Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) President Leonard Hikaumba says his organisation is not forcing Unions to merge with it.

ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba says Unions should realise that the planned merger can be done for a sustainable common goal for the beterment of the unionised members in the country.

Mr. Hikaumba says forcing Unions to merge normally leads to splitting.

He was speaking with ZANIS in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He said Union leaders should also realise that the merger is to allow Unions speak with one voice especially when negotiating for improved conditions of services.

“Merging with us, the mother-body should not be forceful but we plead with our colleagues, the labour leaders, to realise that it ( the merger )will enable us speak with one voice because we realise that forcing Unions to merge leads to splitting,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hikaumba has said negotiations with government for improved allowances such as subsistence, housing, missing lunch, commuted over-time and rural hardship allowances are on course.

He explained that the Union Mother Body is aware of 2009 financial year coming to an end in December saying for this reason the labour movement do not want to leave any stone unturned but taking all the necessary steps with caution during the on-going negotiations.

The ZCTU Chief appealed to civil servants for calm as the Union is taking the negotiations with the seriousness it deserves.

Government awarded a 15 percent payrise to public workers across the board but however could not conclude talks on the remaining allowances that are also part of the improved conditions of service.

Currently, Government pays K50,000 as missing lunch, K40,000 commuted over-time per month and K285,000 subsistence allowances respectively.

ZANIS

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha says government prioritises infrastructure development in learning institutions to ensuring that the girl child is well accommodated.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha says this can be achieved through the participation of parents and members of the community if they have a vision.

Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson says Community participation vital to attaining the Mellennium Development Goals in Education sector.

Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha said this in an interview in Lusaka last night during a fund raising dinner hosted by Matero Girls High School Board.

The Minister said parents should realise to narrow the gap between schools and communities they live in through increasing class accommodation of the pupils.

He commended the School Board for embarking on an ambitious initiative to extend their institution as government alone cannot manage.

He reiterated government’s commitment to making free education to young ones in schools and called upon the corporate bodies to help fund learning institutions.

And speaking earlier, Matero Girls High School Board Nobel Kuliye appealed to government for funds so that the school changes its ugly face in infrastructure.

Mr. Kuliye gave an over-view of the projects embarked by the Board through the assistance of the School Parent Teacher Association.

Over K100 million was raised at the dinner dance for the expansion of the institution.

The fund raising dinner dance attracted former Matero Girls High School Head Teachers, serving teachers and pupils

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda has sent an official apology to senior chief Puta of Chiengi for not being able to attend and officiate at this year’s 10th anniversary of the Bwilile ceremony in his personal capacity.

Presidential Affairs minister Ronald Mukuma, who was sent to stand for President Banda, apologised to chief Puta and his subjects for not attending the annual ceremony.

Mr Mukuma explained it was not deliberate that President Banda did not make it for this year’s Bwilile ceremony in Chiengi.

He said President Banda had gladly received the invitation by the senior chief to attend the ceremony that celebrates the food security of the area.

However, Mr Mukuma said President Banda was not able to travel to Chiengi to grace the because he was in South Africa holding bilateral talks with his counterpart Jacob Zuma.

The minister said at the same time President Banda was also due for his medical review in that country.

Mr Mukuma, who said he was only informed late afternoon yesterday that President Banda would not make it for Bwilile, asked senior chief Puta and his subjects to ignore some people who were insinuating that the President was in Lusaka and deliberately stayed away from the ceremony.

He said he was at the ceremony to represent President Banda and deliver the exact message as a that the President intended to deliver.

“Ignore those who are suggesting that President Banda is Lusaka and deliberately stayed away from the ceremony. They are telling lies because the President is in South Africa holding bilateral talks with South African President. He is also having his medical reviews,” Mr Mukuma said.

ZANIS

KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has assured its suppliers and contractors that no contract will be cancelled for refusing to give a bribe to any of the company’s employees.

KCM Group security manager, Ernest Mubita said suppliers and contractors should not indulge in any corrupt activities with KCM employees and assured them that no one would have his or her contract cancelled for refusing to bribe any employee of the company.

Mr Mubita was speaking yesterday at the KCM security award presentation parade held at the KCM mine club ground in Chingola.

The deserving security officers were given motorbikes, bicycles, fridges and other household goods as rewards for the good work in protecting the mining company’s property.

