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Lafarge workers complain over poor working conditions

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THE number of workers complaining about poor working conditions on the Copperbelt is growing as the government tries to grapple with a uniform working conditions guideline.
The latest to complain are workers from Lafarge Cement plant in Ndola who have complained over poor salaries and claimed that their colleagues at Lafarge Cement plant in Lusaka doing similar jobs get better salaries than them.
The Lafarge complaints come shortly after workers at Electrometer Plant and several miners protested demanding improved working conditions.
The workers at the Ndola plant have since appealed to the Minister of Labour Fackson Shamenda to come to their aid because they have suffered enough.

In a statement issued in Ndola yesterday the workers complained that, their yearly salary increment ranges from K90,000 to K120,000 while their colleagues in Lusaka get more.

“Our colleagues at the Lusaka plant get better salaries than us in Ndola yet we work for the same company and doing the same job and this anomaly has not been addressed by management despite bringing the matter to their attention,” the statement said.

The statement read that most workers have worked for more than 10 years on contracts with very low gratuity of 15 percent at the end of the contract.

The concerned workers said they have continued to wallow in poverty when the company is paying foreign workers huge salaries.

The statement also stated that the managers at the Ndola plant get between K150 million and K450 million per month and K7 million as weekly allowances while their accommodation and bills are also catered for by the company.

“This is the company that is always complaining of not having money when our managers are getting huge salaries at the expense of majority workers,”  the statement read.

The workers also want Christmas bonus, which was scrapped off seven years ago, to be re-instated and also the harmonisation of production packages.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Konkola Blades assistant coach Charles Mwila has died, Barclays Cup Final Postponed

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Blades club executive members confirmed Mwila’s death this evening.

 

Mwila died in a Johannesburg hospital just before 18:00 hours from burns he sustained in an electoral fire accident at Konkola Mine in Chililabombwe on November 9 where he worked.

 

Mwila was a key member of Blades coaching staff after taking up several gap-coach positions over the last six years.

 

He was in temporal charge of Blades after the departures of after the Fighton Simukonda in 2004, Fordson Kabole in 2005, Dean Mwiinde in 2009 and Peter Kaumba in 2010.

 

And

The Barclays Cup final set for Saturday in Kitwe has been postponed.

 

Faz communications offcer Erick Mwanza said this was due to the three-day period of national mourning that started on Friday for the late ex-minister in the UNIP era Justin Mukando.

 

“In view of His Excellency the President Michael C. Sata’s declaration of three days of national mourning in honour of the former Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Mr. Justin Mukando, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and Barclays Bank Plc would like to advise the football fraternity and entire nation that the final match of the 2011 Barclays Cup championship which was scheduled for tomorrow Saturday 19th November 2011 has been postponed,” Mwanza said.

 

Mwanza said a new date for the final will be advised later.

 

Power Dynamos and Konkola Blades were due to face-off in the Barclays Cup final at Arthur Davies Stadium.

Sata increases subsidies for chiefs as per campaign promise

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File: Members of the House of Chiefs following proceedings when the house resumed sitting in Lusaka

President Michael Sata has increased the Chief’s subsidies. The President has reviewed upwards, the Chief’s subsidies as per campaign promise. This is according to a press statement released by his special assistance for press, Mr George Chellah.

President Sata stressed the need for the country to respect tradition and culture by ensuring that traditional leaders live in a dignified and respectful manner.

“A nation without regard for its traditions and customs is a lost one. Therefore, as a government, we have seen it prudent and obligatory that we safeguard the interests of our traditional leadership,” the President said.

“It has always disturbed me to see our well-regarded Royal Highnesses subjected to all sorts of abuse, ridicule and contempt due to the poor circumstances under which we have allowed this noble and decorous institution to function.”

The President said that traditional leaders were an essential component in the governance system hence his administration is resolute to ensure that this institution is preserved and looked with pride and honour.

