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People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kapiri Mposhi District have today bemoaned the continued scarcity of the vital Anti Retro Viral Drugs ( ART) in the area.
The patients have lamented that they have not accessed the life saving drugs in most heath centers such as at Waya Rural Health Centre in Lukanga Swamp area of the District.
Over two hundred people are living with the disease in the area and currently the health post is delivering health services to 800
patients on ART.
ZANIS reports that Counsellor at the health centre, George Mukabe, confirmed the development in an interview in Kapiri Mponshi District , yesterday.
Mr. Mukabe noted that new clients are not accessing the drugs owing to lack of a Clinic Officer at the beleaguered centre.
He further complained that the previous Clinic Officer, Dickson Mwewa, abandoned his portfolio on 26th December, 2012, hence, the post remaining vacant.
This is after Mr. Mwewa disapproved the community’s threats against him, following allegations that he was not professionally discharging his duties and that he had poor attitude towards the patients.
The counsellor further explained that the Clinic officer is the solely mandated personnel to authorize and introduce new clients to the medication.
Allegedly, despite several reminders from patients, Mr. Mwewa has refused to resume his office position stating that he would only resume work until he is transferred to another station.
But when contacted for comment, Mr. Mwewa maintained that he could not be working in an unsecured environment stating that he was currently on transfer to another unnamed health post.
However, Counselors at the clinic in question, have since called on government to react with urgency in taking a new Clinic Officer before many live are lost.
A passenger bus belonging to Mazhandu Family Bus Services, registration number ABX 8677, has been burnt to ashes along Livingstone-Zimba road.
ZANIS reports that Southern Province Commissioner of Police, Charity Katanga confirmed the incident an interview in Livingstone , yesterday
Mrs. Katanga said the incident happened 25 kilometres from Zimba.
She said the Driver of the bus noticed some smoke and stopped the bus after which all the passengers disembarked safely and the luggage removed.
She said no passenger was injured and no luggage was destroyed in the inferno.
Recently, 53 people died in one of the worst traffic accidents in the country in Chibombo District.
This was after a bus operated by the postal service, but also carrying many ordinary passengers, collided head- on with a semi-truck and another sport utility vehicle, causing dozens of deaths and several injuries, near the town of Chilbombo.
[pullquote]37.94 out of 100,000 people in Zambia died in highway and road accidents in 2011, making it the world’s eleventh most dangerous country [/pullquote]
The postal truck, carrying 74 passengers, was moving on a two-lane highway toward the capital of Lusaka.
The Associated Press reported that police investigators had not determined the cause of the crash even hours after it occurred. The final death toll could rise as bodies remain trapped inside the wreckage of the mangled vehicles.
But Harry Kalaba, an official in the vice president’s office, told Agence France-Presse that all three vehicles were speeding.
The highway where the smashup happened reportedly carries very heavy traffic, even at night.
Zambian President Michael Sata expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
“Allow me on behalf of my Cabinet, the first lady and indeed on my own behalf to convey my deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” Sata said.
“We pray that the Lord Almighty grants the bereaved families comfort and strength during this very painful period.”
The country has witnessed such carnage on its highways. In 2005, for example 44 people were killed when a truck filled with high school students slipped off a mountain road in the north of the country..
According to the police, traffic fatalities have been increasing for the past decade, currently exceeding 1,200 annually (about half of them pedestrians, including many children).
The World Health Organization in particular has noted that 37.94 out of 100,000 people in Zambia died in highway and road accidents in 2011, making it the world’s eleventh most dangerous country with respect to traffic fatalities.
The University of Zambia (UNZA) has launched an ambitious 5 year strategic plan whose implementation budget is estimated at KR 3.6 billion and is aimed at positioning the institution in contributing to both academic and national development.
And Government has implored UNZA and other tertiary institutions to help in the transformation of the public sector in line with the PF manifesto in a bid to deliver quality services to Zambians.
Speaking at the launch, UNZA Vice Chancellor Stephen Simukanga said the five year plan will focus on building on the successes of the previous plan by transforming challenges posed by an emerging competitive era.
Professor Simukanga explained that the plan would strategically poised UNZA for the provision of quality higher education and consultancy services to the needs of the country’s developmental agenda.
He further explained that the funding for the plan will come from both internal and external sources such as tuition fees, consultancy fees and other business ventures.
Professor Simukanga pointed out that UNZA is also forging viable and profitable joint ventures with both public and private sector under the Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a source of alternative funding.