Mr Mubita said suppliers and contractors should help to curb corruption, thefts and other dubious activities at any division of KCM by ensuring that they reported the matter to the security agencies of the mining company.

“The evil storm called crime has invaded all business organisations with very big waves called theft, fraud, corruption, abuse, misuse, and wastage and this is why, I am urging contractors and suppliers to help us, fight these crimes, especially corruption, which is a very devastative scourge.

“I am assuring the suppliers and contractors that no one will have his or her contract cancelled for refusing to give a bribe to any of the KCM employees. We need concerted efforts to fight vices that are retrogressive to economic revival and national development,” Mr Mubita said.

He said his department would remain steadfast, strong, brave, focused and impartial in fighting crime to save the company from losing its valuable and critical property and time.

He said the good work that his team was doing, had attracted intimidation from the crime perpetrators.

“So far, four houses belonging to some of these officers were targeted and attacked between 2005 and 2009. One of the houses was blasted using petrol bombs, whereas the other was reduced to rubble by a criminal mob, majority of these officers have received both verbal and written threats due to the courageous efforts that they are putting into fighting crime,” Mr Mubita said.

And speaking later, KCM chief executive officer, Kishore Kumar said all KCM employees should ensure that every property and materials purchased by KCM was put to the intended use and should ensure that no KCM property was stolen, abused, misused, vandalised or wasted.

Mr Kumar said he was happy that security officers had always been alert and vigilant in ensuring that property of KCM was well secured and protected.

Mr Kumar said because of their alertness and vigilance, some security officers were being physically attacked or threatened by criminals.

He assured those security officers that were being threatened that the company would support and protect them, saying he had directed the Group Security manager to ensure that protection was given to all deserving officers.

“To you officers, I say congratulations and continue working even harder than before like the Group Security manager had said. The tokens you have received cannot be compared to the value of property that you continue protecting in these difficult conditions, but these are just tokens of appreciation and recognition for your exemplary performance in executing your duties,” he said.-Times of Zambia

Vice President George Kunda says African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) spokesperson Amos Chanda and his colleague Tamara Kambikambi were part of the 17 members of the National Governing Council (NGC) due to pressure of the civil society on government to trim the number of staff.

Mr. Kunda also says government deemed it fit and necessary to cut down costs on African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and that government is merely responding to the civic concerns.

The Vice President told Parliament in Lusaka that 17 members have been removed from being members of the NGC and not only the two.

This was during the Vice President’s oral and answer session in Parliament today.

Vice President Kunda was responding to a question by Livingstone Member of Parliament (MP) Sakwiba Sikota who wanted to find out whether is was just two who were removed from the NGC and what criteria was used to reduce on the NGC membership.

” Amos Chanda and Tamara Kambi-Kambi were among the 17 members that were removed from the NGC to streamline the operations of the NGC and make it more effective,” The Vice President said.

He attributed factors leading to the reduction in NGC membership to attendance of meetings by members, the work done so far and also work relevance.

He disclosed that government will continue to monitor operations of the NGC and vowed that the NGC membership shall be reduced further until satisfactory expectations are met.

“It’s not targeting only two people but several NGC members were removed and as government we shall continue to monitor NGC operations to make it more effective,” Vice President Kunda said.

Meanwhile, Vice President George Kunda says government will in the next sitting present a Bill on Disaster Management to Parliament.

He told Parliament that government recognises that disasters in Zambia comes in partial and impartial natures depending on the weight of the calamity.

Mr. Kunda said the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under his Office will come up with a new legal framework to facilitate the formation of the Bill to be presented in Parliament.

He noted that Kanyama Compound in Lusaka was most hit by disasters during the last rain season hence the coming up with a new legal framework will help address disasters of that nature in that area and from across the nation.

And Vice President George Kunda has said the sale of Zambia Telecommunications (ZAMTEL) is final because government wants to modernise the firm and do away with obsolete equipment.

Mr. Kunda said in Parliament that the optic fibre government has embarked on is the most secure way of controlling connectivity as opposed to the current Band-width which is small.

He said it is in this regard that government is coming up with a legal framework on the operations of International Gate Way currently run by ZAMTEL.

Vice President Kunda was responding to a question by Mbabala MP Emmanuel Hachipuka was wanted to find out why government is not giving out the International Gate Way to private mobile providers; Zain and MTN alleging that ZAMTEL has failed to operate it.

ZANIS