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Jay Rox releases Zamcab off his soon to be released album Mvesesani Niza Musekesani.
In this song Jay Rox likens the way a lady makes him feel to the movements of a “Zamcab” – A Zamcab is a wheelbarrow turned transportation vehicle by local Zambian Entrepreneurs that you can see practically on every corner of the capital city Lusaka.
This particular release comes along with a Dance Competition.The Ladies get to win a movie date with Roxa at Freshview Cinemas at Manda Hill Mall in Lusaka and the Fellas get to win a studio session with Production from the man himself. Each contestant must send in a short clip of them dancing to “Zamcab” with the own interpretation…in other words come up with your own style of the “Zamcab’ dance shoot it on your camera phones and send the short clip to [email protected]…TheBest Female and Best Male get the Prizes! Unfortunately this competition is only open to Lusaka residents but if you can still go ahead a submit your video no matter where you are from!
Today marks the 19th anniversary of the tragedy that befell our country in 1993.
During the late evening of Tuesday 27 April 1993 the Zambian Air Force Buffalo DHC-5D carrying most of the Zambian national football team to a FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Senegal in Dakar caught fire and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 500 metres offshore near Libreville, Gabon.
The plane had made a refuelling stop in Libreville en route to Dakar. All 30 passengers died, among them most of the finest generation of footballers Zambia had ever produced.
Eventually 24 bodies were recovered, but only 13 could be identified.
A Gabonese official investigation into the accident concluded that the pilot had shut down the wrong engine after a fire. The investigation found that pilot fatigue and an instrument error had contributed to the accident.The Zambian government is yet to release a full report of the air crash to be unveiled to the public or family members.
The Copper Bullets ‘Chipolopolo’ honored the fallen heroes when they won AFCON trophy earlier in the year in Gabon.
‘We wanted to honour the dead players and that strengthened us. Our first game was against Senegal and the team was on its way to Senegal for a match when the plane crashed. The plane crashed in Gabon and we won the final in Gabon. It is a sign of destiny,”Zambia coach Herve Renard said after Zambia lifted the trophy.
Let us remember our brothers that lost their lives for us. “Rest in Peace”.
Gone but not forgotten
Footballers
Efford Chabala (goalkeeper)
John Soko (defender)
Whiteson Changwe (defender)
Robert Watiyakeni (defender)
Eston Mulenga (midfielder)
Derby Makinka (midfielder)
Moses Chikwalakwala (midfielder)
Wisdom Mumba Chansa (midfielder)
Kelvin “Malaza” Mutale (striker)
Timothy Mwitwa (striker)
Numba Mwila (midfielder)
Richard Mwanza (goalkeeper)
Samuel Chomba (defender)
Moses Masuwa (striker)
Kenan Simambe (defender)
Godfrey Kangwa (midfielder)
Winter Mumba (defender)
Patrick “Bomber” Banda (striker)
Coaching staff
Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu
Alex Chola
Wilson Mtonga (doctor)
Wilson Sakala
Others
Michael Mwape (FAZ Chairman)
Nelson Zimba (public servant)
Joseph Bwalya Salim (journalist)
Crew
Colonel Fenton Mhone (pilot)
Lt Colonel Victor Mubanga (pilot)
Lt Colonel James Sachika (pilot)
Warrant Officer Edward Nambote (fitter)
Corporal Tomson Sakala (steward)
Vice President Guy Scott arrived in London for a five- day working visit.
Dr Scott who is accompanied by his wife Charlotte, Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Keith Mukata, Commerce Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa and Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Director-General Andrew Chipwende was met on arrival by Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Bizwayo Nkunika.
During his visit to Britain, the Vice President is among other programmes expected to address a breakfast roundtable meeting organised by Thomson Reuters in Canary Wharf where he will meet 15 banks and equity funds on investment opportunities in Zambia.
Dr Scott will also conduct a public lecture at Thomson Reuters where he is expected to speak about the policies of the Patriotic Front (PF) government and the economic prospects of the country.
He will also attend a luncheon to be hosted in his honour by the Commonwealth Business Council where he will expound to an audience of forty (40) potential investors about the investment climate and opportunities available in the Zambia.
The investors at this meeting have been drawn from the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.
