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President Sata greets First Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda on arrival for the commemoration of International Labour Day at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
State House has maintained that President Sata is well.
State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah told Journalists that President Sata is always in the office carrying out his duties in line with his office.
Mr Chellah was reacting to Dr. Mumba’s advice to State House to issue an apology and clarify whether President Sata is unable to carry out his responsibilities following his conduct at Labour Day Celebrations.
Mr. Chellah wondered how Dr Mumba can issue such a statement when President Sata managed to witness a march past involving over 100 workers.
He said it is shameful for Dr Mumba as a man of God to be peddling such insinuations against President Sata.
Mr. Chellah has since advised Dr. Mumba to concentrate on stabilizing the MMD instead of attacking President Sata.
MMD President Nevers Mumba has advised State House to issue an apology and clarify whether President Sata is unable to carry out his responsibilities as Head of State following his conduct were he chose not to formally address the workers during this year’s Labour Day Celebrations.
Skipper and midfielder Sydney Kalume says he is proud to note that Nkana is the only Southern African club remaining in CAF club competitions.
Nkana on Sunday made history by reaching the group phase of the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup after eliminating Tunisia’s CA Bizertin on away goal-rule after a 1-1 draw on aggregate.
Nkana are Southern Africa’s sole flag bearers in continental competitions after Kaiser Chiefs of South Africa were kicked out the Confederation Cup by ASEC Mimosas from the Ivory Coast.
Kalume said he was cheered over Nkana’s progress in the Confederation Cup.
“I am so happy and I am proud of this club, you know Nkana is a very big club,” he said.
Nkana are in Group B of the Confederation Cup together with Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel and Sewe Sport of Cote D’ivoire.
“It is a tough group but we are going to do something. We are always ready, as players must be ready at any time,” Kalume added
Nkana vice captain and defender Donashano Malama has assured their fans of a good result against guests Kabwe Warriors on Saturday.
Nkana return to league action on Saturday when they host troubled Warriors at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
The 2013 champions have endured a very poor start to their title defence with just three scoreless league draws to talk about with another four games in hand and 12th on the FAZ Super League table.
“Obviously our fans should just come in numbers and give us the support that we need, we will definitely win,” Malama said.
Warriors too have yet to pick up a win in the league this season and are second from bottom with two points from five games played.
However, if they produce a similar spirited performance to the display in their scoreless home draw against Napsa Stars last weekend, Nkana should expect a good run for their money.
MTN/FAZ Super Division Week 7 Fixtures
03/05/2014
Roan United-Power Dynamos
Nkana-Kabwe Warriors
Konkola Blades-Konkola Mine Police
Green Eagles-Nchanga Rangers
13h00
National Assembly-Green Buffaloes FC
15h00
Red Arrows-Zesco United
04/05/2014
13h00
Zanaco- Nakambala Leopards
15h00
NAPSA Stars-Indeni
All kickoffs 15h00 CAT unless stated
Local Government and Housing Minister Emerine Kabanshi
Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Emerine Kabanshi has called on the union leaders in the country to be truthful to the workers they represent in order to move forward.
And Ms Kabanshi has expressed disappointment with union leaders’ disagreement over government’s two year wage freeze.
“ The issue of wage freeze that unions keep bringing up was part of the collective agreement that was made between unions and government at the time when government increased salaries for all civil servants, and for them, to speak against it now is disappointing”, she said
Ms Kabanshi who was speaking during the Labour Day celebrations in Choma yesterday said government is employing various strategies to address the challenge of unemployment particularly among the youth to promote sustainable development.
She said government is implementing the industrialization and job creation strategy with a view of creating one million jobs by 2016.
The Minister added that government attaches great importance to the labour laws to ensure that they meet the aspirations and rights of the workers.
Ms Kabanshi also said government will not come up with a constitution that will favour one grouping but rather an all-inclusive constitution.
And speaking earlier, ZCTU representative Jeffrey Simuntala said the wage freeze allegedly imposed by government is impacting negatively on workers especially that the cost of living has continued to rise.
Mr Simuntala said government is the biggest employer in the country and that any actions taken such as the freeze on wages will quickly be emulated by the private sector.
“There is absolutely no rational for government to freeze wages when prices of commodities are being hiked”, he said
He has since called on the government to lift the freeze alleging that government did not consult in the process.
And Zambia Federation of Employers immediate past president Alfred Masupha said unions should be realistic during collective negotiating as demanding for conditions far above the employers’ reach has the potential to sour industrial relations in the country.
