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Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General Roy Mwaba addresses journalists as ZCTU Trustee Sifeniso Nyumbu (left) looks on at Courtyard hotel in Lusaka
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has urged government to deploy labor inspectors to ensure that employers comply with the statutory instrument on the revised minimum wages. ZCTU general secretary Roy Mwaba said that since government has already made the decision to revise the minimum wages, it should be ensured that it is enforced for it to have impact on citizens.
Mr. Mwaba said that whether employers are going to manage with the new wages or not, it is not the issue of the union but all what the union is happy about is that the vulnerable will now have more money in their pockets.
Speaking to QFM, Mr. Mwaba said that whatever is being done in the country should always be ensured that it is done for the benefit of the people of Zambia.
On Wednesday last week, Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda announced the revised minimum wages and revised condition of employment act for various categories of workers following the amendment of statutory instrument order 2011 no 1 of 2011, order 2011 no 2 of 2011 and order no 3 of 2011.
The revision implies that wages for various categories have been revised upwards with domestic workers’ wages increased from K250, 000 to K522, 400 with transport allowance inclusive.
And Mr. Shamenda said the revised minimum wage is now a piece of legislation which must be complied with by all employers in the country.
Barclays bank managing director Savior Chibiya has said that the current 10 % appreciation of the Kwacha against the dollar could be attributed to the ban of dollarization in the local transaction.
Mr. Chibiya observed that following the ban of the use of the dollar in the local transactions, there has been increased demand for the Kwacha in the local economy.
He however, noted the importance of ensuring that the country maintains stable exchange rates avoiding affecting the country trade activities.
Mr. Chibiya indicated that having a very strong Kwacha would make the exports very expensive, He has also observed the need for the country to grow its export based industries saying this would also contribute to maintaining a stable Kwacha.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“…See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm…”
(James 5:7–8 NIV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
In the book of James, the Bible tells us that we should wait for God’s promises like a farmer waits for his harvest. Now, I’ve never seen a farmer plant a crop and then worry night and day about whether or not it’s going to come up. He doesn’t lose sleep thinking, “Oh, I hope that my corn is going to take root. Please, God, let my corn bring a harvest.” No, he waits with confidence, knowing that the harvest will come. He does his part, and he knows that seed will produce a good crop.
In the same way, we should wait confidently for the promises of God. We have to stand firm on His Word. It’s not enough to just hope that your situation is going to turn around. Instead of the attitude, “I hope I get well,” have the attitude of confidence and say, “Thank You, Lord, that I am getting well.” Start waiting like the farmer. Wait with a knowing. Wait with confidence. Be sure that as you put God’s Word into practice, just like the farmer, you will see that harvest of blessing in your own life in return.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Today, I choose to stand firm on Your Word. I choose to follow Your commands and believe that I will see Your promises come to pass in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen
Zanaco maintained top spot after beating their Copperbelt rivals’ Zesco 2-1 at sunset stadium in Lusaka today.
Keagan Mumba’s sides struggled in the first half against Zesco who took an 8th minute lead through Jackson Mwanza.
Zanaco leveled against the run of play in the 43rd minute through Lewis Macha who headed in a Moses Phiri cross.
There was drama in a space of two minutes with just ten minutes played in the second half when Mwanza saw his effort ruled for offside.
A minute later Phiri hot the upright on the counterattack for Zanaco.
Zanaco make no mistake three minutes later when midfielder Henry Banda swept in a free kick giving Jacob Banda no chance.
The Bankers have now opened up a four-point gap at the top of the table on 36 points from 16 games, while Zesco stay second on 32 points.
Faz Super Division Week 16
14/07/2012
Konkola Blades 2-Konkola Mine Police 2
Nchanga Rangers 3-National Assembly 1
Green Buffaloes 1-Roan United 1
Power Dynamos 0- Green Eagles 0
Nakambala Leopards 1-Nkana 1
Forest Rangers 0- Red Arrows 0
Zanaco 2- Zesco United 1
Indeni 2-Napsa Stars 1
Veteran Politician Sikota Wina has refused to issue any statement over his meeting with Induna Batuke Imenda and some Lozi royalists held yesterday at his farm.
Mr Wina also declined to comment on the cancelled press briefing which was supposed to be held.
Journalists were yesterday turned away from a meeting held by Mr Wina and Induna Batuke Imenda along with about fifty Lozi royalists.
The closed meeting which was to be followed by a media briefing was held at Mr Wina’s Mimosa Farm in Chilanga.
Mr Wina was scheduled to brief the media but later a Mr Boni Mubukwanu who was supposed to be the master of ceremony informed journalists that the briefing had been postponed.