Dr Scott is also expected to give a key note address at the inaugural Business in Africa Conference at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School being organised by the Cambridge Africa Business Network under the theme: ‘Unlocking Value in Frontier Africa’ which is expected to be opened by former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
On his tight schedule, Dr Scott will hold a meetings with the Overseas Development Institute, the British Minister for Africa, Foreign and Commonwealth Office official a Mr Bellingham.
He will further meet Mr Stephen O’brien, the Permanent Under Secretary of State in the Department of International Development (DfID) among others.
Before winding up his visit to Britain, Dr Scott will also address the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Agriculture and Food for Development and Zambia and Malawi respectively.
The Vice President will also meet with Mr Charles Abani, Managing Director for Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) an international charity whose purpose is to transform children’s lives.
The organisation delivers programmes in the areas of health, education and child protection across the globe, including Zambia.
Dr Scott is expected to return back home after his scheduled business.
FILE: President Sata confers with Given Lubinda during the meeting with Zambians in Botswana.Courtesy State House
President Michael Sata has urged Zambians in the diaspora to come back home and explore the job opportunities available in the country and to contribute to the development of the country.
President Sata has also assured Zambians that his government’s promise of creating employment opportunities in strategic areas of the economy will be delivered.
The President was speaking last evening at a cocktail when he met Zambians living in Zimbabwe at the High Commissioners residence in Harare.
And President Sata has urged Zambians leaving in Zimbabwe to be ambassadors of the country by making meaningful contributions to the economy of the host country.
At the same function, President Sata introduced Zambia’s first Home Affairs Minister Aaron Milner who is now resident in Zimbabwe.
Mr Milner said the election of President Sata has turned a new page for Zambians and the future of the country because of his resolve to stir the country to higher levels of economic development.
He commended President Sata for his firm stance against corruption and urged Zambians to give him and the PF government the support required to fight the scourge if the country is to develop.
Meanwhile, Zambians living in Zambia have been assured of government support to help them obtain national registration identities.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe Ndiyoyi Mutiti says the embassy is ready to assist Zambians that are ready and willing to go back home by helping them obtain passports and citizenship documents.
The High Commissioner was responding to questions raised by some Zambians living in Zimbabwe over the procedures to follow when acquiring passports and citizenship documents.
And in a vote of thanks, a representative of Zambians living in Zimbabwe, Yvonne Chibiya said Zambians living in Zimbabwe were proud of the stability and economic development that the country has recorded in the recent past.
Mrs Chibiya said as Zambians in the diaspora are committed to making a meaningful contribution to the discourse of development back home.
Meanwhile, President Sata and his entourage have left Harare for Bulawayo.
The President will officially open the 53rd Zimbabwe international Trade Fair later in the day before returning to Lusaka.
He is accompanied by the First lady Dr Christine Kaseba – Sata, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Given Lubinda, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations George Chellah, and Zambia’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Ndiyoyi Mutiti.
United Nations Chef de Cabinet Susana Malcorra signing the Book of Condolences on behalf of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in honour of the late former vice-president of Zambia George Kunda at Zambia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on April 23, 2012. Photo by Chibaula Silwamba/GRZ
United Nations Secretary General His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, several Ambassadors and diplomatic missions accredited to the UN in New York have paid glowing tribute to the late former vice president of Zambia George Kunda.
UN Chef de Cabinet, Susana Malcorra, who signed the Book of Condolences on behalf of Mr Ban at Zambia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said Mr Ban fondly remembers his meeting with Mr Kunda at State House in Lusaka last February during his visit to Zambia.
“[The] Secretary-General has asked me to convey his condolences on the passing of Mr George Kunda, a Zambian statesman,” Ms Malcorra wrote. “He [Mr Ban] wants to tell Mr Kunda’s family and the people of Zambia that, in his passing, they must find comfort that his life will serve as a legacy in the fight for development, justice and democracy.”
Zambia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sheila Mweemba, who welcomed Ms Malcorra at the chancery, thanked Chef de Cabinet for coming to sign the book of condolences.
Permanent Representatives, deputy permanent representatives and other diplomats, from countries across the world also signed the book of condolences, wishing the Kunda family and Zambians strength.
This was contained in a statement issued by Chibaula Silwamba,First Secretary for Press Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations.
