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File: Medical staff attending to patients at a Mobile Hospital : Picture Courtesy of ZANIS
GOVERNMENT has recorded success in the operations of mobile health services, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde has said.
Dr Kasonde said the mobile health services recorded more than 100 percent increase in mobile outreach operations and another 25 percent in the number of patients being attended to through mobile hospitals.
Dr Kasonde said the mobile outreach programme attended to a total number of 34,434 patients and conducted 1,746 operations in 18 sites where 25,923 were attended to and 693 operations were conducted.
“The high number this year represented an increase of about 25% in the number of patients seen and more than 100% in the number of operations conducted compared to the same period last year,” he said.
He said the strategic focus in the health sector was to provide equitable access to quality health services with key principles being primary health care approach, good governance and leadership.
Giving an overview on the performance of the health sector during the first quarter, Dr Kasonde said in order to respond to challenges related to access of quality health in Lusaka, his ministry had demarcated the District into four zones and transformed Matero and Chilenje into Districts had advanced.
Dr Kasonde said the contractors for the upgrading of the two health centers had already been selected.
He said the upgrade of Matero and Chilenje health clinics would be completed by August next year and that K92, 760,000 had been set aside for construction while K 7,968,000 was for the procurement of medical equipment.
He said the construction of the two district hospitals was being supported by the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) and selected contractors were expected to move on site next month and commence works.
He said the zoning had been done to improve on referral systems in the country as each zone would refer patients to the first level hopsital in those zones a situation which would lead to decongest the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital.
He said zone one with a population of 445,963 consisted of the Airport, Chelstone, Kaunda Square, Chainda, Kalingalinga, Mtendere, St Agness and Ng’ombe, Zone two would be Chazanga, Chipata, Mandevu, Chaisa, Matero Referral, Matero Main and George health centre with a population of 682,783 people.
Zone three had Kanyama, Makeni, Chawama and Lilayi whose population stood at 356,941 while in zone four with a population of 526,477, there was Kamwala, Railway, Civic Centre, Kabwata, Prisons, Chilenje, Bauleni and State Lodge.
Dr Kasonde said in addition, the ministry had already built five theatres in the clinics earmarked to be converted into hospitals which included Kanyama, Chipata, Chelstone apart from the already mentioned two above whilst a modern 2nd level hospital to serve Lusaka West.
As Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) we wish to pay special tribute to all our hardworking workers as they commemorate their special day which falls on this day, the 1st of May, 2014.
Labour Day is a very important day in the calendar of every employee as it is a day when workers celebrate their contributions and achievements.
We should not commemorate Labour Day with just the usual traditional marching and making rhetorical speeches. As a nation we should use this day to make honest and sober reflection on the plight of our workers and devise mechanisms to address the numerous challenges our workers are facing.
It is common knowledge that the bulk of our workers are working in difficult conditions. Low wages, poor conditions of service, lack of transport and housing are the order of the day for the majority of the Zambian workers. The majority of our workers are actually what one can term as the ”working poor”, who live from hand to mouth. They have neither Living Wages nor discretionary income hence providing essential goods and services such as education, health, food and decent accommodation for their families is a real hustle. Even those that have worked for years have to get a loan to purchase a simple second hand Japanese Car.
These problems are as a result of the failure on the part of our governments to formulate a clear Labour Policy that will not only guarantee dividends for employers and their top management but also guarantee prosperity for the ordinary employees who create the wealth that corporate entities are amassing. This unfortunate situation has been exacerbated by the general poor economic management of our country which has led to a high cost of living due to sky rocketing prices of fuel, food, transport, shelter and other essential goods and services. With the continued depreciation of our currency and the rising inflation it has become increasingly difficult for most of our workers to make ends meet.
In light of these challenges facing our workers, we as FDD propose the following to the government:
1. Lift the wage freeze and start the process of collective bargaining with all concerned stakeholders to resolve this issue.
2. Devise a comprehensive Labour Policy that will ensure steady creation of quality jobs that will guarantee security of tenure, dignity and a decent retirement package for our workers instead of creating menial and temporal jobs.
