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Local wheat not selling because of cheap imports

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More than 60,000 metric tonnes of wheat harvested in Zambia last year has not been sold because of cheap imports from neighbouring countries.

The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) says it has formally written to the ministry of agriculture to complain about the continued import of wheat which is choking the local industry.

ZNFU President, Jervis Zimba, says government allowed three millers to import about 7,000 metric tonnes of wheat in September last year but the millers allegedly imported about 20,000 metric tonnes.

He told jounalists that the flooding of the market with imported wheat will suffocate the local industry, which has blossomed over the past few years.

Mr. Zimba also said government has rejected a proposal to increase the floor price of maize from K65,000 to K75,000 to enable farmers make a profit.

Last month, government announced a maize floor price of K65,000.
[ZNBC]

Supreme Court judges shouldn’t sit on tribunals – retired judge

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FORMER High Court judge Kabazo Chanda has called for the amendment of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct to leave out Supreme Court judges from being appointed to sit on tribunals.

Mr Justice Chanda said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the appointment of members of the Supreme Court bench to sit on tribunals was a potential source of conflict between judges of the Supreme Court and those of the high court.

He was reacting to the decision by Lusaka High Court Judge Philip Musonda to overturn the ruling of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct tribunal comprising two Supreme Court judges and a high court judge.[quote]

The Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act of 1994 stipulates that the tribunal shall consist of three persons appointed by the chief justice from amongst persons who hold or have held the office of judge of the Supreme Court or the high court.

“I think that the law should be amended to leave out Supreme Court judges from the tribunal because they are the final arbiters,” Mr Justice Chanda said.

He said before the amendment of the law, the chief justice could avoid creating conflict by restricting his appointments of members of tribunals to persons who hold or have held the office of judge of the high court.

Mr Justice Chanda, who served on high court bench from 1988 to 1997 before resigning to start lecturing, said the chief justice should as much as possible keep away from appointing supreme court judges because tribunal decisions could be challenged in the high court.

Similarly, he said, although the chief justice may also sit as a high court judge, he should avoid doing so because it would not augur well if his decision were overturned by other members of the Supreme Court bench.

Mr Justice Chanda said there was need for the chief justice to ensure harmony in the judicial fraternity

[Times of Zambia]

ZESCO hit by another accident

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An 11 KV ZESCO power distribution switch board in Lusaka has been gutted.

The fire, which started between 10:00 hours and 11:00 hours on Thursday burnt equipment in the distribution centre, leaving parts of the industrial area and town centre without power supply.

The incident comes barely two days after one of ZESCO’s main substations on Leopards Hill road caught fire.

A ZNBC news crew which went to the power station, situated along Mumbwa road, found that the fire brigade had managed to put off the fire.

ZESCO limited acting managing director, Musonda Chibulu, said the company is already putting temporary measures in place to restore power supply.

On Monday night the whole nation was plundged into darkness after a 330 KV transformer at the ZESCO Leopards Hill Sub station caught fire.

Earlier, ZESCO Limited announced that it had managed to restore normal power supply to all parts of the country.

ZESCO Senior Manager Marketing and Public Relations, Lucy Zimba, however said load shedding in Lusaka will remain pronounced.

On Monday night, the country plunged into total darkness after a Zesco transformer exploded in Lusaka.

The 330 KV transformer is situated at ZESCO Leopards Hill Sub station.

[ZNBC]

MMD should hold its national convention, Magande

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magande1Former Finance Minister, Ngandu Magande, says the ruling MMD should not forego its national convention,as doing so would damage the integrity of the party.

Mr. Magande says the move would be undemocratic.

He says the MMD should not be like some opposition parties that refuse to hold conventions.

Mr. Magande said in an interview with ZNBC news that people calling for the cancellation of the convention must be told that the gathering is in the best interest of the party.

He said the MMD is a party founded on the tenets of democracy which must be respected and upheld at all times.

MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, said it is important for the ruling party to hold its national convention to strengthen intra party democracy.[quote]

Dr. Kalumba said the convention will also allow the MMD to endorse President Rupiah Banda as its candidate for the 2011 presidential elections.

He is confident that the MMD will emerge even stronger after the convention.

Dr. Kalumba was reacting to calls by some members who want the party to forgore the convention to avoid wasting resources.

Dr. Kalumba said the entire MMD National Executive Committee-NEC-is behind the adoption of President Banda as presidential candidate for the 2011 elections.

Dr. Kalumba told ZNBC news that NEC feels that President Banda is a credible leader capable of winning the elections.

He stressed the need for party unity saying the NEC is unanimous in it’s resolve to field President Banda and not any other person in the 2011 polls.

There have been calls from some MMD members urging the party to cancel its convention ahead of the 2011 general elections.

[ZNBC]

ZCTU questions President Rupiah Banda’s silence on strikes

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The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has appealed to President Rupiah Banda to quickly intervene in the current impasse between public service workers and government before the situation gets out of hand.

And ZCTU Secretary General, Roy Mwaba, has appealed to
striking public workers to immediately resume work following the signing of the 2009 collective agreement between government and the various public workers’ unions.

Mr Mwaba said the pronounced silence by the Republican President over the protracted strike by public service workers and failure by government to dialogue with labour leaders does not inspire any confidence among the striking workers.

He said the strike was a serious national matter involving human lives over which continued silence by the highest office in the land should be questioned by all well-meaning Zambians.