Mr Masupha said the federation was eager to partner with government and other key stakeholders to formulate coordinated and coherent policies in order to generate inclusive skills development policies.
He also called on the workers to be productive and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Various workers from different government departments and the private sector organizations were awarded for their hard work and commitment to duty.
United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema has called on Zambians to ignore Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba as he is just a walking stick for republican president Micheal Sata and not a factor in the country.
Speaking when he addressed a press briefing at the party secretariate Mr. Hichilema said Mr. Kabimba should be ignored as he is just a side kick for Mr Sata whom he is using do his dirty work.
He said Mr. Kabimba has been misleading the nation on the issue of the constitution making process on which he has continued to issue conflicting statements but that Zambians should ignore him as his statements mean nothing and that the person to listen to on the constitution is the republican president.
“Ignore Kabimba he is just a walking stick who Mr Sata uses. You know a walking stick ka, he uses Kabimba like a stick when walking so that when he finds a snake he uses it to chess away the snake and when he finds some thing bad he uses it.
“Kabimba is not a factor because he does not even have a constituency so his job is to praise Mr. Sata so that he can protect his job. Even if we had a by-election in his village today Kabimba will lose and UPND will win so ignore what ever he says,” Mr he Hichilema said.
He further accused Mr Kabimba of lying about the whereabouts of the draft constitution.
“Kabimba told us that he did not know where the constitution was, his Permanent secretary said the same, he also told us through parliament that he was waiting for an appointment with the president and if the opposition stopped yapping about it he would deliver the document and now he has told that facade of an indaba that his ministry had the document. Can you say that he is being honest?” wondered Mr Hichilema.
And on yesterdays labour day celebrations Mr Hichilema said his call to the workers not to take part in the celebrations has been vindicated.
He said just like earlier said the PF was a directionless government which has brought more suffering to the people to the people in the country.
He said the president should have used the opportunity on labour day not only to inspire the workers in the country but to reinstate the nurses who were fired unconditionally instead of the drama that he performed yesterday.
He further said president Sata had no moral right to tell private companies to pay their employees more when his government which is the largest employer in the country is not doing the same and is busy implementing the wage freeze.
And Mr Hichilema has wished media practitioners across the country the best as they celebrate world press freedom day tomorrow.
He acknowledged the hash conditions that the profession is faced with in the country saying;” I know that you Journalists are an endangered spice.”
He called on political cadres especially from the ruling PF to desist from attacking reporters as they are not generators of information but just report on what they are told and what is happening in the country.
The opposition party also received defectors from MMD, PF, UNIP and APCP.
Country men and women, this year’s theme for World Press Freedom day “Media Freedom for a better future: Shaping the Post 2015 Development Agenda” should be properly situated by everyone especially by those in power.
It is undeniable that the press plays a critical role in a country’s governance as well as development agenda. This is why the Media is called the Fourth Estate, not as a “buzz” phrase. But as a critical component through which the three arms of government, that is, the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary can effectively dialogue with the civil society.
The profile of the media in the governance system, therefore, calls for a responsible media that is accountable to the people. Accountability calls for very high standards of professionalism. A free and professional press enables Government to deliver the right goods and services to its population because the press will reflect on the actual needs of the citizens.
In the words of the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon, “journalism provides a platform for informed discussion across a wide range of development issues – from environmental challenges and scientific progress to gender equality, youth engagement and peacebuilding. Only when journalists are at liberty to monitor, investigate and criticize policies and actions can good governance exist.”
Ladies and gentlemen, fellow country men and women, in 2013, the world press freedom index placed Zambia at 72 out of 179 countries. Within a year, Zambia has fallen 21 places to 93 out of 180 countries showing that Zambia’s press freedom record is declining. This status should worry anyone that cares about the plight of the press men and women in Zambia and the future if the media. The sad thing is that sections of the press have forgotten why they are in the media industry. They have been fomenting this closure of the press freedom space on the pretext of protecting the Zambian citizens from what they term rogue media. There is nothing like rogue media, instead where news outlets are gagged, alternatives are created. Those alternatives will not have the ability to regulate themselves because they exist outside the norm. This happens even in economics, when the economy is highly regulated, the black market thrives. This is what is happening in Zambia’s media today where journalists are not free to practice; as a result alternatives have emerged. We might not like them, but they are there because of demand by the citizens.
