President Michael Sata has called on Chinese investors to adhere to the country’s labour laws.

President Sata says the Patriotic Front -PF- government is concerned that there is unlimited number of Chinese expatriates who are coming into the country to take up jobs which Zambians are capable of doing.

The President however says the PF government welcomes Chinese investment that will benefit the local people and the investors themselves.

President Sata was speaking Monday morning when he met Chinese ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yu Xio at State House.

President Sata says Zambians are grateful to the Chinese government for funding the Lusaka General Hospital and the Ndola Stadium.

And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxio has pledged that the Chinese Investors will abide by all local labour laws.

Mr. Zhou says China will work with the current government to ensure that all Chinese investors follow local labour laws.

The Chinese envoy says it is in the best interest of the Chinese investors to use the local people because it is cost effective.

Earlier the Chinese Ambassador and the President held a closed door meeting.

And Chinese President Hu Jintao has congratulated Zambia’s new President Michael Sata for winning the presidential election.

This is contained in a statement read for President Hu Jintao by Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yu Xio.

President Hu Jintao says China is looking forward to working with the new government.

He says Zambia and China have continued to be traditional friends.

President Jintao says that the Chinese government hopes that the mutual respect and ties between the two countries will continue.

[ZNBC]

The Patriotic Front says it will not make arbitrary changes to mining tax regime.

Patriotic Front Member, Lameck Mangani who is also former Chipata Central Member of Parliament says President Michael Sata will consult with mining companies before applying a mining tax regime.

Mr. Mangani has told ZNBC News in an interview that the PF government believes the mines have not been contributing much to government treasury, but says any changes to the mining tax regime will be done with through consultation.

And Mr Mangani says the Patriotic Front will leave up to its promise to deliver development in 90 days.

He however says this does not mean President Sata will be distributing huge sums of money.

Mr Mangani has also called on people to give President Sata some time to settle down, appoint his cabinet and make thorough consultation.

He says that one of the major things President Sata could address in 90 days is the coming up with a new constitution.

ZNBC

FORMER MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba has congratulated President Sata for emerging victorious in the September 20 tripartite elections and advised all political leaders to support his administration.

Dr Kalumba said in an interview from Chiengi on September 25 that President Sata needs the support of all Zambians.

“PF is the party in power and it carries a lot of responsibility on its shoulders, on behalf of all Zambians. The ruling party needs our support. MMD, United Party for National Development and others are now in opposition, they also carry a heavy responsibility to be constructive and nationalistic in their opposition,” Dr Kalumba said.

He advised opposition leaders to allow the new government to work without any obstruction and support its progressive policies.

Dr Kalumba also urged opposition leaders to provide leadership to their members and appreciate that in a democracy, the victors and vanquished do not become personal enemies but simply remain political competitors.

“Zambia is a mature democracy and let no one anywhere in the world treat us as an irresponsible and immature State. Zambians have proved that we can promote our national and vital strategic interest, particularly preserving our peace and good neighbourliness with countries outside,” he said.

Dr Kalumba said it is the duty of leaders of all political parties to work with the party in power so that it can implement policies which are benefiting the people.

“There is a lot of collective action. Leaders of various political parties should preserve the fundamental priorities of Zambians and in my humble view, allow the new government to work without undue obstruction,” he said.

He said it is important for political parties to reconcile differences of opinion on policy.

“A rational opposition is an asset to the Zambia’s political system. State institutions that are not part of political party structures should guide the new government and not undermine its political goals. I am proud to be Zambian and we are a nation united and a nation at peace,” Dr Kalumba said.

He congratulated Mr Sata for the ‘sweet victory’ in the just ended general elections.

Dr Kalumba said Mr Sata’s victory has taught politicians to persevere in the face of setbacks and challenges. He said Mr Sata has proved that his mind is focused on providing effective leadership to Zambians.

“We congratulate him for pulling his political team together and for giving vision and hope that it was possible for the PF to win. We the younger generation must learn from that and never say never in life,” Dr Kalumba said.

He commended the former President Banda for his magnanimity in defeat and attending Mr Sata’s inauguration last week on Friday.

Dr Kalumba said that act alone set a standard that those who lose elections should not hide in hole away from the victors.

“I congratulate my uncle general Benson Kapaya for winning the Chiengi Parliamentary seat on the PF ticket. I also thank the entire PF Luapula team. Kennedy Sakeni and his team really worked hard. Those who have lost should accept the will of the people,” Dr Kalumba said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

FORMER minister of Communications and Transport William Harrington has called for an independent and transparent revaluation exercise of Zamtel assets.

Mr Harrington said in a statement issued in Lusaka on September 25 that the sale of the Zamtel assets should be considered by President Sata, in his fight against corruption and abuse of office.

He said the new government should carry out an independent and transparent revaluation exercise of Zamtel assets to give Zambians the true value of Zamtel assets prior to the partial privatisation of the company by the previous administration of former President Banda.

“It is important to take a critical look at the issue of Zamtel and we therefore welcome President Sata’s pledge that his administration will have a zero tolerance to corruption.

“We hope this relates to the past, present and future including the sale of Zamtel as one of the key starting points,” Mr Harrington said.

Mr Harrington, who was a petitioner in the Dennis Chirwa-led Tribunal, said Zambians should know the true and accurate value of Zamtel assets, prior to its partial privatisation.

“We would like to know whether or not the valuation undertaken by RP Capital Partners included strategic infrastructure such as Mwembeshi Earth Station and Lamya House in Lusaka and at what price these were sold to the new owners of Zamtel,” he said.

Mr Harrington said an independent and transparent re-valuation exercise of Zamtel assets would be expedient and necessary, especially taking into consideration that the sale of the company was done with the alleged gross irregularities and corruption ‘as clearly and indisputably established by the Dennis Chirwa-led tribunal of 2009’.

“As 1st Petitioner in the tribunal, I am aware that among the eight findings of fact on the then Minister of Communications and Transport Ms Dora Siliya’s breaches are the irregular signing of the memorandum of understanding with RP Capital Partners where she committed Government and the people to the sum of US$2 million,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Policy Consultant Bob Sichinga says it is imperative that the new government re-introduces windfall tax so that all Zambians benefit from the wealth in the mining sector.

Mr Sichinga says the new government should also ensure that investors do not externalize all the profits they make in the sector but use the money for development.

He says the new administration should remain committed to broadening the tax base and indentify different social groups and determine how much tax each group can pay according to their earnings.

Mr Sichinga was when he appeared on the ZNBC television programme, Kwacha Good morning Zambia on Saturday in Lusaka.

He says the Patriotic Front is aware that there is no system in place to get taxes from the informal sector and has urged the new administration to create a new system that will embrace all sectors.

Mr Sichinga says it is important that government broadens the tax base in order to reduce the tax burden on the formal sector.

[ZNBC]