Permanent Representative of Namibia to the United Nations, Ambassador Wilfried Emvula signing the Book of Condolences in honour of the late former vice-president of Zambia George Kunda at Zambia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on April 23, 2012. Photo by Chibaula Silwamba/GRZUnited Nations Chef de Cabinet Susana Malcorra (r) and Zambia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Sheila Mweemba on arrival to sign the Book of Condolences on behalf of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in honour of the late former vice-president George Kunda on April 23, 2012. Photo by Chibaula Silwamba/GRZPermanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, Ambassador Joseph Goddard signing the Book of Condolences in honour of the late former vice-president of Zambia George Kunda at Zambia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on April 23, 2012. Photo by Chibaula Silwamba/GRZ
I just write to make you aware about some wrong activities in the Ministry of Education headquarters, accounts department in particular.
There is a man who has turned the public office into a brothel. He is always found with ladies in the office at awkward times after working
hours, Saturdays and Sundays pretending to be studying and doing business for cars when he is actually doing wrong things.
We in accounts have been seeing him doing that for a long time especially before ifmis.
There is a system he has been using which by passes some signatories and offices to help people get illegal loans which do not reflect on the pay slips. He has helped a number of desperate ladies in the ministry to get illegal loans which they don’t pay back.
Clean evidence is there and a list of the beneficiaries, a lot of ladies have built houses and driving before they even serve two years in employment due to the same illegal loans.
Most of the young, weak and idle ladies are being victimized in these offices. He was once found by one of the guards but he decided to bribe.
Hope the new Permanent Secretary will take serious investigation and action to this matter because it is now a habit.
Tanzania Ministry of Transport Permanent secretary Omar Chambo
SEVEN top management officials at the beleaguered Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) have been suspended as the strike by 1,200 workers on the Zambian side fizzled out yesterday.
The affected officials have apparently been singled out as “stumbling blocks” as the railway firm continues teetering on the verge of collapse.
Tanzania’s Ministry of Transport Permanent secretary Omar Chambo confirmed the suspension of the senior members of staff and indicated that they would be handed over to law enforcement agencies.
Tazara has been stalked by a series of strikes as operations continue to plummet with a huge debt stock in unpaid retirement benefits, unremitted statutory contributions, and outstanding payments to suppliers of goods and services.
Mr Chambo, who is also Tazara board chairperson, said in an interview that Mpika-based regional general manager Sinonge Masiliso had been sent on forced leave.
The suspended officials are chief mechanical engineer, Wenslaous Kamugisha, Finance manager Sarah Masiliso, Traffic manager Pondani Mwanza, Head of Commercial services Ally Idd, Information and Technology manager Pascal Mulenga.
Others are the marketing manager Evaristo Kasumbai and marketing officer Manyeteya Lonin’go.
Mr Chambo said the suspended officers would be handed over to law enforcement agencies to be probed for theft, corruption, mishandling of company procurement procedures among other allegations.
The board would make a decision on the managing director Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika and deputy managing director Damas Ndumbaro.
“There are serious allegations levelled against the suspended officers such as cases of theft of company property, corruption and issues to do with rules and procedures. They have to answer to these allegations so that we can know what the way forward is,” he said.
The two holding governments have since appointed other officers to act in the positions left vacant by suspended officials.
TAZARA Workers Union (TRAWU) on the Tanzanian side and the Workers Union of TAZARA (WUTAZ) on the Zambian side have welcomed the development which they said was long overdue.
TRAWU general secretary Erasto Kihwele said the union had been part of the talks with other stakeholders concerning the removal of top management officials in order to facilitate investigations.
Three Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) political party supporters have been sentenced to 3 years imprisonment with hard labour for assaulting a Muvi TV crew in Lusaka in July last year.
Magistrate Alice Walusiku in passing judgment, said that journalists have a duty to investigate, disseminate, research and inform, hence they should not be hindered as they carry out their noble tasks. Magistrate Walusiku also said that her court would be failing in its duties if stiff punishment was not meted out on the offenders as many would continue to perpetrate the vice.
In July last year more than 100 ruling MMD cadres severely beat a MUVI TV news crew and confiscated their equipment.