Paramount Chiefs  subsidy has been increased from K1, 523, 528. 05 to  K4, 500, 000. 00. The  Senior Chiefs from K 1, 284, 917. 24  to K4, 200, 000. 00.
For Chiefs from  K 1, 147, 291. 23 to K4, 000, 000. 00 The  Retainers from K 576, 484. 10 to  K1, 200, 000. 00

UPND wants Zamtel report in Parliament

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UPND Deputy Spokesperson Cornerlius Mweetwa
UPND Deputy Spokesperson Cornerlius Mweetwa

The UPND has requested President Michael Sata to refer to Parliament the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the sale of ZAMTEL.

Party Deputy Spokesperson Cornerlius Mweetwa says Parliament is the most impartial and competent body to scrutinize and determine the findings of the Commission of Inquiry.

Mr Mweetwa says referring the report to Cabinet will not be fair because the Commission was established with the authority of Cabinet.

He was speaking at a media briefing at the UPND Secretariat in LUSAKA on Friday.

Mr Mweetwa says President Sata should consider the UPND’s request in the spirit of good governance, transparency and accountability.

Meanwhile, the UPND has also asked President Sata to broaden the composition of the Twenty Member Technical Committee tasked to draft the new republican constitution.

Mr Mweetwa says the technical committee in its current composition lacks wider representation required a national undertaking.

He says the UPND is also opposed to holding provisional conventions to get fresh recommendations on the new constitution from the people.

Mr Mweetwa has further challenged government to announce the time for holding a national referendum within the stipulated one year time-frame.

[ZNBC]

Zesco explains current load-shedding

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The increase in load-shedding in the past two days has been caused by a reduction in generation capacity at of ZESCO’s major power stations.

ZESCO corporate affairs and business development director Bestty Phiri says most parts of the country have experienced an increase in load shedding.

This is because of reduced generation capacity at Kafue Gorge and Victoria Falls.

Mr. Phiri says generation capacity has been reduced due to low water levels in the Zambezi River.

He said in a statement to ZNBC that the power station which has an installed generation capacity of 108 Mega Watts is currently generating only 70 MEGA Watts.

ZESCO has made arrangements to cushion the impact of load-shedding, by importing power from some neighboring countries.

[ZNBC]

Cabinet to have a final say on Zamtel-Veep

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Vice president Guy Scott on Friday refused to dwell into the report on the findings on the sale of Zamtel in parliament on the basis that the final report is yet to be tabled before cabinet.

Dr. Scott says he did not want to prejudge the outcome of the cabinet decision on the sale of the parastatal company.

The Vice president was responding to P.F Kamfinsa Member of Parliament Moses Chishimba who wanted to know what will happen to people involved in the partial sale of Zamtel.

Mr. Chishimba says government should table measures to be taken against those in the transaction now deemed fraudulent by a commission of inquiry mandated to investigate its sale to Lap Green of Libya.

And justice deputy minister Ngosa Simbyakula has told parliament that government has no immediate plans to reconstitute the defunct taskforce on corruption.

Doctor Simbyakula has assured the house that government will use the existing law enforcement agencies to fight the graft.

The deputy minister was responding to Mr. Chishimba who wanted to know whether government has any future plans of reconstituting the task force on corruption which was disbanded during the MMD’s rule.

[ZNBC]

President Michael Sata questions motive behind those demanding inclusion of EFZ on constitution Committee

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President Sata

President Michael Sata has questioned the motive behind certain people demanding for inclusion of Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia on the committee of experts tasked to draw a new constitution of Zambia.

President Sata said he has appointed several Bishops most of them born again Christians to seat on the committee.

He said this at state house today during swearing ceremony for Justice permanent secretary, Patricia Daka Jere and Francis Kamanga for ministry of works and supply.

Mr Sata also noted that it is very difficult to balance appointments of people based on tribe.

He said the appointments of Mr Kamanga and Mrs Jere both from the Eastern Province are on merit.

He questioned why some people complain about his appointment being tribal when some sections of society such as the disabled have not complained.

The president also tasked Mrs Jere is a disabled lawyer to draft legislation to regulate internet journalism.