Now is the time for the media, to take their rightful place in this country. Public debate and discourse will only be meaningful if the media makes efforts to be professional, responsible and accountable. At the same time the Government must not act as guardians for the media. Instead, they must let the media account for their own actions by facilitating an environment that will ensure professionalism and accurate reporting. Whoever lives outside their agreed code, will have the citizens to deal with.
I have in mind the Freedom of Information (FoI) bill and the new republican Constitution. The Government is not getting the full pulse of the nation because the current media landscape is tilted towards propaganda. How does Government know what is a priority and not? If this legislative framework can be addressed, we can be assured of the right service from the media.
Have great World Press Freedom Day friends from the media.
Bank of Zambia Governor Michael Gondwe says the Zambian economy will remain strong in 2014 and projected to grow above 7 percent.
Dr Gondwe also forecasts end year inflation to remain low at 6.5%.
He said the 7% growth is expected to mainly be driven by agriculture, manufacturing, construction and mining.
Dr Gondwe said manufacturing and mining sectors are expected to benefit from the increased capital imports adding that high construction activities are also expected to be sustained in 2014 mainly in roads, construction of housing estate among others.
The Bank of Zambia Governor was speaking in Siavonga Friday morning when he opened the 15th Bank of Zambia media seminar.
Dr Gondwe further said the medium to long term economic growth prospects for Zambia is high and the country is expected to continue attracting foreign direct investment inflows as it grows.
“Given the foregoing, the medium to long term economic growth prospects for Zambia remain bring. The country is expected to continue attracting Foreign Director Investment inflows as it grows. As a result of this robust economic performance and bright future prospects, the Zambian economy recently obtained a US $ 1.0 billion Eurobond, reflecting continued investor confidence in Zambia as one of the fastest growing African economies with growth projected above 7.0 percent in 2014,” Dr Gondwe said.
In the external sector, Dr Gondwe said Zambia’s total merchandise earnings have more than doubled over the last ten years, with notable surpluses recorded surpluses recorded over the last five years.
He said this was largely on account of higher growth in export earnings relative to imports.
“Total export earnings doubled over the last five years to 10.4 US$ billion in 2013 from US$ 4.5 billion in 2008,” Dr Gondwe said.
He said, “The increase was driven by a rise in earnings from both metal and non-metal exports.
Dr Gondwe revealed that metal exports rose by 76.1 percent to 7 US$ billion in 2013 from US$ 4.0 billion in 2008 due to both improved prices and an increase in export volumes.
He said Non Traditional Export earnings posted a stronger growth of 283.6 percent to US$ 3.4 billion from US$ 900 million over the same period.
The Mining industry contributes 65 percent to Zambia’s national treasury and the major mining operations are in North-Western Province where, among the mining firms, are world-renowned mines like Kansanshi Ming PLC owned by First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and Barrick Gold’s Lumwana Mining Company. However, the road to Solwezi from the Copperbelt is in a deplorable condition and motorists are having challenges on the highway which is riddled with huge potholes. And in avoiding potholes, some motorists are causing accidents. But children from the villages on the Chingola-Solwezi road have resorted to patching up the road using mud, in exchange for money from the motorists as can be seen above
Travelling through much of Lusaka and other cities in Zambia, there is a sharp and disturbing contrast that characterise our nation. The city is filled with ‘mega’ projects aka Pave Zambia, Link Zambia worth millions of US Dollars, executed on borrowed funds and contracted to Chinese contractors. At the same time, you see the sight of extreme poverty living side by side with prestige.
Indeed, Zambia has a huge deficit in infrastructure, and with the rumoured poor state of Kariba dam, one can only imagine whether the country would be able to venture into any such mega project if maintenance alone has to be through borrowed funds. The deficit in infrastructure indeed has to be addressed, but its address should not ignore the dire needs of society.
The spending priorities of a democratically-elected government in a developing country or any country for that matter ought to be conditioned by the availability of budgetary resources, urgent needs of the people and limits of the constitution.
[pullquote]the majority of our people cannot afford to drive, yet, when we build roads, we do not leave room for them to walk[/pullquote]
In Zambia, our budgetary resources are inadequate, and we have to rely on borrowing, and even with borrowed funds, we have more than planned for deficits. Our constitution, despite gulping huge amounts of money since 2011, has remained elusive to enact, and the urgent needs of the people are clearly not being heavily prioritised. What are these needs: More jobs. Better jobs. Better health care. Better living conditions through improved water and sanitation to all and above all, better quality education for the future of the nation. Our priorities have been towards prestige—our poor do not drive. Our poor do not fly. Yet, our priorities are to the very services they do not need.