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda says the revised minimum wage is now a piece of legislation which must be complied with by all employers in the country.
Mr Shamenda has warned of prosecution against erring employers. He told ZNBC news in an interview in Lusaka on Saturday that the revised minimum wage is non reversible.
Mr Shamenda said that the minimum wage was arrived at after wide consultation. He has urged all employers to implement the new minimum wage to avoid getting in trouble.
Mr Shamenda was reacting to the Zambia Federation of Employers -ZEF- Executive Director Harrington Chibanda who said the revised minimum wage is beyond the reach of many employers.
Mr. Chibanda was speaking when he featured on a Tv2 programme ‘Seven Dayas Today’ on Saturday morning.
And VICE-President Guy Scott yesterday assured that there will be no job losses following the upward adjustment in the minimum wage.
Dr Scott was responding to MMD Mafinga Member of Parliament, Catherine Namugala in Parliament yesterday who raised concern over the increase in the minimum wage, saying this would trigger job losses in the informal sector.
Dr Scott said that Government had taken a positive step in improving the welfare of domestic workers and others in the informal sector and that the law would prevent any job-cuts.
“What we have done as Government is the right thing, if we hadn’t created the jobs, people would still be complaining and so we are doing the right thing and I want to assure you that there will be no job losses following the changes we have made to the minimum wage,” Dr Scott said.
Recently Government announced a 100 per cent pay rise for workers in the informal sector and urged all employers to abide by the earning adjustment to improve the living standards of the workers.
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott told Parliament yesterday that £411,000 worth of assets and cash from the Barotse Royal treasury was distributed to district councils countrywide in 1964.
Dr Scott said according to the information released by former Minister of Local Government Sikota Wina as published in one of the editions of the Times of Zambia newspaper in 1964, the £411,000 worth of assets and cash was distributed to councils after the signing of the Barotseland Agreement.
The Vice-President, who laid the cutting of the article on the table of the House, was answering a question from Bahati member of Parliament (MP) Harry Kalaba (Patriotic Front) who wanted to know how much was in the Barotse Royal treasury and what happened to the money at the time the Barotseland Agreement was signed.
This was during the Vice-President’s question time.
And Dr Scott said the Litunga of the Lozi people in Western Province, like the other three Paramount Chiefs in the country, derives his powers from the colonial establishment and the republican Constitution.
Dr Scott said this in response to a question by Lukulu West MP Misheck Mutelo (MMD) who asked whether or not the Litunga has powers as those of the Chitimukulu of the Bemba, Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni and Paramount Chief Gawa Undi of the Chewa people.
The Vice-President dismissed assertions that Government is trying to ridicule the Litunga, describing them as baseless.
And Dr Scott said it is not Government’s desire to see people lose their jobs following the upward adjustment of the minimum wage for domestic, shop and general workers.
He said Government revised the minimum wage to ensure all workers are accorded decent salaries.
Dr Scott said this in response to Mafinga MP Catherine Namugala (MMD) who asked if Government is aware that the implementation of the minimum wage is likely to result in high levels of unemployment.
[pullquote] ZRA collected K1.185 trillion excise duty, K1.7 trillion customs duty, K3.9 trillion value added tax, K4.5 trillion pay as you earn while K7.5 trillion was collected from other taxes last year.[/pullquote]
“If we follow your logic, it will mean reducing wages and increasing the number of workers. But this is not the case with the PF government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Finance Miles Sampa told Parliament that Government collected K18.8 trillion in taxes from January 1 to December 31 last year.
He said the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) collected K1.185 trillion excise duty, K1.7 trillion customs duty, K3.9 trillion value added tax, K4.5 trillion pay as you earn while K7.5 trillion was collected from other taxes.
GOVERNMENT will next year re-introduce compulsory national youth service skills training for school-leavers at Zambia National Service (ZNS) camps countrywide, Parliament heard yesterday.
But the programme will not incorporate the rigorous military training aspect. The focus will just be on imparting various entrepreneurial skills in youths.
Minister of Youth and Sport Chishimba Kambwili told Parliament that the training will be conducted in the 81 districts of the country over 18 months and will focus on training youths in various entrepreneurial skills.
Mr Kambwili announced the development in response to a question by Bahati member of Parliament (MP) Harry Kalaba (PF) who wanted to know the plans Government has for youth development.
This was during the question for oral answer session. Mr Kambwili said once Cabinet approves the plan, Government will allocate funds in next year’s budget for the programme. He said ZNS camps will be renovated and instructors to train the youths will be engaged.