Mr Sata also told Mr Kamanga to put an end to the corruption at the road development agency.

He told Mr Kamanga to go country wide to monitor road construction projects and not leave to RDA.

Mr Sata also directed Mr Kamanga to upgrade all aerodrams in the country.

[ZNBC]

Ex- Zambia & Power Defender Jones Mwewa Is Dead

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Ex-Zambia national team and Power Dynamos defender Jones Mwewa is dead.

Mwewa’s death was confirmed this morning by his close friend and former defensive partner at both Power and the national team Ronald Mukosha.

“He died at his home here in Kitwe in Miseshi Township early Friday morning at around 03:00 hours,” Mukosha said who was also his neighbor and was there at the time of his death.

Mukosha said Mwewa had been unwell for some time.

Mwewa, 38 played in three Africa Cups after making his debut in the third and fourth playoff match against Ghana at the 1996 Africa Cup in South Africa that Zambia won 1-0 to pick up bronze.

The defender was part of the famous Under-23 team groomed by ex-Zambia coach Roald Poulsen that included Alex Namazaba and Vincent Mwewa.

Mukosha, who is now coach at Division 1 North club Kalulushi Modern Stars, said burial arrangements will be announced soon.

Mwewa is survived by a wife and four children and was until his death youth coach at Power.

He quit football seven years ago after winning two league titles with Power in 2000 and 1997.

Mwewa is the second member of the 1996 team to die this year after fellow defender Harrison Chongo who passed away in May during a year that has also witnessed the passing of ex-stars Willy Phiri and Mark Sinyangwe.

Youths’ alcohol abuse saddens Nkandu Luo

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A lady loitering with a tin of opaque beer
A lady loitering with a tin of opaque beer

THE rising number of young people in Zambia consuming alcohol should be a source of concern for all, Minister of Local Government, Early Childhood and Environmental Protection Nkandu Luo has said.

The minister has also castigated some parents who are selling alcohol to children instead of guiding them into fruitful activities.

Professor Luo said it was sad that the youth who should be spearheading positive programmes such as those on climate change were abusing alcohol at alarming levels and indulging in illicit activities. She said this during the ‘We have faith – Act now for climate justice’ Green Blaze concert at Barclays Sports Complex in Lusaka on Wednesday evening.

“I am very disappointed with you young people for your illicit activities. Instead of you working towards your future and advocating for justice so that the bigger powers can reduce the Green House effects, you are there drinking,” she said. She said the Government would ensure that bars and restaurants adhered to the minimum age of 18 years when selling alcohol.

Prof Luo said it was sad that some parents who were supposed to protect children from such vices were the ones selling beer to them because they wanted to make profits.She said the ministries of Commerce, Local Government, and Youth and Sport would work together and ensure that they saved the future of Zambia.

The ‘We have faith – Act now for climate justice’ is a campaign by youths and faith-based communities from African countries demanding for a fair, ambitious and legally-binding climate deal at the forthcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 17th Conference of the Parties to be held in Durban, South Africa.

The youth are on a caravan journey that started in Kenya, Nairobi, on their way to Durban where the conference would be held from November 28 to December 9, 2011

[Times of Zambia]

The Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia asks to be included on the Constitution Committee

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The construction of a mosque in Lusaka's Rhodes park residential area is almost complete. Here workers, doing final touches to the surrounding

The Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia has cried foul over being left out of the 20 member technical committee appointed by President Sata to draft the new constitution.

Council Secretary General, Sheik Shaban Phiri says the Technical committee is not representative of all religions, which may be a threat to national unity.

He said that Muslims must be represented on the committee on account of their contribution to the country’s economic growth through the many businesses run by Muslims. Sheik Phiri has since disclosed that the council has written to President, Sata requesting for a redress of the matter.

And a clergyman has welcomed the appointment of a technical committee to draft a new Constitution but bemoaned the exclusion of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), a major church mother body.