And speaking at the same function, Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Deputy Minister Nevelyn Wilombe bemoaned the poor work culture among Zambians.
Professor Willombe said Zambia has remained underdeveloped compared to countries that were far less developed than Zambia in 1964 because of poor work culture among Zambians.
He commended UNZA management and Senate for formulating a 5 strategic plan in line with the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) and the Vision 2030 that are aimed at making Zambia a middle income country.
Government says the cancellation of the mining license for Collum Coal Mine Limited should not be mistaken for nationalization.
In a statement made available to ZANIS today, Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni said the action by government is merely a cancellation of the Mining License due to the breach of the Mines and Minerals Development Act number 7 of 2008 by the company.
Mr. Sakeni stated that the cancelation followed the issuance of several notices to the company by the Mine and Safety Department, which the mining company’s management repeatedly did not comply with.
He explained that the Mines and Minerals Development Act Number 7 of 2008 empowers government to cancel mining rights, saying the cancellation does not affect any liability that the holder of such a right incurred before the annulment.
Mr. Sakeni who is also s Information and Broadcasting Service Minister noted that in the case of Collum Coal Mine, the Director of Mines had ensured that all assets of the Mine were applied towards pre-cancellation liabilities.
He stated that once a mining License has been cancelled, the area reverts back to government, and is available for reallocation to applicants by the Mining Advisory Committee, on a first come first save basis.
Mr. Sakeni said the involvement of the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) is therefore not government takeover, saying ZCCM-IH applied for the mining rights following the cancellation of the mining license from Collum Coal Mine.
He added that the withdrawal of the license was done in national interest and in line with the law.
Former Court Interpreter Maxwell Matenga Jiki has been sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour in a case in which he was jointly charged with Matthews Mohan and Mary Gibbons for corruption.
Lusaka High Court Deputy Director of Court Operations Chilombo Phiri sentenced Jiki to five years imprisonment in the first count , three years in count two and three years in count three.
She said the sentences will run concurrently effective from today February 26, 2013.
And in mitigation Jiki said he was married with two children and that his wife is expecting therefore sending him to prison was going to make his family suffer.
He further said he had been dismissed from his work and has lost his pension adding that a harsh sentence will subject his family to hardships.
“I am asking for leniency since I lost my job five years down the lane, I do not have anything to do,” he said.
In the first count Jiki was jointly charged with Mohan and Gibbons for corrupt practices after they offered KR10, 000 to Manda, a public officer.
In the second count, the trio allegedly conspired to obtain and destroy exhibits from a prosecution docket.
Jiki is in the third count charged with being in unlawful possession of US$300 counterfeit notes.
Jiki told ZANIS in an interview shortly after the sentencing that he would appeal to the High Court.
Left to right, Former Zambian President Rupiah Banda, Swedish Ambassador to Kenya Joan Borgstam and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Ahmed Hassan leave the hall after opening the two-day conference on the Kenya 2013 elections.
Former President Rupiah Banda is scheduled to lead a 50-person Carter Centre International observer mission in Kenya ahead of next week’s polls in that country.
The Former Head of State has expressed confidence in the preparations that the Kenyan people have made to holding peaceful and credible elections that all Africans can be proud of.
He cited among other factors, the interventions that have been put in place by the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (ELSA) Kenya chapter, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the Kenyatta University School of Law and the Kenyan Judiciary working committee on the election preparations.
This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Mr. Banda said the Kenyan elections slated for March 4, 2013 were important not only because of the spectre of violence that the 2007 polls left but also that they will be Africa’s first in the year 2013.
“It will be important that the Kenya elections are seen to be credible, transparent and democratic in every respect. That way, all other elections on the continent can follow the same path,” said the former President.
Mr. Banda is expected to travel to Kenya at the invitation of former United States President and Carter Centre Chairperson Jimmy Carter.
President Carter is hopeful that the former Zambian leader’s experience, knowledge and political leadership would be invaluable to the mission.
Mr. Banda has previously headed the Carter Centre Mission to presidential and parliamentary elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone.
He has also overseen National Assembly elections in the Royal Kingdom of Lesotho under the electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.
Riots have broken out in Livingstone bringing business in the tourist capital to a standstill after UPND cadres ran amok following the arrest of their leader Hakainde Hichilema.
Shops have been closed and some roads in the city centre blocked by UPND cadres protesting against Mr. Hichilema’s arrest.