The cadres then also almost raped the female journalists who were among the Muvi TV news crew.
The journalists had gone to Nakachenje area in Lusaka West to interview a woman who had been attacked by the same MMD cadres and had had,her land grabbed from her.
Reporter Dainess Nyirenda and Cameraperson, Annita Kalwani suffered internal injuries after they were trampled upon by the cadres.
Driver, Edward Ntele suffered a deep cut on his forehead and while another cameraperson, Emmanuel Kaluba had his lips cut in the fracas.
The MMD cadres confiscated a camera tripod stand, a microphone, 4 mobile phones and undisclosed amounts of money.
The matter was quickly reported to Matero police Station and officers were quickly mobilised to the incident scene.
MMD Lusaka Province Vice Youth Chairman, Watson Mutonga physically identified the MMD cadres, who assaulted the MUVI TV news crew.
The assaulted MUVI TV personnel narrated the ordeal describing it as uncalled for. Camera person, Annita Kalwani almost shed tears when describing how she was almost gang-raped. Another cameraperson, Emmanuel Kaluba said he was beaten badly because of the camera he was holding.Driver, Edward Ntele has also narrated that he was hit with a huge stone on his head making him lose consciousness.
Meanwhile the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has welcomed the sentencing and said it was a timely warning to all those with plans or are in the habit of perpetrating violence against media practitioners.
We are convinced that the sentence has sent a strong signal to perpetrators of violence against the media practitioners and urge all the journalists in Zambia to continue reporting cases of violence against them so that perpetrators can be brought to book.
THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) says it does not support attacks on lawyers, local or foreign.
In its response to the war of words between Robert Amsterdam the lawyer representing former president Rupiah Banda’s son Henry and the PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba and some government officials, LAZ president James Banda said the association will not support attacks on lawyers, regardless of where the lawyers come from.
“We wish to state categorically that lawyers are free to represent any person requiring their services in the field in which they are competent and where there is no conflict of interest,” Mr Banda said in a statement released in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Kabimba recently described Mr Amsterdam as a mercenary and dog of war, for issuing various statements attacking the PF government for allegedly persecuting his client.
Mr Amsterdam threatened to take a dossier to the United Nations, detailing how the PF government is allegedly persecuting Henry with the ultimate aim of pressuring former President Banda and the destruction of the main opposition party, the MMD.
In an earlier statement, Mr Amsterdam said the Zambian government’s attempts to bring Henry to trial were a “farce” driven by “political motivation.”
This prompted Mr Kabimba to describe the “UN” threats Mr Amsterdam issued as an exercise in futility which will not change his client Henry’s “wanted” status for criminal investigations in Zambia.
“Mr Amsterdam must know that evil shall never prevail over good. The people of Zambia are demanding justice and restitution, not persecution. If Henry is innocent, why is the man on the run? How can you run away from mere investigations?” Mr Kabimba said.
Former president Rupiah Banda and Henry have engaged international lawyers to represent them in case in which they are being investigated by law enforcement officers in the country.
Among the deals Henry has been linked to is hiring of RP Capital, a Cayman Island-registered company alleged to have under-valued the assets of the state telecom company Zamtel at only US$257 million when the company was worth much more.
But the LAZ president said it is up to Henry and his lawyers to challenge the actions of Interpol if they feel there was no compliance with the laws.
“It must be mentioned also that a challenge can be mounted on the grounds that the government is using the Interpol notice system to harass political opponents,” Mr Banda said.
He said whether or not Mr Amsterdam is qualified to practice law in Zambia is ‘neither here nor there.’
Through a request from the Zambian government, the Interpol has issued a red notice alert against Henry, a request for a provisional arrest of a wanted person with a view to extradition.
Interpol usually issues such a notice when it is satisfied that all the conditions for processing the information have been fulfilled.
Mr Banda said it is within Henry’s rights to challenge the issuance of this notice or any eventual arrest and attempts to extradite him.
“This challenge will usually be done in the country the applicant (in this case Henry Banda) is currently staying. It necessarily follows that Mr Banda is at liberty to engage international lawyers to challenge the red alert notice and any subsequent proceedings. These procedures are available to any citizen of the world and can be employed at any time,” Mr Banda said.