Luapula Anglican Diocese Bishop Robert Mumbi said in an interview it was good that the committee had been appointed to immediately begin working on the new Constitution. Bishop Mumbi said he was impressed with the legal representation in the committee but said the President should still consider including the EFZ.

President Sata on Wednesday announced the appointment of a 20-member committee that included the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) and three bishops from the Catholic Church. “It may send a wrong impression that one major Church mother body is left out when there was no such intention on the part of Government,” he said.

And Bishop Mumbi said the committee should not be restricted to completing its task within 90 days because this might compromise its work quality. He said Zambians expected a Constitution that would stand the test of time and he hoped the public would be allowed to look at, and give comments on the draft before it was referred to Parliament or to a referendum.

And the Zambian People’s Pact (ZPP) said it was happy with the composition of the committee because most of the members had been part of the Constitution-making process in the past.

ZPP national secretary Peter Sinkamba said the committee, led by former chief justice Annel Silungwe, was solid enough to come up with a Draft Constitution that would be acceptable to the people. Mr Sinkamba said focus should be on the review of past constitution commissions from 1991 in order to come up with a Draft Constitution after 90 days.

Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Musa Mwenye said in Lusaka yesterday that the plan to use a technical committee followed by a referendum and thereafter enactment of the Constitution through Parliament without further debate, was the best route.

“The appointment of the 20-member technical committee was only done yesterday (Tuesday) publicly. I must say that we are studying the composition and I can’t give a conclusive position on the composition,” he said. He said LAZ would support any measures that would lend credence to an all-inclusive and comprehensive constitutional review process.

Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda said while his organisation welcomed the appointment of the technical committee, there were, however, too many lawyers on the working group.

“The Constitution-making process is not just about law, it is also about socio-economic and political factors,” he said. “We also do not think that it is good for the minister of Justice to be part of discussion and process. To improve checks and balances, the minister should be involved when the draft is given to Cabinet,” he said.

UPND secretary general Winston Chibwe said the technical committee was not regionally all-inclusive and was tilted towards the Northern Province. Mr Chibwe said there was need for the president to reconsider his nomination of three Catholic bishops on the working group so that other Church mother bodies could be represented.

Zambia Land Alliance director Henry Machina said the committee of experts should critically look at the Land Chapter of the Draft Constitution and ensure that it provided protection to local people, particularly those who held customary land. “Our major concern is the displacement of rural communities who depend on land for survival by large-scale investors, often with inadequate or no compensation,” he said in a statement.

And the National Restoration Party national secretary John Phiri said there was need for the Patriotic Front Government to include youths in the Constitution-making process because it had the civic responsibility to do so.

[MUVITV/Times of Zambia]

K10bn fine elates Chingola residents

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Chingola town centre

CHINGOLA residents have expressed happiness at the court judgement that went in their favour against Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).

The Lusaka High Court last week ordered KCM to pay K10 billion as general and punitive damages to 2, 000 Chingola residents who suffered consequences of the company discharging effluent from its mining operations into Kafue River, the source of their water. The man who led the law suit, James Nyasulu Chimkowora said yesterday that he was happy that the court ruled in their favour.

Mr Chimkowora said the highest point of the judgment was not the amount of money the court had ordered the mining company to pay but the precedent that had been set. He said environmental protection laws as well as laws that empowered the general public against big industries were currently not strong. “Zambia has natural resources that require to be protected for our benefit. This is what this judgment has achieved,” he said. Mr Chimkowora said the ruling should be an example to the rest of the companies.

He said the judgment should not be seen as being against investors but as one that improved the welfare of the country. Another beneficiary of the judgement Esson Simbeye of Musuku Road in Kabundi central said this should serve as a wake up call for all the companies in the mining and other industries.

Reverend Simbeye said even if the money for compensation was not enough, the judgment had set a good lesson and raised hope for the residents of Chingola. The National Restoration Party (NAREP) on the Copperbelt said the judgment should serve as a warning to other companies to be sensitive to the rights of people that may be negatively affected by their operations.