Police are using teargas to disperse the cadres who are demanding the release of Mr. Hichilema who has been detained at Livingstone Central Police.
Mr. Hichilema was arrested a while ago in connection with the death of a PF official identified as Harrison Chanda.
The late Chanda who was Monze PF District Chairman is believed to have been killed during a political clash between PF cadres and their UPND rivals in Livingstone yesterday.
Mr. Hichilema was picked up this afternoon after the police surrounded the Lodge he was staying at.
Others picked up include William Banda and Mr. Hichilema’s special adviser Douglas Siakalima.
The police are yet to slap any charges on Mr. Hichilema and the other party officials.
And Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu has disclosed during a media briefing in Livingstone this afternoon that the UPND officials were picked up to help with investigations.
Mr. Lungu said the number of those picked up so far in connection with Mr. Chanda’s murder stands at 27.
Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo and his Kalomo counterpart Request Mutanga along with other cadres were arrested last night in connection with Mr. Chanda’s murder.
[pullquote]“Hichilema who was apprehended around 16:00 hours has been charged with proposing violence contrary to section 91 (1) of chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia,” she said.[/pullquote]
Mr. Lungu also revealed that police have picked up sharp instruments from the UPND command centre in Livingstone which they suspect could have been used in the murder.
The Home Affairs Minister accused the UPND of resorting to violence after realizing that it was losing Thursday’s bye election.
Police Inspector General Stella Libongani and Southern Province Police Chief Charity Katanga attended the briefing.
Meanwhile, the UPND has described the arrest of its key officials and other cadres as an act of intimidation.
UPND Spokesman Charles Kakoma said the Zambia Police is been used by the PF government to cripple the UPND’s campaign machinery in Livingstone.
He was speaking in Parliament this afternoon when he rose on a point of order over the arrest of the UPND MP’s and other officials.
Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has since ordered the state through the Vice President or Home Affairs Minister to present a statement to Parliament on Thursday over the arrest of the UPND MP’s.
And And Southern province police commissioner Charity Katanga also confirmed that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was apprehended with 9 others at White Rose Lodge along Lusaka Road in Livingstone.
“Hichilema who was apprehended around 16:00 hours has been charged with proposing violence contrary to section 91 (1) of chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia,” she said.
Mrs Katanga said William Banda was arrested with 14 others in Ellen Brittel. She added that all the people that had been arrested would be screened to help police with investigations.
She said the police were geared to ensure that peace prevails in the Livingstone by election.
Police in Livingstone are looking for UPND President Hakainde Hichilema to help with investigations in the suspected murder of a PF cadre in Livingstone yesterday.
Mrs. Katanga has urged Mr. Hichilema to present himself to the police to help with investigations in the matter.
Mrs. Katanga said police believe Mr. Hichilema was no exception in the case and was waiting for him to turn up to help police in their investigations.
“We have reason to believe that Mr. Hichilema is no exception in this case because he is on record to have encouraged his cadres to react when they saw the PF truck passing near the UPND camp,” Mrs Katanga said.
She said police have footage where Mr. Hichilema allegedly urged his members to react to any external forces after receiving information that some UPND members were being attacked.
She said Mr. Hichilema said this when he appeared on Zambezi FM Radio Station last evening adding that his statement could have incited violence.
Police in Livingstone have arrested five more United Party for National Development (UPND) members in connection with the suspected murder of a Patriotic Front (PF) cadre last night.
Among UPND senior officials that were arrested yesterday are campaign manager for Livingstone parliamentary by-election, Garry Nkombo, Kalomo Member of Parliament, Request Muntanga, Livingstone UPND spokesperson Neto Halwabala and party election chairman Ackson Sejani.
Southern Province Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga said the total number of UPND members that have been arrested in connection with the murder of Henry Chanda, a Monze PF districts secretary is 17.
[pullquote]She said police have footage where Mr. Hichilema allegedly urged his members to react to any external forces after receiving information that some UPND members were being attacked.This was when he appeared on Zambezi FM Radio Station last evening adding that his statement could have incited violence.[/pullquote]
Last night, 12 UPND cadres were picked up in connection with the same case.
Ms. Katanga said Chanda was allegedly murdered by suspected UPND cadres in Elaine Brittell near the UPND campaign camp between 19:00 hours and 20:00 hours yesterday.
“I can confirm that we have arrested five more people apart from the 12 we arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of a PF official by the name of Mr. Henry Chanda,” she said.