3. Revise our labour laws to protect the workers and end exploitation.
4. Take a forensic audit of our labour market to ascertain the type of skills available and/ or skills lacking with a view of providing training and retraining of our human resource. Because in an Information age, only knowledgeable human resource can maximise production and create wealth for all.
Prepared and issued by
Edith Z. Nawakwi
FDD President
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary general, Wynter kabimba yesterday held a meeting with Northern Province party officials where he told them to prepare for a possible by-election.
Mr Kabimba said since the people that wanted to destroy the party were no longer factors, the PF had come out stronger and united.
Mr Kabimba who was in Kasama to officiate at the Labour Day celebrations took time to address party officials at the party provincial secretariat before departing for Lusaka.
He told members that had gathered to maintain the province as one of the PFs traditional strongholds.
“In the recent by-election in Mansa, PF had in excess of 9,000 votes while UPND had 300. So in the eventuality that we have by-election, show them that Kasama is not a place to mess with.
“We had some negative elements here which you as the province complained about and rectified yourselves,” he said.
To grow the party and make it stronger, he urged members that included acting provincial chairperson Peter Mwansa and Kasama district chairperson, Caleb Monta to speak with one voice.
Mr Kabimba who appeared to be in a jovial mood said he would be back in Kasama soon and visit other districts for purposes of mobilisation.
“Northern Province has the winning formula for PF, so you need to make sure we do not lose our grip,” he said.
He said the party officials were the image of the party and needed to be exemplary and make decisions that were in the best interests of the electorate.
Legendary FAZ Division One North side Kitwe United have appointed Jackson Kafusha as new club head coach.
Club chairman Gabriel Akayombokwa confirmed on Thursday that Kafusha has been handed a one-year deal at Garden Park.
He takes over from legendary club striker Chisala”Njonginjo”Mwandama who was incharge as caretaker coach following the firing of Knight Mpundu late last season.
Kafusha will be assisted by ex-Roan United and Mufulira Blackpool coach Paul Mulenga
“We have hired Jackson Kafusha as our new head coach. Paul Mulenga is the assistant coach and we have given them a one year contract,” Akayombokwa said.
Kafusha is the fourth coach Kitwe have hired in the last three and half years.
His immediate task is help The Buchi Boys bounce back to the Super League.
Zambia Under-17 have turned to friendly matches after bowing out of the ongoing Dalle Nazioni Invitation Youth Football Tournament in Italy.
On Thursday afternoon Zambia beat USA 2-0 in their second friendly in Italy.
Goals from Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka guided the Chris Kaunda coached Zambian side to victory.
Zambia thumped Japan 3-1 in their first friendly on Wednesday- two days after being eliminated from the youth tournament.
Zambia kicked off their campaign at the tournament with a 2-0 defeat to Israel on 26 April before hosts Italy silenced the Junior Chipolopolo with an identical loss 24 hours later.
In their third and final group game, Zambia forced a 2-2 stalemate against Brazil on 30 April.
The team is currently preparing for the 2015 CAF Under-17 Cup qualifiers.
Zambia will face Botswana in July in the next round of the CAF Youth Cup qualifiers.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA LABOUR DAY MESSAGE
Dear country men and women, every year, the 1st of May is commemorated, as a day in our working lives, when we celebrate the benefits of our labour. It is an occasion when leaders take a deep reflection on the decisions they make in ensuring commensurate compensation for the efforts the general workforce makes in attaining output in various sectors of the economy.
For a long time now, we have heard successive Governments talk about quantity of jobs and NOT the quality of those jobs. We have heard from the Government, on numerous occasions, that so many new jobs have been created, yet most of these jobs do not offer decent work. Quality employment is about security of tenure and prospects for career development; it is about working conditions, hours of work, safety and health, fair wages and returns to labour, opportunities to develop skills, balancing work and life, gender equity and equality, job satisfaction and recognition, and social protection. It is also about freedom of association and having a voice in the workplace, as well as society. Finally, it is about securing human dignity and eliminating discrimination.