Party provincial spokesperson David Chikwanda said the High Court decision was a step in the right direction as it was sending a warning signal to other companies to ensure that their operations did not negatively affect the people in nearby communities. “As NAREP, we welcome the High Court decision, although we believe that K5 million for each affected resident cannot be adequate compensation for the damage that the pollution has caused in the lives of the people, however, we believe that this is a step in the right direction,” Mr Chikwanda said.

The Zambia Institute of Environmental Management (ZIEM) said the judgment was a major milestone in the enforcement of environmental protection laws in Zambia. ZIEM chief executive officer Morgan Katati said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that his organisation welcomed the judgment by the Lusaka High Court although it felt the K10-billion compensation
was inadequate in comparison to the long-term ecological impact of the pollution of Kafue River.

Mr Katati said following the judgment it was his hope that other mining companies would take a leaf especially those operating above the ambient air and water standards.

[Times of Zambia]

Levy Mwanawasa directed Zambia Revenue Authority to buy scanners

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The late Republican president Levy Mwanawasa
The late Republican president Levy Mwanawasa

THE Kingsley Chanda-led Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) commission of inquiry has heard that late Republican president Levy Mwanawasa is the one who gave the instruction for the purchase of the controversial eight ZRA scanners from China.

Both deputy secretary to the Cabinet Evans Chibiliti and former minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane said Dr Mwanawasa was the one who gave the instruction for the procurement of the eight scanners from China for ZRA.

In his submission to the commission yesterday, Mr Chibiliti said the purchase of the scanners was a result of diplomatic visits at head of State level and came up after the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Zambia in 2007. He said during that visit, there was a request by Zambia to China asking for a concessional loan of US$100 million which was meant for earth moving machines, irrigation projects, grain silos, water and sanitation projects and the completion of the Government complex.

In the initial plan, ZRA scanners were not there but later there was a proposal from China that the Government should drop the water and sanitation project which was to cost $20 million and the irrigation project which was to cost $7.5 million of the concessional loan to instead procure eight scanners for ZRA from Nuctech, a Chinese firm at a cost of $27 million. Mr Chibiliti said the Zambian Government accepted that decision but ZRA objected, saying the scanners would be expensive to operate and maintain. “At ZRA technical level, advice was given against the purchase of the scanners, but the political level insisted that ZRA needed the scanners.

This is when Dr Mwanawasa gave instructions to then vice-president Rupiah Banda to proceed to procure the scanners. Initially he said 10 scanners must be procured but later when he realised that there were already two in the country, he said only eight should be bought,” Mr Chibiliti said. He said the procurement of the scanners was properly authorised by Dr Mwanawasa and his vice Mr Banda. Mr Chibiliti said he was against the purchase of all the scanners and to that effect, he wrote to then minister of Finance to advise against the purchase of the scanners.

He said Zambia did not need all the eight scanners purchased from China at a go but he did not receive any response from the minister until he left the position of secretary to the treasury after which the scanners were procured. Later, former minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane also stated that the purchase of the scanners was under instruction from Dr Mwanawasa who asked former president Banda to procure the said scanners.

When asked the role of Ministry of Finance in providing support services for the scanners through the hiring of cargo scan, DrMusokotwane requested commissioners that he answers that question in camera. Later, when the media was called back, commissioners grilled Dr Musokotwane on the concessioning of Zambia’s six borders to a private company, saying that was a threat to national security.

Mr Chanda said the commission did not understand why the Government decided to allow the concessioner to buy and control the pieces of land that were housing the border infrastructure in Nakonde, Kasumbalesa and six other border areas.

But Dr Musokotwane said the Government did what it did because it wanted to upgrade borders and improve employment levels in the country which was being done in many countries of the world.

Meanwhile, former Finance minister N’gandu Magande yesterday told the commission that ZRA should be allowed to operate independently. The former Finance minister said this when Mr Chanda requested Mr Magande to make a comment on the governance system of ZRA when he appeared before the commission yesterday.