Mr Kambwili said Government has decided to re-introduce the programme as the current number of colleges and universities in the country cannot absorb all school leavers. He said Government wants to ensure that all youths acquire survival skills in the event that some of them do not enroll in tertiary learning institutions.
The minister said all school leavers will be enrolled in ZNS training camps regardless of the region they will have come from. Mr Kambwili was responding to a follow-up question by Sesheke Central MP Siyauya Sianga (UPND) who asked about the criteria that will be used to enroll school leavers in the ZNS training camps.
And Mr Kambwili expressed disappointment at Nalikwanda MP Geoffrey Lungwangwa (MMD) who said the compulsory training for youths will infringe on the rights of school leavers to choose what they would want to do.
The minister said he is disappointed that a legislator can be against a programme which will improve the welfare of youths. He said Government’s goal is to integrate the youth in development and that Government will also construct at least a vocational training centre in each district.
Mr Kambwili said Government will also facilitate the construction of recreational facilities and micro-financing institutions to enable youths to easily access finances.
“To demonstrate its commitment to youth development, K50 billion has been allocated in this year’s budget for youth skills development compared to K30 billion provided in the 2011 budget,” he said.
THE nine MMD members of Parliament serving in the Patriotic Front government as deputy ministers have pledged allegiance to President Sata and not their party president Nevers Mumba whom they have described as a failure.
Their resolution to stick to Government has prompted the MMD to consider expelling the MPs, a decision which if implemented, may spark as many as nine by-elections.
Hours after Dr Mumba held a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday calling on the MPs to exclusively stick to their party or risk expulsion, the lawmakers were defiant, saying they are “ready for anything.”
Frustrated by what they termed a scheme to obliterate them from the political scene, Dr Mumba yesterday raised the battle for survival by asking the nine parliamentarians serving in Government to resign.
But Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing Stephen Masumba, who spoke on behalf of others, said the MPs are not “shaken or moved” and they are still loyal to President Sata.
“When it is necessary for us to go to court, we will go to court when it becomes convenient. Dr Mumba is a failure and MMD is destined for doom because if I will contest the Mufumbwe seat on PF ticket, I will scoop it and this reflects the situation in the eight other constituencies,” he said.
Mwinilunga MP Elijah Muchima, who is Deputy Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, said he will make a responsible decision over the call by his party president.
He said he consulted widely before accepting to serve in the PF government and that he will do the same even now when he is being requested to leave Government.
“I will have to consult with my chiefs and the people who voted for me into office. The people in my constituency were very happy when I was appointed deputy minister, so I will have to hear from them,” he said.
Chilanga MP Keith Mukata, who is Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, said in an interview that there is a history to the MPs being appointed to serve in the PF Government.
He said the MMD party leadership made a decision then that their members could be appointed into ministerial positions and does not understand the change of heart this time around.
“There is nothing that they can point at and say I did wrong. Let them apportion blame if they want but I found it humbling to be appointed deputy minister by the President [Sata] even when I belong to an opposition party,” Mr Mukata said.
He said if the MMD has made a decision not to work with the PF government, then all their MPs including those who are backbenchers, must resign. Mr Masumba said the suspension or expulsion of him and his counterparts is expected and accused Dr Mumba of being bitter.
Dr Mumba disclosed at a press briefing yesterday that the party’s national executive committee (NEC) has decided to invoke the resolution of the parliamentary liaison committee which was held immediately after it lost the 2011 elections.
“We have found it necessary to defend ourselves and institute discipline in our party,” he said.
Dr Mumba alleged that the ‘hiring of MPs is a small part in a huge plan to dismember, destroy and to diminish the influence of the MMD and the opposition both inside and outside Parliament.’
“We find it extremely difficult to accept the behaviour of the Patriotic Front. If President Sata and the PF were respectful of us, if they could have called me, called us, maybe it would have been different. We would have said we are working with a civil Government.
“Our only tools for survival are discipline and unity. As president, I would rather have 20 disciplined and dedicated MPs that 80 who not sure where they stand,” Dr Mumba said.
He said the party had resolved that any MMD MP, who accepts a ministerial job from the PF government, ceases to be a member of the party and a letter of expulsion shall be delivered and the national secretary shall inform the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Dr Mumba said while he can accept that MMD MPs can serve in the PF, he found it unacceptable that his party leadership is not consulted.
He said even President Sata and other opposition leaders protested when late President Mwanawasa appointed some members from the opposition to become part of Government.
Dr Mumba said he was not ‘poached’ from the National Citizens Coalition (NCC) but was appointed Vice-President following three months of discussions between the leadership of the NCC and MMD.