Our government’s perception of economic progress seems to involve building megaprojects like multi-lane motorways, modern airports and a network of ring roads and inter-city bullet trains as proposed by Prof. Clive Chirwa and Prof. Atanga. By focusing on high-profile and expensive projects, our leader seems to disregard the fact that the majority of the people live in mud houses built around dusty and unpaved roads travelled on foot if in the urban areas, or on oxcarts if in the rural areas. Indeed, we have seen over and again some of the oxcart ambulances being used by our rural population.
Even in Lusaka, the majority of our people cannot afford to drive, yet, when we build roads, we do not leave room for them to walk. Our priorities even in the transport sector are elitist. The majority of our people are having a hard time properly feeding and clothing their families due to sharply rising prices of everything with shrinking employment opportunities and falling real incomes due to inflation. And yes, with the wage and employment freeze in place, there is very little hope for any college or university graduate to earn a decent living until such a time as it pleases our government to employ.
Forgotten promises
With the PF’s huge and noble ambition of rural and industrial development, perhaps it would be only prudent that the huge expenditure on some of the prestige construction projects, which have been coupled with plunder in the awarding of contracts and lack of transparent and accountable oversight, could be better utilised to build a network of farm-to-market rural roads that would promote agricultural and industrial development.
Alternatively, the budget deficit could be kept low by avoiding such extravagant expenditure in order to ensure relative price stability. Yes indeed, some people have argued that Mr. Sata is bringing infrastructure development that can only be compared to that seen under the KK’s UNIP era. And yes indeed, we shouldn’t forget the gross fiscal mismanagement and indiscipline that characterised KK’s regime, crippling Zambia from one of the fastest and middle income countries richer and wealthier than South Korea to a highly indebted and poor country with ‘white’ elephant prestige projects dotted around the country. The PF should be aware that it is such blind prestige ambition, cumulatively, which made UNIP unpopular and led to its downfall. The people’s needs should not be neglected. Never!
It’s been a while since I read the PF’s promises but it would seem that the government has forgotten its election promises to reduce unnecessary expenses and instil accountability and discipline in the management of government affairs. Building megaprojects as a symbol of national prestige by begging and borrowing is disgraceful for Zambia as a nation. Most importantly, it shows a regrettable lack of sensitivity to the grinding poverty of the majority of the people.
Throw the begging bowl
Finance Minister Alexander ChikwandaFinance Minister Alexander Chikwanda
The country needs to chart a new course in economic management. It should let go of the habit of carrying a begging bowl to foreign countries and agencies and excessive borrowing on the new found sources of debt, the euro-bond. It is all the more important not to do so to finance high-profile ‘prestige’ projects.
In the 2015 budget, Mr. Chikwanda will have to do more work than mere rhetoric to instil confidence in the Zambia people. Everyone is now looking up to him for salvation. The Zambians will need a government that is disciplined on the expenditure side and does not tax the poor by heavily relying on indirect taxes and inflation. There is a clear need to undertake tax reforms and establish expenditure priorities that meet certain well-established criteria aimed at reducing poverty. With a high rebased GDP, out tax to GDP ratio has reduced, and this shows our inability to adequately capture the taxes due and thus our vulnerability as a nation to debt dependence.
Priorities should move from luxurious lifestyle of politicians to Education and Health
Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba arriving at Protea Arcades for the Indaba
On such an important day as Labour Day when our nation’s population is surviving with employment and wage freezes, spending on the luxurious lifestyles of politicians and bureaucrats and importation of prestige cars for the use of VIPs and similar other wasteful expenditure must be stopped. The most productive expenditure is educating and imparting skills to the youth. A healthy people will prove to be very productive. Our expenditure priorities must, therefore, be changed to increase allocation to education and health.
Let us note that quick-yielding development projects that facilitate investment, production and trade should be preferred over ‘prestige’ projects that are usually money guzzlers. Expenditure on building farm–to-market roads, provision of better seeds and cheap agricultural inputs and ensuring regular flow of water, electricity and other inputs would promote economic development and build up our national image better than high-speed trains, multi-lane highways and glittering airport buildings. This is where we should start from.