The ILO report on Global State of Employment asserts that more than 65% of Zambians, despite being in full time formal employment, are still considered employed poor. Ladies and gentlemen, an employed poor person is a person who earns less than USD1.25 or ZMW7.00 a day. With this kind of statistic, it is imperative for us to critically review the kind of employment our Government claims to be creating. You may ask, ‘Why is this important?’ The answer is quite simple; the working class makes up the middle class. The middle class are the majority consumers; consumers drive the production sector when they buy goods and services. For as long as we do not build the numbers of the middle class, by looking at quality of employment, we are fighting a losing battle. This, my fellow citizens, is amongst the major reasons the current Government has failed.
Our promise to the Zambian Worker, on this day, is that under the UPND Government, our priority will be to create quality and equitable employment. Whoever signs up for a job must get satisfaction and a living wage. This is the reason why our first line of attack will be to address the cost of living through economic reforms, improved management, fiscal discipline and prudence. We shall adequately and effectively invest in Education to equip the workforce with the right skills for the job market. We shall further invest in our health care system to ensure that we have a healthy workforce. When we form Government, we shall immediately go for a decent living wage in place of a minimum wage. A minimum wage is not a living wage and this is the reason we still have workers who are very poor.
Without UPND, this economy will continue to slide into the doldrums, as the PF government has proved beyond reasonable doubt, over and over again, that they are clueless when it comes to economic management or anything to do with fiscal discipline. If we do not address the challenges that the workers are facing, these challenges will affect the worker’s productivity, and productivity is the single most important variable to being competitive.
Once in power, the UPND will also address the modern day slavery which has manifested itself in many ways, including low wages, under employment, servitude and a basic denial of human rights being abated by a corrupt and careless PF government. A PF Government that has failed to negotiate proper wages and decent employment with employers. This is compounded by the fact that employers cannot pay high wages when the fiscal and monetary policies are highly volatile and unpredictable. Today, an employer gets a credit line at 9% policy rate, the very next day, this policy rate is adjusted to 12%. How do employers plan like this? One day there is SI33 and 55, the very next day they are reversed or replaced by SI89 and reversed by the President.
It is impossible to have a sustainable wage and decent pay when the Government is the leader in illegally firing its own workers, like they did with the nurses and many other cases before the courts of law. We can all attest to this.
Countrymen and women, we, therefore, have an urgent need to take deliberate measures to restore the middle class, who form the majority of the working class. A UPND government’s major aim is to affirm that this happens by ensuring that our workers are rewarded with an honest salary for an honest day’s work. My responsibility will be to ensure that the worker gets what is due to him or her for the hard work, responsibility and sacrifice they make, regardless of sex, tribe, party affiliation or state of physical being. This means that we shall fight to eliminate social exclusion in all areas of our lives, like the work place, and guarantee that we shall establish a path of social cohesion where all the human resource that we have will be used as a an asset in nation building and having a strong economy, unlike now where even the peace and unity that we have all enjoyed since independence is under serious threat. This is to ensure that we all get the products and services that make our lives meaningful and comfortable, as well as build a strong nation and economy for ourselves and our children.
There is need to protect workers with a decent social security scheme, as well as investment instruments that will look after them when they are no longer in formal employment. Our desire is for people to be able to retire comfortably whereby they can own houses and, after so many years of labour, be able to enjoy such rewards with real benefits. Hence we shall advocate for favourable interest rates and affordable mortgages to make the workers feel compelled to build or buy houses. We are also alive to the fact that there are more people in the informal sector than the formal one hence we shall work hard to ensure that they are given their rightful place in the economy and that their contributions to GDP and the overall growth of our economy are acknowledged, formalised and captured. This will also help broaden the tax base and reduce the tax burden of those that are in formal employment.