Other MPS serving in Government are Josephine Limata (Western Province), Patrick Ngoma (Education), Forrie Tembo (Local Government), Patrick Chikusu (Health), Nicholas Banda (Agriculture) and Isaac Banda (Mines).
By 19:00 hours last evening, some of the MPs were still locked up in a meeting with Dr Mumba at the party secretariat.
FILE: Gate crushers searching for left over food in Lusaka
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection has acknowledged the new minimum wage announcement by the Minister of Labour, Fackson Shamenda stating that it shows that the government is cognisant of the need for workers’ salaries and wages.
They have observed that over the last year, the cost of living as depicted by JCTR’s Basic Needs Basket (BNB) had remained about K2.9m with the most recent figure being K3, 395,660 for the month of June 2012 for an average family size of five living in Lusaka.
The organisation says among some of the findings of the JCTR Satellite Homes research, a compliment to the BNB survey had been that low incomes and a high cost of living were having an adverse impact on people’s ability to make savings and access food daily with some households having to skip meals in order to stretch household income to the month end.
The have further stated that Satellite Homes Research conducted in high density townships typically Chainda, Chibolya, Chipata, Garden, Kalingalinga, Kanyama and Ng’ombe showed, the growing challenges of Zambians due to high costs of basic needs including food, accommodation, water and electricity.
And the Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International observed that the increase in minimum wages was a positive initiative for workers as they would enjoy higher disposable incomes and thus better options and standards of living.
CUTS national Coordinator Simon Ng’ona however noted that it was over ambitious to subject the same increase across all sectors as sectors differ in terms of performance and market sizes.
Meanwhile, MMD president Nevers Mumba has charged that government has to create competition in the job market to ensure all Zambians benefit from high salaries.
Dr. Mumba said the released minimum wages will result in the massive loss of employment in the country.
Emirates Zambia County Manager Mr Khalid Hassan (centre) and Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Africa, Mr Jean Luc Grillet
Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has recently moved their Lusaka Town office to a new, and more centrally location.
The new high-tech office was inaugurated by Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Africa, Jean Luc Grillet in a VIP ceremony that was also attended by dignitaries and members of the travel industry.
Covering 512 square metres, the new sales outlet features seven customer service counters dedicated to flight bookings, Emirates Holidays’ reservations and general customer enquiries.
“The opening of our Lusaka sales office comes less than six months after we launched our flights from Lusaka to Dubai. This is a testament to the confidence that Emirates has in the growth of Zambia’s economy,” said Jean Luc Grillet, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Africa.
Extending Emirates’ award-winning standards of service to the pre-flight experience, the flagship outlet introduces a one-stop ‘Travel Hub’ addressing the needs of Emirates’ business and leisure travellers, premium passengers, frequent-flyer members and potential holiday-makers.
A team of dedicated local staff, overseen by Country Manager Khalid Hassan, is on hand to provide advice, assist with bookings and queries, and facilitate smooth payment for tickets.
“As one of the world’s most lauded airlines, Emirates enjoys a well-established reputation for superior customer service both in the air and on the ground. The new office will enable us to provide our valued customers in Lusaka with the high standards of service, and superior product and facilities that they have come to expect from Emirates,” Mr Grillet added.
The new office is located on the 2nd floor of Acacia Park, Thabo Mbeki Road, and is within easy reach of the commercial centres in Lusaka.
Emirates launched its five-times-a-week service to Lusaka and Harare on 1st February this year. To date, the airline has carried over 43,000 passengers on the route.
The Dubai-Lusaka-Harare service is operated by an A330-200 aircraft in a three-class configuration, offering 12 luxurious First Class seats, 42 seats in Business Class and generous space for 183 passengers in Economy Class. EK 713 departs Dubai at 0925hrs, arriving in Lusaka 1435hrs. The service departs Lusaka at 1620hrs, arriving in Harare at 1720. The return flight will leave Harare at 1850hrs, arriving Lusaka at 1950hrs. It departs Lusaka at 2125hrs and lands in Dubai at 0640hrs the next day.
With a fleet of 176 aircraft and already the largest Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 operator in the world, Emirates currently flies to 125 destinations in 74 countries. With an order for 50 new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft placed at the Dubai Airshow, Emirates now has 227 aircraft on order, worth over US$62 billion at list prices.
Emirates currently serves 21 passenger and cargo destinations across the African continent. Over the next five months, the airline will launch a further four destinations including Erbil, Washington, Adelaide and Lyon.