Mr Chanda said from the information obtained so far from the witnesses that appeared before the commission, there was indication that serious decisions were made at ZRA following instructions from the Ministry of Finance and State House. He said ZRA made serious decisions without getting permission from the board, adding that the board was in most cases just informed of such.

But Mr Magande said there was need to appoint competent people on the board of ZRA who would be in a position to understand the operations of the commission. He said appointing people who were competent was important because such people were in a position to make correct decisions which they were able to defend if questioned.

[Times of Zambia]

Zambia Returns Minus Renard

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Herve Renard failed to return home with the team on Thursday night from Nigeria.

Zambia lost 2-0 away to Nigeria in a friendly on Monday that was played in Kaduna.

However, a senior Faz official said Renard is in South Africa checking out Zambia’s training facilities where they will be camped from December until January ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup tournament to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea from January 21 to February 12.

“He has gone to Pretoria to check on the facilities at the High performance center Zambia we will setup camp,” the Faz official said.

Only Renard’s assistant Patrice Beaumelle was in the traveling party back to Zambia.

Meanwhile over a dozen local players and the TP Mazembe contingent of goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje plus midfielders Stophilla Sunzu and Rainford Kalaba and striker Given Singuluma landed at KK International airport on Thursday at 20:30 on South Africa Airways from Nigeria.

World Bank warns Zambia on dependence on mining in 2012 budget

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Kundhavi Kadiresan

The World Bank has warned Zambia that the tax shifts that have been introduced in the 2012 budget are likely to increase execution risks and lead to increases prices.

Addressing the media on the 2012 proposed budget, World Bank Country Director for Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe Kundhavi Kadiresan, warned that depending on revenue from the mining mineral royalty and the issuance of the bond on the international capital market, increased risks to the budget execution.

“Once there is increased uncertainty about revenue receipts in 2012 because of significant changes made to the tax structure. Also a greater reliance on mineral royalty, which is likely to be much more volatile than PAYE receipts, would increase risk,” Kadiresan warned. “And two, external borrowing would be difficult to organize given the state of international capital markets.”

The government’s 2012 budget is focused on a strategy aimed at equitable distribution of economic benefits. Towards that end, taxes on low income earners have been reduced, taxes on the mining sector have been increased, budget allocation to social sectors has been significantly scaled up with large increases for agriculture, education, health and infrastructure, user fees for primary health care services have been abolished and grants to local councils doubled.

“The overall thrust of shifts is to enhance pro poor orientation of government’s activities which is commendable,” she said. “These welcome shifts however come with attendant risks. Risks to budget execution are higher because of higher dependence on mineral royalties which are likely to fluctuate with world prices of export commodities and dependence on external borrowing (the planned US$500 million bond offer) from global markets in an uncertain international environment.”

Ms. Kadiresan said at the current market prices the government’s royalty increase (from 3 to 6 percent) was unlikely to cause serious economic hardships to the mining sector.

“However the situation could change if commodity prices go down significantly,” she said. “At that time, the government could come under pressure to review royalty rates. Frequent adjustment of royalty rates could, however, send a signal of unstable fiscal regime, thereby reducing Zambia’s attractiveness as a destination for investment for investment in the mining sector.”

She also said the rise in the royalty rate will alter the competitive ranking of Zambia.

On increased prices of essential goods, Ms. Kadiresan said “a sharp increase in expenditures while reducing tax burden on residents, combined with the recent monetary policy measures aimed at reducing lending rates, is likely to put upward pressure on prices.”

President Sata urged to include EFZ on the Constitution committee

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An opposition political party has requested president Michael Sata to include the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia on the technical committee appointed to draft the new constitution.

The Zambia for empowerment and development -ZED- which made the request says the Evangelical fellowship represents a large constituency of voters.

ZED president Fredrick Mutesa has also said the twenty member committee of experts in its current form is not balanced.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in LUSAKA on Thursday.

Dr Mutesa has observed that the last constitution making process under the MMD failed because of controversy surrounding the composition of the commissioners.

President Sata on Wednesday appointed the technical committee to draft the new republican constitution within a 12 months timeframe.

[ZNBC]

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