Lastly, I wish to agree with UPND Chairman for Labour, Percy Chanda, on his call last Sunday to all workers to boycott this year’s Labour Day celebrations. There is nothing to celebrate on this Labour Day for workers in Zambia. I reiterate that, let the workers stay at home and spend time with their families instead of going to march in front of politicians that do not care about their plight, when the politicians are receiving free fuel and other allowances at our expense. And we all know that these politicians will not protect them from any violence that may erupt after being instigated by their militias or men in uniform.
A great day to you and continue to work hard for mother Zambia. I thank you all!!!
HH at a media briefing at the party’s secretariat in Lusaka
Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has charged that Republican President Michael Sata has no message and agenda for the people of Zambia.
Mr. Hichilema says the move taken by President Sata today during Labour Day celebrations shows that he is not concerned about the welfare of the workers.
Speaking during the launch of UPND Youth Mobilization Programme which attracted hundreds of youths in Lusaka this afternoon, Mr. Hichilema says the youths at the moment are paused with a challenge due to the poor leadership of the PF.
Mr. Hichilema states that it is clear in the minds of the youths that they were deceived by the PF that they will be given jobs as seen with most of them remaining unemployed.
He says the agenda of his party is clear and that the first gift they will offer the youths of Zambia is free education for all.
The UPND leader furthermore adds that it is unfortunate that poverty is at the peak now since Zambia got independence.
He has maintained that the ruling PF has taken the rule of law and that the people should not give them more time and chance to destroy the peace of this country.
President Sata address workers at the labour day celebrations event
President Michael Sata has directed Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda to ensure that all workers in the country are well paid.
The President says employers should not wait for their workers to go on strike for them to improve their conditions of service.
President Sata has also explained that the wage freeze does only applied to Government workers and not the private sector.
President Sata said this when he graced this year’s Labour Day Celebrations in Lusaka on Thursday.
The President directed that there would be no speeches at this year’s commemorations to enable employers to go back and reflect on the welfare of their workers.
President Sata was flanked by First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda on the podium.
And Dr. Kaunda has thanked the President MICHAEL SATA for his good guidance of the nation.
Meanwhile, hundreds of workers from various sectors of the economy today turned up for a match past to observe the International Labour Day.
And Zambian workers have joined the international community in celebrating this year’s Labour day.
Celebrations have been held in various districts across the country.
This year’s labourday celebrations are being held under the theme “Zambia at 50, creating decent work and promoting social -economic justice for national development.”
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions-ZCTU- president Leonard Hikaumba says there is need to have decent jobs as Zambia turns 50 years this year.
Mr. Hikaumba has however, called for labour reforms to be undertaken quickly.
He says there is need to introduce laws that will provide for punitive measures against erring companies.
Mr Hikaumba was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news during commemorations for this year’s Labour day in Lusaka.
He notes many firms have gone scott free after flouting labour laws despite stern warning by government.
This year’s Labour Day was under the theme; “Zambia at 50; Creating Decent Work and Promotin Socio-Economic Justice for National Development.”
Sata with KK and Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda and the National Assembly SpeakerPresident Sata with Former President Kenneth Kaunda
Born in a musical family ,Co-owning one of Zambia’s most prestigious record label with His brother Ozzy, one wouldn’t be surprised at his life schedule of Waking up to present the breakfast show at Qfm , writing and producing music, performing and sharing stages with a number of international artists at various shows both locally and internationally ,being a multi award winning artist with a long list of hit songs that grace the hearts of both men and women because of his exceptional vocals ,song writing skills and video’s . Roberto is definitely a household name that has extended all across Africa and always leaves his fans waiting for the next hit.
Thirty pupils at Kaoma High School in Western Province have gone on maternity leave in the first term of this year alone.
School Head teacher Jonathan Mukenge said ten pupils who had come from basic schools have proceeded on maternity leave when they were barely in grade ten, an indication that they were pregnant even before joining Kaoma High School.
Mr Mukenge, who made the revelation during a consultative stakeholders’ meeting for the Kaoma District Education Board on Wednesday, said out of the 30 pupils, 12 were day scholars while the other eight were boarders.
He called for the involvement of all stakeholders to curb the problem which has become rife at the institution.