Emirates Zambia County Manager Mr Khalid Hassan (centre) and Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Africa, Mr Jean Luc Grillet
Mopani Copper Mines on Friday unveiled a sponsorship deal for “Mighty” Mufulira Wanderers that will see the firm rehabilitate Shinde Stadium.
Mopani Chief Executive Officer, Danny Callow announced the deal in Mufulira and revealed that his firm has allocated K500 Million toward the rehabilitation of Shinde Stadium which will commence this year.
Callow said Mopani would continue providing monthly grants to the Faz Division One North side.
” We are aware of the run-down state of Shinde Stadium, which needs some urgent attention. I am glad to announce that we have allocated a sum of K500 million towards the rehabilitation of the stadium this year,” he said.
Callow added:”This phase one will involve construction of a security wall fence to ehance security of the infrastructure before major rehabilitation works can commence.”
He also spoke against vandalism.
“One of the reasons we have dilapidated infrastructure is vandalism. We hope the community will guard against vandalism.”
Zambia midfielder Justin Zulu has joined South Africa Premier Soccer
League side Golden Arrows.
Kickoff reports that, Zulu has signed a three-year contract with
Arrows after he impressed the club during trials.
Arrows coach Muhsin Ertugral confirmed that he had signed the
22-year-old midfielder.
“Yes, he has signed,” the coach says. “I can’t say much about him
except that he is a very good player.”
The Lusaka born midfielder who has previously played in Israel, is
currently in Pretoria with Arrows who are doing pre-season training at
the High Performance Centre.
Zulu featured in almost all the 2012 Africa Cup qualifiers for Zambia
under Italian coach Dario Bonneti but Herve Renard overlooked him when
selecting the team which competed at the AFCON.
FILE: Senior chief Nsokolo innaugurates traditional beer chipumu at the Mutomolo traditional ceremony for the Mambwe people in Mbala
Senior Chief Nsokolo of the Mambwe people in Mbala in Northern Province has lamented the lack of sensitisation programmes in his chiefdom among his more than 30,000 subjects as the extended 60 days given for submissions by members of the public to the constitution making process draws to an end soon.
In a statement released to the media, Senior Chief Nsokolo said that he was deeply disappointed that while most parts of the country have received copies of the draft constitution, currently under review, his subjects, including his Chiefs, among others, Mwamba, Mfwambo, Kela, Kowa, Mphande, Chivuta, Penza, among other traditional leaders under his authority have not received copies of the draft constitution, let alone sensitisation programmes being undertaken in his area.
The Chief has since appealed to the Technical Committee Tasked to Undertake the Constitution Review Process by President Michael Sata, to treat the omission as a matter of urgency and expedite the sending of copies and personnel to his Chiefdom to enable the subjects participate in this national matter so that all their views, together with many other Zambians are included for final consideration by the Technical Committee.
The Chief further said that it is his fervent hope that the people of Nsokolo chiefdom, indeed all others in Mbala are not excluded from this important exercise as the constitutional making process is a human and birth-right for all.
FLASHBACK: FORMER President of Zambia,Dr.kenneth Kaunda was present at the ceremony of South Sudan independence birth day in Juba, South Sudan
Zambia has expressed disappointment over the omission of the country’s First Republican President and freedom fighter Dr. Kenneth Kaunda on the list of prominent African personalities honoured by the African Union (AU).
Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda says Dr. Kaunda is an African statesman who deserves honours from the Pan African organisation for the critical role he played in the struggle and liberation of the African continent.
Mr. Lubinda told ZANIS in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today that Zambia has since contested the issue at the on-going summit.
He said Zambians will not sit back and see history being buried because the history of the liberation struggle of the continent cannot be complete without the inclusion of Zambia and Dr. Kaunda in particular.
“This is a serious omission. Many Zambians will not take kindly to this,” Mr. Lubinda said.
Mr. Lubinda said he was, however, pleased that the contention has received active attention from the moment it was advanced at the AU meeting.
He said the AU Commission Chairperson Dr. Jean Ping has since assured him that the first five prominent people who have so far been honoured by the organisation were not the last.
The Zambian Foreign Minister said the country has requested the AU to come up with proper criteria which will guide member states on the people to be considered for honours.
“We have told them to ensure that a criterion is put in place so that countries can submit their nationals for consideration,” he said.
So far the new AU complex building has been decorated with the portraits of Nelson Mandela, late Congo DR Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, and Former President of Egypt Agdel Nasser and Emperor Haile Selaise of Ethiopia.
A statue of Ghana’s First President Osagefu Nkwame Nkuruma has also been mounted in the front of the multi-million dollar Chinese built AU headquarters.