He cited the case in which Sweden issued an arrest warrant for the ‘wikileaks man’ Julian Assange for sex crimes and then requested Interpol to issue a red notice alert against him (Assange).
He said Interpol issued the notice but Mr Assange engaged lawyers in the United Kingdom where he is resident, to challenge the notice and any possible extradition.
“Similarly, it is open to Mr. Banda and his lawyers to challenge the actions of Interpol if they feel there was no compliance with laid down laws and procedure or for whatever legitimate reason. It must be mentioned also that a challenge can be mounted on the grounds that the government is using the Interpol notice system to harass political opponents,” Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda, however, said LAZ has every confidence that government through the Attorney Generals’ office will effectively deal with this matter and any possible suits which might arise.
ZAMTEL has commercially launched its third Generation (3G) mobile broadband services to enable subscribers have supreme access to the internet.
The 3G service comes on the back of the “Soft launch” of the service which took place in February this year, in which selected few subscribers were given the opportunity to test the 3G working on the Zamtel network.
Company chief executive officer Mupanga Mwanakatwe says the launch is a significant milestone as the telecommunication firm celebrates nearly 100 years of operating communication services in the country.
“Today we have added yet another arrow in our quiver of service offerings that once again demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that our customers benefit from the state of the art services and punctuality on our mobile network,” he said.
Dr Mwanakatwe said the launch of the 3G network that service offers a number of benefits such as very high speed data capability, enhanced high speed audio and video streaming.
Other applications are video calling, high speed Web and WAP browsing and IPTC (TV through the internet).
He also said the board of directors is happy with the continued adoption and evolution of modern telecommunication technologies that the country’s oldest telecommunication firm has gone through over the last century.
He said it is almost 100 years since the firm introduced telecommunication by way of the first manual exchange installed in Livingstone in 1913.
Dr Mwanakatwe said the firm has continued to embrace technological evolutions in the field of telecommunications and has provided cost effective and high quality services to its customers despite the rapid changes in the global telecommunication landscape.
“At Zamtel, we truly believe that communication is the currency of the modern world. If it is not quick, clear, affordable and available to all, it’s not good enough,” he said.
Zamtel is 100 percent Government-owned, providing voice, data, fixed, internet and business services to entrepreneurs and individual customers.
In 2011, the company embarked on an aggressive investment programme, the first phase of which was focused on expanding the GSM, network coverage and grew the number of base stations from 197 to 440 in 2011.
The 3G network is currently being deployed in all the major cities across the country.
GOVERNMENT is in the process of accessing cheaper and longer-term financing for the so-called ‘formula one’ road works around the country that were begun by the MMD just before the September 20 polls, says Miles Sampa, the deputy minister of Finance and National Planning in an interview.
Sampa said Government is currently negotiating with four international financial institutions to provide the “affordable” finance instead of sticking to the expensive MMD financing that comes to an end in June.
“Government is negotiating with international financial institutions to pay-off the money that was borrowed by the MMD (previous Government) and we will definitely pay back the formula one loan when it matures in June this year,” Mr Sampa said.
He also said Government has opted to engage the financial institutions to avoid depleting the country’s reserves.
“Re-financing the loan with softer loans is the best option unlike financing with our reserves because the public will complain that reserves have gone down,” said Mr Sampa.
Mr Sampa expressed dismay that the MMD government almost deliberately committed taxpayer’s money to expensive loans when alternatives for cheaper financing were always an option.
“You just wonder what was going in the minds of MMD financial planners when they committed tax payers to expensive loans when the cheaper alternative was always on the table,” Mr Sampa said.
But former Finance and National Planning minister Situmbeko Musokotwane told journalists in Livingstone recently that it is his belief that the MMD made progress economically by reducing inflation and recording GDP in excess of six percent over a long period of time.
However, economists have always argued that despite recording GDP growth in excess of 6 percent and maintaining single digit inflation, the MMD government presided over a nation that had almost 70 percent of people living in abject poverty and worse in rural areas for two decades.
“You can’t boast of GDP growth in the backdrop of high poverty levels,” Mr. Sampa countered, “that is why under President Sata’s government we are in a hurry to cut down poverty levels in reality and not on paper.”
United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema says he will never be intimidated from pointing out the failures of the PF Government.