And Kaoma District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Sendoi Mutumba implored stakeholders to come up with an action research to understand the cause of the problem.
Meanwhile, Nkeyema DEBS Florence Hikaumba, who was the co-convener of the meeting, urged parents to take an active role in the input and output of education.
Mrs Hikaumba said parents should realize the value of education for them to see the fruits of their children having gone to school.
She also urged Parents and Teachers’ Associations in school not to over stay in their offices but instead transfer skills and innovations to other people for the purpose of continuation.
Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Chiefs Affairs pose for a photo outside the Livingstone international bus terminus currently under construction with councillors and management at Livingstone City Council
THE Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Chiefs Affairs has expressed happiness at the quality of works for the international bus terminus currently under construction in Livingstone.
Committee Member Given Lubinda said his team was happy that the bus terminus had been constructed with excellence.
Mr Lubinda, who is Patriotic Front (PF) Kabwata Member of Parliament (MP), said Livingstone residents and Zambians in general were looking forward to the completion of the quality project.
He was speaking in Livingstone on Tuesday when the Parliamentary Committee headed by Chadiza MP Allan Mbewe inspected the international bus terminus located at the Villa Grounds.
In February 2013, the Government through former Southern Province Permanent Secretary Chileshe Mulenga signed a contract with Ndilila Associates director Francis Ndilila to construct an international bus terminus at Livingstone’s Villa Grounds at a cost of K41.5 million.
This was in readiness for the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly in August last year.
“We have no doubt Livingstone residents and Zambians in general are anxiously waiting for the completion of the project.
From what we have seen here, this is quality work. Such a showpiece should help us improve in other facilities we are constructing,” Mr Lubinda said.
Speaking during the same tour, Ndilila Associates co-director Ireen Ndilila said the terminus was expected to be completed and ready for use in June this year if additional funds were released.
Ms Ndilila said the escalators, which were being awaited for a long time, had arrived at Walvis Bay in Namibia.
She said the escalators would arrive in Livingstone in two weeks time in readiness for their installation.
“This bus terminus will have a number of shop facilities, restaurants, banks or bureau de changes and other amenities for the travelling public to enjoy.
On the ground floor, it will have toilets as well as restaurants and baggage areas among other facilities” she said.
Ndilila Associates are designers and project managers in conjunction with a team of quantity surveyors and civil engineers
The main contractor is China’s Zamchin firm and there are several other sub-contractors in charge of plumbing, electrical connections and ceiling installation among other works.
“On the challenge we face, we have been struggling with workmanship to get the accuracy we are looking for in these modern days.
Further, certain aspects like paving, standby generator and water supply were not included in the initial plan and so we had to ask for further funds from the Government,” Ms Ndilila said.
File:Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya with KCM and Government Officials and the students who received the KCM scholarships
KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has awarded 15 best performing students from the company’s Trust Schools in Chingola and Chililabombwe with international scholarships.
The 15 beneficiaries obtained six-10 points each in the grade 12 examinations in 2010 and were then sponsored by KCM to study ‘A’ Levels in various disciplines that includes Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Biology, Chemistry and Physics at Simba International School in Ndola.
The students have successfully completed the ‘A’ Levels programme to earn themselves the international scholarship.
KCM acting Chief Executive Officer, David Ng’andu said during the award of the scholarships to the students in Chingola on Tuesday that the company was proud to continue the tradition of sponsoring high-achieving students, its employees and their dependents at local and foreign universities since 2007.
“This is a part of the company’s programme announced in 2011 of sponsoring top students from its Trust Schools for degree study abroad,” he said.
Mr Ng’andu said the sponsored student would enroll for four-year degree programmes in various fields including Electronics and Instrumentation, Electrical and Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Metallurgy at the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), a leading university in India.
He said a total of 17 students have been sponsored previously by KCM under this programme and were studying for degrees in various fields including medicine in both, India and Namibia.
Mr Ng’andu also announced that KCM had awarded separate scholarships to 42 high school students in grades 8 and 10 after they achieved exceptional grades in the 2013 grade 7 and 9 exams.