Workers during the Commemoration of the International Labour Day at the Freedom Statue on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers from various organisations march past the saluting dais of President Michael Sata during Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka
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Zambia Railways train during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Zambia Railwas train during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Zambia Police Band during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Zambia Police Band during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Zambia Police Band during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Zambia Army Brass Band during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers during the Commemoration of the International Labour Day at the Freedom Statue on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers during the Commemoration of the International Labour Day at the Freedom Statue on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers during the Commemoration of the International Labour Day at the Freedom Statue on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Zambia Police Band during the International Labour Day Commemoration at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Workers from various organisations march past the saluting dais of President Michael Sata during Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka
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Workers from various organisations march past the saluting dais of President Michael Sata during Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka
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Times of Zambia staff at Labour Celebrations
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Times of Zambia staff at Labour Celebrations
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Times of Zambia staff at Labour Celebrations
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President Sata greets First Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda on arrival for the commemoration of International Labour Day at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda (left) listens to Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini at Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka
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President Michael Sata is welcomed by Zambia congress of Trade Unions president Leonard Hikaumba on his arrival at the Freedom Statue for Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka
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President Michael Sata and Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda watch a workers’ march-past during Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka
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Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda (left), President Michael Sata, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions president Leonard Hikaumba and Federation of Free Trade Unions president Joyce Simukoko (right) watch the Labour Day march past in Lusaka
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President Michael Sata (left) addresses workers as First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda looks on at Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka
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President Michael Sata (right) addresses workers as Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda looks on at Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka
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President Michael Sata is flanked by Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda (left) and Zambia Congress of Trade Unions president Leonard Hikaumba (right) at Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka
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President Sata greets First Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda on arrival for the commemoration of International Labour Day at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka on May 1,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
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Zesco employee in Customer Care Department Bwalya Mang’amu Manda : most disciplined employee
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Zesco employee Malambo Road branch in Human Resources Department office Francis Mwelwa Chibesakunda the Most Productive & Self Driven employee
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Majorettes marching during the 2014 labour day celebrations in Livingstone
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Some workers from the Livingstone District Administration marching during the 2014 labour day celebrations in the tourist capital
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A youth band marching during the 2014 labour day celebrations in Livingstone
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Group 3 Security workers marching during the 2014 labour day celebrations in Livingstone
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Transport Minister Yamfwa Mukanga (second from far left), Livingstone Town Clerk Vivian Chikoti (far left), Livingstone Deputy Mayor Fred Sikazwe (second from far right) and Livingstone District Commissioner Omar Munsanje (far right) marching during the 2014 labour day celebrations in the tourist capital
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WORKERS marching to commemorating Labour Day in Mpika
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WORKERS marching during the commemoration of Labour Day in Mpika District
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WORKERS marching during the commemoration of Labour Day in Mpika District
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Workers during the labour day celebrations held at David Kaunda in Chipata
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Smiling Kids entertaining guest during the labour day celebrations held at David Kaunda stadium
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Smiling Kids entertaining guest during the labour day celebrations held at David Kaunda stadium
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Eastern Province Minister Malozo during the labour day celebrations
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Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone(Middle) with Patriotic Front Chairperson Lameck Mangani(black suit) and other senior government officials during the labour day celebrations
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L-R:Eastern Province Patriotic Front Chairperson Lameck Mangani and Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone being entertained by the Smiling Kids during the labour day celebrations in Chipata
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VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott presents the Best Disciplined Company award to Mopani Copper Mines representative during the Labour Day celebrations at Diggers Rugby Club in Kitwe
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ZAMBIA Daily Mail staff marching during the Labour Day celebrations at Diggers Rugby Club in Kitwe
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ZAMBIA National Broadcasting Corporation staff marching during the Labour Day celebrations at Diggers Rugby Club in Kitwe
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MOPANI Copper Mines employees marching during the Labour Day celebrations at Diggers Rugby Club in Kitwe
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HOME Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula cuts ribbon to flag off the march past for Labour Celebrations in Kitwe
Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Miles Sampa
Miles Sampa abandons imported tea, describes Kawambwa Tea as the epitome of privatization gone wrong.
Commerce Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Miles Sampa has revealed that he will not consume any imported tea until Kawamba Tea Company is brought back to life.
In his Facebook posting, Mr Sampa disclosed that he will not drink any foreign tea until Kawamba Tea Company is resuscitated.
“Today I visited Kawambwa Tea factory in Kawambwa where workers have not been paid for 3 years by the owner of the plant. As if that is not enough, he (a foreign national) has abandoned the plant and all his expatriates vanished months back,” Mr Sampa said.