Mrs. Katanga said information so far gathered by the police indicate that the man met his fate when a truck which PF cadres were using passed near the UPND camp where an unknown man emerged and allegedly hacked the deceased with a suspected machete.
The Southern Province Police Commissioner said investigations have since been instituted to ensure that all culprits are brought to book.
She explained that after searching the UPND camp, police found bricks, sticks, a knife and two machetes which were believed to have been used in the act.
She said it was unfortunate that such incidences were happening in the city and urged all political leaders to preach peace to avoid such sad occurrences.
Meanwhile, police have appealed to people of Livingstone to remain calm and vote peacefully despite what happened yesterday.
She said police would guarantee security to all the electorates.
And the Human Rights Commission has condemned the murder of Chanda saying the incident was a negation of democratic tenets which the multiparty system has adopted.
Human Rights Commission Chief Information, Education and Training Officer, Samuel Kasankha, said violence during election time must be ended.
Mr. Kasankha said political parties and other stakeholders must sensitise their members against using violence during elections.
Campaigns for Thursday’s parliamentary by-election in Livingstone and Mpongwe ended at 06:00 hours today.
The Livingstone seat fell vacant after incumbent MP, Howard Sikwela resigned from the UPND citing hostility in the party.
Lawrence Evans is contesting the seat on the PF ticket, Regina Musokotwane is standing on the UPND ticket while Fred Siasuntwe and Green Mwanang’ombe are for MMD and UNIP respectively.
Government has set aside 1 million Kwacha Rebased to be disbursed to hospices for the provision of health care to the chronically ill in the country.
Minister of Health, Joseph Kasonde says government recognizes the role that hospices mostly managed by the church play in the provision of health care to patients.
Dr. Kasonde said his Ministry is aware of the emergency of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country and has started putting in place measures to address the challenges of the diseases with partners.
He noted that diseases such as Diabetes, Cancer and Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS have escalated in the country.
Dr. Kasonde was speaking when he officially opened the 6th Biennial Africa Christian Health Associations (CHAs) Conference in Lusaka today.
And speaking earlier, World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative Olusegun Babaniyi has warned that the number of NCDs is expected to rise if measures are not put in place to address the diseases.
Dr. Babaniyi has noted that addressing the burden of NCDs will require countries to develop relevant policies, plans and health system in order to deliver essential services.
Sinazongwe Area Member of Parliament Richwell Siamunene says he is ready to be expelled from the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) if his efforts to work with government in alleviating the suffering of people in his constituency are hampered by his party.
Mr Siamunene said people in his constituency were suffering and he would continue partnering with government openly to ensure efficient service delivery to people in Sinazongwe district.
“If I am expelled for working with government and exposing people’s problems in my constituency, then it is okay. I joined politics to serve the people and it will be good to be fired when attending to people’s problems,” he said.
Mr Siamunene said this in Sinazongwe yesterday when he accompanied Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Harry Kalaba to the broken down Simwaala Bridge on the Bottom Road in Dengeza area.
He charged that he was not in parliament to receive allowances but to inform government on the challenges people in his constituency were facing in a bid to have them addressed.
“It is my duty as an MP to inform government of what challenges people in my constituency are facing and to remind the people in power of the promises they made and if they don’t address them, it becomes their problem,” he said.
Mr Siamunene said people in Sinazongwe district were facing a lot of challenges including poor road network, lack of medical supplies, lack of teachers in schools, maternal deaths and high poverty levels due to poor crop yields among others.
“When bridges are flooded, children cannot go to school, pregnant women cannot be taken to the hospital, agricultural produce cannot be marketed and medical supplies cannot be delivered on time due to the bad state of the Bottom road which has been left unattended to for the past 50 years or so,” he said.
He also revealed that hunger was looming in his constituency following the stunted growth of most maize crops and sorghum in the area.
Mr Siamunene said some areas were already hunger stricken and people were surviving on wild fruits and seeds from wild grass locally known as ‘Mpunga’.
And Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Harry Kalaba urged UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema to emulate Sinazongwe MP Richwell Siamunene by working with government.
Mr Kalaba said it was not time for politicking but for leaders in opposition to go beyond party lines and work with government to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable people in the country.
He said the country was not interested in leaders that were blocking development and good governance.
Mr Kalaba stressed that government would not allow people in Sinazongwe district to die of hunger and pledged to have relief maize sent to the area.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister revealed that Zambia Army Officers would move in at Simwaala broken down bridge within seven days to reconstruct the bridge which he said would be completed in 21 days.
