said that the ECZ had not received any Court document regarding Mangango Constituency and that the Commission would go ahead and receive the nomination papers from those ready to participate in the by-election.
“I am not in receipt of any Court documents from any political party concerning tomorrows (today’s) nominations in the Mangango by-elections, not to my knowledge and we are ready with the election,” Mr Akufuna said.
Mr Akufuna said his office had already held meetings with traditional leaders, youths and the electorates on the need not to engage in electoral malpractices.
He said the campaign period would commence today after the nominations and end on Monday August 18, 2014 at 18:00 hours.
However, Patriotic Front (PF) deputy secretary General Bridget Atanga said in an interview, when asked about taking part in the by-election, that she was not in a position to comment on the adoption process because her party had taken the matter to court.
Meanwhile, political parties taking part in the Mangango parliamentary by-election in Kaoma District are today expected to present their adopted candidates to file in nomination papers for the election slated for August 19, this year.
United Party for National Development (UPND) deputy spokesperson, Edwin Lifwekelo said his party had adopted Godwin Putu, a local businessman after a thorough scrutiny by senior party officials.
Mr Lifwekelo said his party was confident that Mr Putu was a serious contender in the race and was confident that the opposition political party would scoop the seat.
“We had more than five candidates who showed interest to be adopted but they all had to be subjected to the process, so it is from this process that the party settled for Mr Putu, we are confident that him being a well known local businessman will win the election without difficulties,” Mr Lifwekelo said.
MMD has also settled for a local businessman, Charles Mwezela whom the party said grew up in Managango and would not face any difficulties in campaigning.
The by- election was necessitated after the nullification of the election of MMD’s Robert Taundi Chiseke by the Supreme Court on May 19, 2014 on grounds that his election was fraught with electoral malpractices.
PF losing candidate Richard Simbula had petitioned the election of Mr Chiseke alleging illegal and corrupt practices.