He said the workers have refused to give up and continued to take care of machinery and over 400,000 tea plants (trees) that are about 40 years old but able and viable to produce tea leaves for the next 60 years.
Mr Kabwe described Kawambwa Tea as the epitome of privatization gone wrong.
He said the Kawambwa has been used and abused by different shareholders and now abandoned.
“In the meantime over 400 workers remain stranded. Free market economy or Liberalization at its worst. Capitalism vs Socialism: which is better? I would say somewhere in between the two ideologies as some industries will need Government intervention at some point for more reasons than one.”
“Why should we drink imported Roibos or Five Roses tea when Kawambwa tea has adequate capacity to satisfy teapots in all districts? I will play my part to ensure this tea plant is revamped in one way or another. In the meantime and in solidarity, I will keep off imported tea and only enjoy Kawambwa tea until the plant is resuscitated.”
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda (left), President Michael Sata, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions president Leonard Hikaumba and Federation of Free Trade Unions president Joyce Simukoko (right) watch the Labour Day march past in Lusaka
MMD President Nevers Mumba is shocked and disappointed by the failure by President Sata to address the people during the Labour Day celebrations.
Dr Mumba said President Sata’s behaviour raises a lot of concerns especially that a lot of people had gathered to listen to his presidential address.
He said the behaviour by President Sata demonstrates that his Government does not have an agenda for the Zambian workers.
Dr Mumba has since advised State House to issue an apology and clarify whether President Sata is unable to carry out his responsibilities as a Head of State.
“The behavior of the President clearly demonstrates that this government does not have a plan for the workers of our country. We want to remind the PF that the International Labour Day is not there to show the arrogance of the PF but is there to listen to the concerns of the workers and the plight of the workers in the labour unions and the information from International Labour Organisation that highlights the concerns of workers and issues of unemployment and the President his Government was expected to respond to those concerns,” Dr Mumba said.
“And for the President to cut everything down and not address the people is a great shame to all of us as a country. We are demanding that State House issues a statement of apology to explain to the Zambian people why the President is failing to carry out his presidential responsibility and also give out the position of his government over the many issues that surround the labour market and problems faced by the working community.”
He said, “We wish to remind the President to respond to the call of duty and call of his office. He cannot just come over there and decide he cannot address the people after the people have come from all over the place to hear a directional message from the President.”
Dr Mumba said, “If there is a deeper problem that our President is facing and he is not able to carry out the responsibility of the Office of President, I think it is noble and honourable for State House and his government to tell the Zambian people that he is unable to carry out responsibilities as a President.”
“We therefore condemn the behavior of the President on what happened at the Labour Day event and we think Government owes the Zambian people an apology over the failure to address the many concerns affecting them.
President Sata stunned people gathered at the Labour Day celebrations at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka when he refused to allow the reading of speeches and cut short the ceremony.
Zambia celebrated Labour Day under the theme, At 50, creating decent work and promoting social-economic justice for national development.
Meanwhile, Dr Mumba has congratulated all workers and prospective workers on the occasion to celebrate Labour Day.
Dr Mumba however observed that while many countries around the world have continued to grow their job markets, Zambia is unfortunately experiencing diminishing prospects in the job market.
He said the MMD’s major concerns are the lack of job security and social security for workers in Zambia.
Dr Mumba charged that President Sata and the PF government have remained the greatest threat to the issue of job security.
He said one of President Sata’s pre occupations is the indiscriminate firing of ministers, top government officials and diplomats without any recourse to their contracts and the cost to the tax payer.
Dr Mumba said as mitigation to this re occurring trend, the New MMD back in government, will insist on cabinet ministers being ratified by Parliament.
He said this will ensure that the President takes great care in the choice of nominated Ministers adding that this will in turn give security of tenure to the Ministers.
Dr Mumba said the MMD is also concerned about the levels of poverty amongst those retired workers who have served their nation for many years.
He said in future, Zambia as a nation must ensure that social security is imbedded in its social and economic culture.
Yesterday, President Michael Sata cut short the Labour Day celebrations shocking workers who turned up for the annual event.
President Sata ordered that there was going to be no speech read at the event and just instructed Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda to ensure that all Workers are well paid.
“There will be no speeches, we all shall just be talking about the same things all over again. Go and reflect and improve on workers conditions,” said President Sata before he left Freedom Statue the venue of the event for State House. “ Where are they I am told there are awards to be presented after I have left Mr Shamenda can present the awards because I don’t see why we should be presenting the awards I know how the workers suffer. National anthem please,”
The event was also attended by First President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.