And commenting on the expulsion of UPND Itezhi Tezhi Member of Parliament, Greyford Monde, Mr Kalaba said the law maker did the right thing by accepting to serve in government as Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
Mr. Kalaba explained that governance was about embracing each other and collective responsibility and Mr Monde’s decision was for the larger good and not personal interest.
He reiterated that President Michael Sata was not killing the opposition by appointing its MPs to serve in government as it was his constitutional right to appoint ministers from within parliament.
Mr Kalaba said opposition MPs needed input from government to develop their areas as they could not just rely on Constituency Development Funds (CDF) which is inadequate and prone to mismanagement.
United Party for National Development vice president Richard Kapita
The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) says the ruling Patriotic Front should find a more appropriate way of selling itself instead of implicating the opposition party in the death of a PF member in Livingstone last night.
Police in Livingstone yesterday arrested Mazabuka central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo, Kalomo central parliamentarian Request Muntanga and other party officials in connection with the death of the PF cadre.
UPND Vice President Richard Kapita says the party is not even aware of the death of the PF member.
Mr. Kapita says the police should clearly explain the main reason why its campaign team was arrested because no information has since been availed for their arrest.
Speaking at a media briefing at the party secretariat this morning, Mr. Kapita has since accused the ruling Patriotic Front of working to decapitate the UPND’s campaign team in Livingstone.
Meanwhile Mr. Kapita says UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is not a coward to run away from anything.
He says Mr. Hakainde is today likely to avail himself before the police to find out what he is being wanted for.
And party deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa, who was also in Livingstone says it is unfortunate that the ruling Patriotic Front is exhibiting sign of desperation by blaming the UPND of being responsible for the deaths of their cadres.
Mr. Mweetwa says the UPND is aware that the PF is contemplating to charge the arrested officials with murder but states that no amount of intimidation will stop the party from winning the seat.
File picture : PF militia…a PF youth wielding a dangerous weapon goes for UPND cadres during the Kabwata violence
A Patrotic Front (PF) official has been hacked to death in Livingstone.The incident occured yesterday and Southern Province police commissioner Charity Katanga has confirmed the death.Mrs Katanga said Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo and his counterpart for Kalomo Request Muntanga are among the suspects arrested and detained by the police in connection with the death of the PF official.She said the police are also looking for UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema for questioning.
Fresh violence is said to have broken out Monday evening in Livingstone between UPND and PF cadres in resulting in the death of a suspected PF cadre from Lusaka.
It is alleged that drunk PF cadres drove to the UPND camp in Mosi-o-Tunya area and started throwing stones and other weapons at the UPND campaign center at the time the UPND team were having their meals resulting in the confrontation.
[pullquote]As Police investigate the killing of the PF cadre, we urge them to be firm but fair and professional so that they do not end up making arbitrary arrests and in the process victimizing innocent people[/pullquote] Meanwhile the Human Rights Commission has expressed disappointment over the continued unfair practices by different stakeholders, which in one way or another, will contribute negatively towards the holding of free and fair elections in the Mpongwe and Livingstone parliamentary by elections taking place on February 28, 2013.
This is contained in a press statement made available to the media by Chief Information, Education and Training,Human Rights Commissioner Samuel Kasankha.
The Commission, which had a physical presence in both constituencies during the latter part of the campaigns, noted with regret that clashes between and attacks on members of opposing political parties continued to be reported throughout the campaigns.
The Commission said it is most unfortunate, and indeed a negation of the democratic tenets which the multiparty system we have adopted stands for, that political parties, or some of their members, should believe in the use of coercion, force or instilling fear, as a way of gaining political advantage, particularly with regard to putting favored candidates into elective political office.
[pullquote]The police,cadres and political leaders have no intention to stop the violence despite having power. It is a tragedy[/pullquote] In this respect, we wish to condemn in the strongest terms the clashes between PF and UPND cadres which led to the death of one PF cadre on the night of Monday February 25. This being the second straight by election in which a life has been lost in similar circumstances, must give all of us extra resolve to bring to an end all violence during campaigns. Political parties and other stakeholders must make it a priority to sensitize their members on the dangers of violence because, if not contained, it can escalate and create protracted violent conflict.
As Police investigate the killing of the PF cadre, we urge them to be firm but fair and professional so that they do not end up making arbitrary arrests and in the process victimizing innocent people. The Commission is closely monitoring the situation and will update the public on any worthwhile developments.
Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) secretary general Suzanne Matale regretted that violence had become part of every election campaign and blamed the vice on politicians for failing to control it.
“The political leaders should blame themselves if the country goes up in flames because the political violence is not new. The police,cadres and political leaders have no intention to stop the violence despite having power. It is a tragedy!” she said.
The National Restoration Party (NAREP) has described the ban on political party rallies by deputy Inspector general of police Solomon Jere on Sunday, which was later overruled by the Electoral Commission of Zambia as a clear indication of continued abuse of misapplication of the law by government.
NAREP National Chairperson Joseph Mushalika has told Qfm News that the unsuccessful attempt shows the extent to which the current government is disregarding the rule of law.
Mr. Mushalika says it is unfortunate for Dr. Jere to engage in unprofessional conduct by undertaking unpopular decisions which have no legal backing.
He says Dr. Jere should not have made the decision in the first place in order to spare himself from embarrassment.
Mr. Mushalika says what is important is to establish causes of political violence.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia yesterday overruled the Zambia Police’s ban on political rallies in the by-elections.
The ECZ stated that is the only organisation mandated to set up an election time table, including a campaign timetable which should be respected by all stakeholders without exception.
A mortuary attendant and a nurse at Liteta hospital accused of looting from the Chibombo tragic accident involving a Zampost bus and a truck in which over 50 people died have pleaded not guilty to one count of theft and another count of failure to account for possession of property reasonably suspected to have been stolen.
Moloson Telebe, 42, and Derrick Siwakwi, 38, took plea yesterday before Principal Resident Magistrate John Mbuzi.
In the first count the two are jointly charged for theft in that on the February 7 this year, while acting together, the duo stole KR1,200 the property of Zambia Police.
In the second count on February 12, 2013 Telebe allegedly had in possession 1×2 plate cooker, one Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) decoder, one satellite dish, a DVD player, electric fan, deep freezer, one mountain bike, among others suspected to have been stolen or unlawful obtained
The court set March 22, 2013 as trial date. Recently police arrested and charged the two for allegedly looting following the Chibombo tragic accident.
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) is allegedly victimising some employees who leaked information to the media that 11 Zambian Senior Managers’s emplyment was terminated.
The alleged victimised workers claimed that management got incensed when information about the 11 Senior Managers that were fired last week was published and started questioning them on who leaked the information.
The workers said after media reports of dismissed workers, some employees were ordered to live the company premises immediately without giving them an opportunity to get their personal items.
And the affected workers who sought annomity wondered why KCM had taken such an action when expatriate workers, who were not affected in the purported downsizing were getting over US$ 17,000(KR371,000) on a monthly basis compared to what Zambians were getting.
They wondered why it was only Zambian senior members of staff who were affected and no expatriate was affected, if truly the termination of employment was based on a bid to reduce the labour force.
The dismissed workers also claimed that initially over 50 employees were supposed to be fired but after information leaked to the media, some workers have not been given their letters of termination of employment.
“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 alot of money as compared to what we are getting and yet it’s the locals doing most of the job,” they complained.
They further claimed that it was managements wish not to let Government and members of the public aware about the happenings at the mining company and appealed to Government to take a keen interest at the happenings at KCM.
KCM public relations manager Joy Sata was not available for a comment by press time.
And Chingola District Commissioner George Sichula said he had met KCM officials over the termination of employment of workers.
Mr Sichula said KCM management claimed that the Senior Managers were a liability and a cost to the company.
“I held a meeting with management and they informed me that they were paying the senior mangers a lot of money for doing nothing and that the workers were a liability to the company.
“What is happening here is sad because the mining company seems to be against the Patriotic Front policy of job creation and putting money in people’s pockets. This is a pro-poor Government but KCM is taking such actions independently and without informing us,” he said.
Mr Sichula said if the termination of employment for some senior members of staff was done in good faith, management would have communicated and would not victimise workers.
He said it seemed KCM management did not want to be exposed and warned that they cannot do anything without Government being aware of their actions.
Mr Sichula urged KCM and other private institutions to be concerned with the welfare of workers and not just to be interested in making profits.
Last week, Sources at KCM said about 11 senior managers in full time and pensionable employment at were fired without management giving clear reasons as to why they had taken such an action.
It was alleged that senior members of staff were fired in a bid to ‘reduce the labour force’ a move which had created uncertainty among the remaining workers.