“The students, who are in government-run schools, are being provided with full-sponsorship until they sit for their next national examinations,” Mr Ng’andu said.
He said the scholarships, apart from being a reward for hard work and excellence, were also intended to enhance the skill base in the country.
Mr Ng’andu said KCM would continue to contribute significantly to the development of education and economic growth of the country.
“These programs of sponsoring students from the KCM Trust Schools for degrees abroad and at Government Schools for national examinations are examples of several initiatives undertaken by the company to develop skills for the country.
“KCM has awarded 302 people with scholarships to study in universities and tertiary schools in various fields such as hydro-geology in the UK, rock mechanics in Australia, medicine and other specialized nursing courses like in intensive care, pediatrics and radiography in Kenya and Zambia since 2007,” he said.
Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba has confirmed that the draft constitution has been submitted to Government through the Ministry of Justice.
Mr Kabimba has further disclosed that he does not know when the draft constitution shall be released to the public saying he will wait for Cabinet to instruct him to do so.
He said he has not personally read the draft constitution but assured that Government will not in any way doctor the final draft report and the draft constitution.
The Justice Minister who is also ruling PF Secretary General was speaking in Lusaka when he presented a paper on Government’s position on the constitution making process organised by SACCORD.
“I cannot answer questions about when the draft constitution will be released. All I can answer is that cabinet will decide when the draft shall be released. At the moment, I can confirm that the draft is with the Ministry of Justice after the Technical Committee concluded its work,” Mr Kabimba said.
He added, “I cannot out a time frame to this process because I do not know what my Cabinet colleagues might say but I can’t tell you it will be released within reasonable time as we say in law.”
Mr Kabimba also charged that the constitution making process has delayed because the Technical Committee on the Constitution deviated from the original terms of reference given to them by President Sata.
“We never asked them to start doing district, provincial and national conventions but they went ahead and started doing something contrary to what the terms of reference stipulated. The Technical Committee went against the vision of the PF on the constitution and this is the reason this process has delayed,” he said.
Mr Kabimba further accused the Technical Committee of producing a disjointed report which has made it difficult to move the process forward quickly.
“Their report is disjointed and difficult to follow through. They have produced a report that is different from the district, provincial and national conventions so you turn to wonder which people they spoke with.”
“If it weren’t for the Technical Committee moving away from the terms of references that the PF Government gave them, this administration would have produced a new constitution within 90 days.”
He said the PF Government is still committed to giving Zambians a new constitution but that it will not be done at the expense of development.
“We have more urgent and pressing issues around the social and economic agenda for Zambians which we feel should not be derailed by the constitution making process. We will deliver a people owned and people driven constitution but we obviously need more time that the time suggested by the Grand Coalition on the Constitution,” Mr Kabimba said.
Mr Kabimba said it unacceptable for some quarters to suggest that the state should not be an active participant in the constitution making process.
He said attaining food sovereignty, delivering on quality education and improving health care are more important to the PF government than rushing through a constitution making process.
Mr Kabimba urged consensus building among all stakeholders if the constitution making process is to succeed.
“I don’t believe that this process has bigger stakeholders and lesser stakeholders, we are all Zambians and we should have a stake in this process. Everybody should be heard. I personally do not believe that a small group of people in Lusaka should decide how the nation’s next constitution should look like.”
He said stakeholders that boycotted the Indaba should have instead taken advantage of the platform to create dialogue over the matter.
The constitution summit organised by SACCORD was well attended by people of all walks of life.
For the first time ever, Zambia will play only one 2015 Africa Cup qualifier home game on a weekend date.
Chipolopolo will play two of its three 2015 Group F matches all as mid-week fixtures.
Zambia’s only weekend fixture will be their September 6 Group F qualifier against the yet to be decided opponent from the knockout rounds involving Zimbabwe versus Tanzania/Mozambique versus South Sudan.
The 2012 champions’ Group F qualifiers against Niger on October 15 and Cape Verde on November 19 will both be midweek matches.
