Health workers at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) have defied government’s directive to return to work or face dismissal.

Last week Health Minster Kapembwa Simbao and Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha gave striking health workers and nurses an ultimatum of up to today, June 29, 2009, in which to resume work failure to which they were told to consider themselves dismissed.

A check by ZANIS at Zambia’s highest referral centre the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) revealed that the nurses have continued with their strike action as many wards are still deserted while others were found closed.

In some wards such as the maternity wing and the casualty only a skeleton of student nurses and senior Doctors were found attending to a large number of patients.

The situation at the children’s ward was no different as most of the wards are still closed and only a few patients were found at the out patients section waiting to be attended to.

Meanwhile, Nurses were found seated at the car park of the main entrance near the casualty ward while others were found loitering within the hospital premises.

And patients talked to expressed concerned at the stance taken by health workers not to resume work.

Sharon Ntembwe said the current situation at the hospital is sad as many lives have continued to be lost due to lack of medical attention.

And another patient Chisanga Mulenga called on government to quickly intervene in matter by offering a lasting solution to the problem and save lives of vulnerable people who can not afford to seek medical attention in private clinics.

Mr. Mulenga charged that the ultimatum by government is likely to worsen the situation adding that government is supposed to engage in dialogue with workers.

And UTH Public Relations Manager Pauline Mbangweta referred all the queries to the Ministry of Health who could not be reached by press time.

Nurses and other health workers in the country have been on strike for more than 35 days demanding improved condition of service such as the risk, uniform and night duty among other allowances.

ZANIS

LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba has reported his predecessor Sylvia Masebo to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the auditor general concerning the purchase of hearses from China.

Mr Temashimba said in an interview yesterday that he had directed his permanent secretary, Coillard Chibbonta, to report the matter to the ACC and the auditor general’s office for investigations.

He said that as minister, he had his own suspicions because a single hearse could not cost US$29,000 and that was the reason he directed the permanent secretary to report anybody who was suspected to have benefitted from the transaction.

“I believe that there were irregularities in the transaction and if it is proved that the price of the hearses was not inflated and that the terms of conditions were adhered to, I will resign as minister on principle,” he said.

Spokesperson for the auditor-general’s office, Ellen Chikale said she was not aware of the report and efforts to get a comment from Ms Masebo failed as she was reported to be in a meeting while Mr Chibbonta refused to comment.

Mr Tetamashimba said he told Mr Chibbonta to report the matter to the ACC and the office of the auditor general last Friday but that he was disappointed that both institutions had not been to the ministry.

The minister said that he had put his head on the “chopping board” and would write President Rupiah Banda to say he had failed him if it was proved that there was nothing wrong in the purchase of the hearses.[quote]

He said it was surprising that the same hearses had not been taken to the ministry and the person contracted to deliver them had not been to the ministry to explain anything on the matter.

He also said he had denied Ms Masebo more documents involving the matter because she went to the ministry with journalists and addressed them within the premises.

He explained that Ms Masebo had earlier asked for permission from President Banda so that she could give her side of the story, which to him proved that she knew something.

He said that Mr Banda made it clear that the former minister was free to discuss the hearses because they did not go through Cabinet for her to ask for permission to release any information.

Mr Tetamashimba said on Thursday last week, Ms Masebo went to the ministry where Mr Chibbonta gave her documents related to the hearses and she later addressed journalists.

He said Ms Masebo thereafter talked to him on the phone and asked to meet him. When she went to his office, she asked for letters she had received from late president Levy Mwanawasa between 2007 and 2008.

He said he told her that he could not avail her the letters because they were from State House and needed clearance.

She further asked for some letters exchanged between Mr Tetamashimba and Mr Chibbonta which were also not availed to her.

The minister said he was shocked that when he left, Ms Masebo went back to his personal assistant to ask for letters from president Mwanawasa but that they could not be traced.

He said it was at this point that he asked Mr Chibbonta not to give any more documents to Ms Masebo and that he should report her to the ACC and auditor general.

[Times of Zambia]

THE Government has said nurses from neighbouring Zimbabwe are ready to work in Zambia on local conditions of service and made a final appeal for health workers to call off their strike or lose employment.

Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha said in an interview in Kabwe yesterday that the Government would not allow a situation where people continued to die as a result of the strike by the nurses.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha maintained that nurses who would not report back for work today should consider themselves fired and new ones will be recruited.

“There are Zimbabwean nurses itching to come and work in Zambia and so nurses that will not report back for work today should consider themselves fired. We shall replace them with those that retired as well these from Zimbabwe.

“It is immoral and against the oath of allegiance that nurses take when being employed to continue to be on strike when people are dying in large numbers because of their action. The Government is ready to discuss with the nurses once they resume work,” he said.

Labour and Social Security Minister Austin Liato said in a separate interview yesterday that the Government would guarantee security to all nurses who would return to work as agreed by the Government and union leaders.

“There is no need for nurses to fear that they will be picketed by anyone. And let me warn those that will attempt to disturb their colleagues that they will face the wrath of the law,” he said.

This assurance comes in the wake of Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao’s ultimatum for the nurses to return to work today or be dismissed.

Mr Liato advised all the nurses to seriously reflect on their action to stay away from work because that had caused anguish to the sick who required their services.

He said the nurses should consider returning to work and serve the country because it was better to keep a job than losing it, especially at this time of the global economic recession.

He said that losing a job as a result of an illegal strike would impact on the nurses’ future especially that the Government had not refused to attend to their demands.

He said what the Government wanted was to follow the law and that there was no way it could discuss issues with people who were on the street.[quote]

The minister said the Government was not expected to act on nurses’ demands through public acclamation but through roundtable discussions.

A check at the University Teaching Hospital revealed that several nurses had not returned to work and security personnel were only allowing emergency cases to enter the institution.

Meanwhile, the MMD in Kitwe has challenged the opposition to help convince striking health workers return to work because their Members of Parliament (MPs) were part of the decision to award public service workers a 15 per cent salary increment.

MMD district vice-treasurer, Gideon Kamponge, said it was unfair for the opposition to blame the ruling party for the continued strike by nurses because MPs collectively awarded civil servants the 15 per cent salary increment which the nurses were protesting against.

Mr Kamponge said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the MPs had approved an 11 per cent salary increment for civil servants during the Budget approval in Parliament, but the Government decided to make it 15 per cent.

[Times of Zambia]

Vice President George Kunda says the the PF/UPND pact pose no threat to the ruling MMD as the pact comprised of two political parties whose self belief as independent entities was at the lowest ebb.

The Vice President said PF and UPND decided to merge because the two opposition political parties were weakening gradually.

He said PF/UPND pact was in disarray and bound to fail because members at the grass root were not consulted before the pact was formed.

Mr. Kunda revealed that there was a very vicious power struggle in the pact adding that both Mr. Michael Sata and Mr. Hikainde Hichilema were using each other to advance individual political ambitions.

He urged MMD members to go out there and tell the people how suspicious the PF/UPND pact was.

Mr. Kunda said the ruling MMD was the only answer to the future of the country and urged party members to recruit more members in order to win the 2011 elections.

He said MMD needed more time to complete development projects it was implementing beyond 2011 general elections.

The Vice President said the ruling party had only one formidable candidate in President Rupiah Banda who should be maintained.
ZANIS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men”
(Colossians 3:23, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

In today’s society, many people have accepted mediocrity as the norm. They do as little as they can to get by, always looking for the easy way out. If the boss isn’t watching, they’re playing on the computer. They simply go to work to pick up a paycheck, and then wonder why they’re not promoted and don’t see increase. It’s because God doesn’t bless mediocrity, He blesses excellence.

Whatever we do, we should do it to the best of our ability. We should set the standard. Remember, we are ultimately working for the Lord. He’s the one who put those talents and abilities in us. We are stewards of the gifts He’s given. Other people may show up late. They may complain. They may cut corners. But don’t sink down to their level—you are working for Almighty God. You are called to excellence.

I encourage you today, stay determined. Stay focused. Whether you’re a waitress, a truck driver, an architect, a police officer, or a CEO, do it to the best of your ability. God is the one who brings promotion. When you set the standard, He’ll raise you up and pour out His blessing in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, today I choose to set the standard. I recognize that the work I do is for You. Keep me close to You by the power of the Holy Spirit and help me to rise up higher in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen ministries