ZAMBIAN-born international economist Dambisa Moyo is among 11 other Barrick Gold Corporation shareholders who have been elected as directors for the global miner which owns Lumwana Mine in Solwezi.
The controversial economist who writes on macroeconomy and global affairs was elected as a director on Wednesday after receiving 592,898,749 votes or 97 per cent of the possible total votes available.
This is according to a statement issued by Barrick Gold Vice President, Investor Relations Amy Schwalm obtained by Times of Zambia in Lusaka yesterday.
Dr Moyo has to her name controversial book titles like Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way For Africa written in 2009, How the West Was Lost: Fifty Years of Economic Folly – And the Stark Choices that Lie Ahead of 2011]and Winner Takes All: China’s Race for Resources and What It Means for the World published in June 2012.
“Barrick Gold Corporation announced that the nominees listed in the information circular for the 2014 Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders were elected as directors of Barrick. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors held at the Annual and Special Meeting earlier today in Toronto are set out below,” partly reads the statement.
Apart from Dr Moyo other nominees who managed to go through as directors are William Birchall, Gustavo Cisneros, Ned Goodman, Brett Harvey, Nancy Lockhart, Anthony Munk, David Naylor, Steven Shapiro, Jamie Sokalsky, John Thornton and Ernie Thrasher.
And Barrick has announced its global copper production of 104 million pounds for the first quarter of 2014 with Lumwana Mine contributing about half of that.
In its financial result statement for the first quarter of 2014, Barrick states that Lumwana contributed 51 million pounds of copper reflecting the effects of an extended and unusually heavy rainy season.
“Subsequent to quarter end, a partial collapse of the terminal end of the main conveyor occurred. The company is assessing the cause of the failure, the extent of damage and the time to repair the conveyor in order to resume production. Current estimates are that copper production is likely to resume by the end of the third quarter.
“In the interim, mining will continue and stockpiled ore will be processed once the plant re-starts. Barrick has comprehensive property and business interruption insurance for Lumwana and believes the incident will not have a material economic impact,” partly reads the statement.
Copper production guidance for 2014 has been revised to 410-440 million pounds to reflect the processing disruption at Lumwana.
Legendary Soccer comentator Deniss Liwewe captured chatting with youths at the trade fair in Ndola.
A LIVINGSTONE based football coach and administration Patrick Kasoka has urged the Government to consider naming the new stadium to be constructed in the tourist capital after the late soccer commentator Dennis Liwewe.
And Kasoka has noted that the vibrant legacy of Liwewe risk varnishing in the Zambian football fraternity following the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)’s move to strip him of the Life Member and Appeals Committee member in 2010.
In a press statement released in Livingstone yesterday, Kasoka described Liwewe as an iconic football hero whose legacy should always be remembered particularly by naming of the new Livingstone stadium after him.
“Livingstone, as Zambia’s tourist capital, needs to be blessed with this name so that international tourists coming from all over the world can have an opportunity to view his image inside.
This will be a tourist attraction and a memorable facility because Liwewe was a hero not only in Zambia but internationally too,” he said.
Kasoka, who is deeply morning the loss of Liwewe, said the vibrant legacy of Liwewe might be lost in future if the current FAZ executive did not clarify on why they removed the late commentator’s Life Member and Appeals Committee member status in 2010.
“Between 2004 and 2008 under Teddy Mulonga executive, Liwewe was a Life Member and Appeals Committee member of FAZ.
In 2010, however, the Kalusha Bwalya executive removed this status at the height of two factions within FAZ and unfortunately this status was not reinstated until Liwewe’s death,” Kasoka said.
Kasoka, who is PK Sports Academy director, has challenged FAZ to quote the provision of the Association’s constitution which it used to strip Liwewe from both statuses.
“My other concern is on whether Liwewe has left a lasting or unforgettable legacy according to the current FAZ executive? Will future office bearers at FAZ say 40 years from now remember the iconical personality of Liwewe in Zambian football?” Kasoka asked.
On the issue of Gabon Air Disaster Heroes celebration, Kasoka said he was still mourning for the team which perished in 1993.
Kasoka has since thanked and welcomed the idea by well-meaning Zambians that the commemoration should be taking place every year without or without the relevant authorities.
“Who is by the way FAZ to dictate over families who are so much distressed to be told when we should commemorate this sorrowful event? Is it a wedding ceremony that can only be held when someone has raised a lot of money?