Mr. Hichilema has since encouraged opposition political parties and civil society organizations not to be scared of pointing out the wrongs of the government is committing.
He says every stakeholder has a role to play in ensuring that Zambia becomes a better country for all.
He adds that this can only happen if stakeholders such as political parties and civil society organisation remind those in government to deliver on the promises.
Mr. Hichilema has further stated that he will soon be vindicated, noting that a number of promises that where made to the people of Zambia have not been delivered.
And the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has observed that the government has not shown much commitment towards revising the public expenditure system in the country.
CSPR executive director Mwila Mulumbi said that when the PF came into government it had given assurance through the budget address that it was going to review the public expenditure system in order to ensure there is prudent use of public funds in the public service.
[pullquote]Ms. Mulumbi added that the PF government not shown any signs of introducing the planning and budgeting bill to parliament as earlier indicated.[/pullquote]
Ms. Mulumbi added that the PF government not shown any signs of introducing the planning and budgeting bill to parliament as earlier indicated.
She added that it would have been good if the government has moved quickly in trying to put in place an expenditure system that would prevent abuse of public funds.
Ms. Mulumbi has noted that the PF government has not been consulting the other stakeholders when drawing and implementing the countr’s developmental plans.
Attorney General Mumba Malila says gone is the era when Judges were above scrutiny.
Speaking when he officiated at the Law Association of Zambia Conference in Livingstone today, Mr Malila says the present era demands that the doings of the Judiciary should be publicly scrutinized and discussed almost as frequently and with as much venom as those of politicians.
Mr Malila says for judicial independence to be meaningfully nurtured and protected by all, it must be counter-balanced by judicial accountability.
He adds that judicial independence does not mean Judges are an elitist group, untouchables, and not subject to accountability.
He says to the contrary judicial independence is also about transparency and accountability.
Mr Malila further states that judicial institutional accountability requires that the judiciary is held in high esteem by the public.
He says this respect cannot be demanded but must be earned.
The Attorney General also reminded Lawyers that they have an obligation not only to protect judicial independence, but also to ensure that the public understands, respects and supports the principles.
He adds that Lawyers should not relent in letting the general public know that courts exist to serve their justice needs, and assure them that a strong independent and accountable judiciary is for their own good.
Local government and housing deputy minister Steven Masumba says the MMD should not personalize issues following his court case.
Masumba has pleaded not guilty to one count of obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences, involving his academic qualifications.
Yesterday, MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu said the party will for now consider their Mufumbwe parliamentarian, Stephen Masumba, as not being in good standing with the party.
Mr. Masumba is being accused of being in possession of a forged accounting technician Diploma obtained from the National Institute for Public Administration (NIPA).
Speaking to QFM in a telephone interview, Mr. Masumba says he is surprised to hear of the party’s position in the media, adding that he has not been informed about the stance taken.
Mr. Masumba says he will respect the position taken by his party because he is not ready to fight a party he has been dedicated to.
He says his leadership is ordained by God stating that anyone who tempers with him, tempers with God.
And asked if he considers resigning from his government position on morale ground following the allegations levelled against him, Mr. Masumba said he is not a criminal until proven guilty by the courts of law.
He says it is too early for him to make comments on the allegations because the matter is still in the courts.
Government has indicated that it may engage the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) in the bargaining process to increase the offer above the four percent which the lecturers have rejected.
Education minister John Phiri has since called on UNZALARU to call off the go-slow as the bargaining process will resume immediately.
He has stated that the stand-off between the UNZA Council and UNZALARU is unnecessary and was premature.
He says the negotiation process should have been allowed to continue while discussions continued with stakeholders such as the ministry of education.
Dr. Phiri explains that in order to facilitate productive negotiations, the ministry of education has engaged the ministry of finance and national planning to consider supporting the University of Zambia bridge the current budget deficit of 21.4 billion kwacha.
He says the UNZA Council could be assisted by the finance ministry to increase the offer to the Union in the bargaining process from the instructed four percent.
Dr Phiri has further revealed that the ministry of finance has since responded positively to such negotiations.
He says the ministry understands the predicament public universities are in because of past government policies.
Dr. Phiri stated that the Patriotic Front government is committed to addressing such challenges.