I therefore challenge FAZ to step aside and leave well-meaning Zambians and the bereaved families to do what befits them,” Kasoka said.
He said it was good that Ponga Liwewe, in partnership with Zambia Sports Fans Association patron Peter Makembo, had taken personal responsibility to ensure that the memorial service takes place every year.
“Shunning the 2014 Gabon Air Disaster Heroes memorial service by FAZ is another way of how far they are continuing to expose themselves and making themselves unpopular even before the eyes of God,” Kasoka said.
TRANSPORT, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Yamfwa Mukanga commissioning the laundry machine for Ronald Ross Hospital rehabilitated by Mopani Copper Mines
MINISTER for transport, works, supply and communications Yamfwa Mukanga says government has placed job creation as the top most strategy for ensuring stability of society and overall growth of the country’s economy.
Mr Mukanga said even though the country had gained political independence, Zambia was still faced with challenges to ensure that all its citizens were economically free.
Speaking during the Labour Day celebrations in Livingstone yesterday, Mr Mukanga said government had put in place strategies to achieve the dream of a better Zambia.
“Our national long term vision 2030 highlights employment creation as a priority for Zambia in order to realize its dream of being a middle income country by 2030. Among some of the strategies, government is implementing the industrialization and job creating strategy with a view to create one million formal jobs in 2016,” Mr Mukanga said.
Mr Mukanga also said Zambia had enjoyed high levels of both domestic and foreign investments that resulted into thousands of jobs being created.
He said government had further attached great importance to to the process of reforming the labour laws so that they met the aspirations and protects the rights of workers.
Mr Mukanga further sounded a warning to employers in the tourism industry especially in Livingstone to ensure that they paid better wages and had good conditions of service for their workers even before the country celebrated its 50 years of independence.
And Zambia Congress of Trade Unions ZCTU deputy secretary general Cosmas Mukuka said despite the country ‘s notable achievements in the democratization process in the last 50 years, Zambia was still faced with constitutional challenges and widespread corruption in public and private sectors including lack of transparency in governance.
Mr Mukuka also said despite Zambia enjoying 50n years of political freedom, Zambian workers had remained economic slaves because they can hardly afford basic necessities.
“On the economic front, we continue to struggle as a nation with high poverty levels largely as a result of high unemployment levels. The high and increasing cost of living mostly triggered by the increase in fuel prices largely undermines conditions of service for workers thereby rendering collective agreements worthless,” Mr Mukuka said.
Mr Mukuka urdged government to strengthen labour inspection and enhance the spirit of tripartism to ensure effective social dialogue in all economic sectors.
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott has stressed the need for the Central Statistic Office to be more efficient in complying critical statistics such as number of jobs being created in the country in order for people to appreciate the Government strides in employment creation.
Dr Scott said currently, there was enough statistics on jobs being created and that this was the reason people were failing to see the effort by Government.
He said there was need for the Central Statistics Office to jack up and ensure enough statistics on jobs being created was provided to the public in order for them to know what Government was doing.
Dr Scott said this in Kitwe yesterday when he graced the Labour Day celebration activities held at Diggers Rugby Club in Nkana West.
This year’s Labour Day theme was ‘Zambia at 50: creating Decent Work and promoting social-economic justice for national development’.
The vice-president said Government recognized job creation as the top most strategy for ensuring the stability of society and overall growth of the country’s economy.
“It is against this back ground that the national long term vision 2030 highlights employment creation as a priority for Zambia in order to realize its dream of being a middles-income country by 2030,” Dr Scott said.
He said Government was implementing the industrialization and job creation strategy with a view to creating one million formal jobs by 2016 through foreign and local investments in four growth sectors complemented by investments in labour market research.
Dr Scott said Government would continue to promote the country as the preferred investment destination.
He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to the process of reforming the labour laws in order for them to meet the aspirations and protect the rights of workers.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) representative Betty Mutambo bemoaned the continued exploitation of workers at the hands of employers.
Ms Mutambo emphasized the need for the country to attract investment that would create decent and quality jobs that ensured social protection to employees upon retiring.
Dr Scott was accompanied his wife Charlott, Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula and other senior government officials.
In Chingola, Etambuyu San’andu reports that Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma said Government attached great importance to the process of reforming the labour laws in the country so that they could meet the aspirations of workers.
He Government had already finalized consultations on the areas of labour laws that required amendment.
And Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) representative Matthews Mwaba expressed displeasure with Government for imposing a two year wage freeze.