“We are clearly disappointed that government seems to be spending more time on fighting the opposition and squabbling over internal political matters regarding the MMD presidency at the expense of addressing serious national issues such as the strike action where lives of innocent Zambians are being lost,” he said.

Mr Mwaba said it was sad that government appears not to have direction in dealing with serious national issues such as the high levels of poverty, the high cost of social services and rampant corruption and lack of accountability in government.

He said the current strike action by public service workers should be blamed on government’s failure to effectively address labour matters in the same manner it addresses other issues which were even of less importance.

He added that the loss of lives that has been recorded in the country following the strike by health workers could have been avoided if government had listened to calls from the congress to expedite negotiions with public service workers over improved conditions of service.

And Mr Mwaba has advised the striking teachers and nurses to call for a cease fire as they have made their stance on the recently awarded 15 per cent salary increment known to the government and other stakeholders.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the ZCTU Secretariat in Kitwe today, Mr Mwaba said time had come for the public workers to cease fire and re-strategise instead of continuing with the fight which might land them into problems.

He said the signing of the collective agreement between government and the unions meant that the 15 per cent salary increment awarded to all public workers was now law and binding, adding that all those who will continue with the strike risk losing their jobs.

He observed that the striking workers must now retreat and strategise for the future by merging all the public service unions into one which will have a powerful bargaining power unlike the current situation where there were a lot of squabbles and infighting among the various labour unions.

Mr Mwaba said government structures and systems made it possible for the unions to bargain fairly and in an objective manner, hence the need to re-strategise and come up with a more effective bargaining tool.

He also commended the striking workers in the public service for conducting themselves in a mature and peaceful manner during the period they have been on strike.

Government has awarded a 15 per cent salary increment to all public workers which they have since rejected.

ZANIS

Five Namwala suspects lock up lone officer and flee

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Five male suspects today escaped from Namwala Police station cells in the early hours of the morning after they over-powered a lone police officer on duty.

Southern Province commanding officer, Lemmy Kajoba and District Administrative officer, Mr. Godwin Sanjase both confirmed the development to ZANIS and said the suspects allegedly picked a quarrel and became violent prompting the named police officer to go over and investigate in a bid to quell the fracas.

Mr. Kajoba explained that immediately the police officer on duty opened the door all the five suspects who were caged in one cell pulled him inside and locked the door before making their escape.
He said the lone officer could not do anything as he was locked inside the same cells.

But Mr. Sanjase said the officer should have been alert enough to determine whether the suspects were embroiled in a real fight or were merely tricking him and that he should have instead called for help from other officers to quell the alleged fight.

“It is unfortunate that the officer on duty failed to read the suspects’ mind, otherwise the escape could have been prevented,’ said Mr. Sanjase.

Meanwhile, Namwala Police have launched a man hunt for the suspects and have appealed to members of the public to help in tracking them down.

ZANIS

PF/UPND pact gives RB a 24 hour ultimatum to fire Dora Siliya

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hakaindeThe PF/UPND pact has given President Rupiah Banda a 24 hour ultimatum to fire Education Minister Dora Siliya.

UPND President Hakainde Hichilema who spoke on behalf of the pact demanded that President Banda fires newly appointed Education Minister Dora Siliya for abrogating the Public Procurement Act of 2006.

He questioned what criteria the High Court ruling had used to clear former Communications and Transport Minister Dora Siliya, whom the tribunal found guilty of abrogating the Public Procurement Act of 2006 by entering into a contract with the RP capital of evaluating the Zamtel Assets without the Attorney General’s approval.

Hichilema has denied assertions that he has been inciting public service workers to press on with the strike action in order to bring down the MMD government to facilitate entry of the opposition into office.

Speaking in Lusaka today when he addressed scores of PF and UPND cadres at the UPND secretariat in Lusaka today, Mr. Hichilema denied having incited civil servants to go on strike to pressure government to improve their conditions of service.

Mr. Hichilema maintained that it was government itself that caused civil servants to go on strike because of not honoring its campaign promises contrary to assertions made that the opposition PF and UPND were fueling strikes in the country.

He explained that during the 2008 presidential poll, government had promised the people of Zambia that it will not increase salaries for constitutional office holders but that it went ahead to increase its salaries after wining the elections while neglecting civil servants.[quote]

Mr. Hichilema said awarding of hefty salaries for constitutional office holders together with corruption scandals in ministries and government departments incited the public servants to go on strikes contrary to government reports that it was the opposition that was fueling strikes in the country.

He said workers in the public service were knowledgeable enough to demand for their improved working conditions adding that the opposition had no hand in the recent strikes that had left operations in government health facilities paralyzed.

Mr. Hichilema said the treason charges leveled against him were baseless, unfounded and only meant to intimidate him as he was speaking for the majority poor Zambians.

The UPND leader warned that he will not hesitate to incite people to demonstrate if government continued to accuse the PF/UPND pact of fueling political violence in the country.

Mr. Hichilema said the treason charges lacked substance and has since vowed to continue speaking for the voiceless in the country.

ZANIS

Seek legal redress- Shikapwasha

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Information and broadcasting minister Ronnie Shikapwasha
Information and broadcasting minister Ronnie Shikapwasha

Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has advised people unhappy with the High court ruling on the Dora Siliya tribunal to seek legal redress.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha says Ms. Siliya has been cleared by the court, and concerns over her appointment as Education minister are unfounded.

He was reacting to concerns by UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and the Patriotic Front over the re-appointment of Ms. Siliya to cabinet by President Rupiah Banda, Wednesday.

Mr. Hichilema said when he addressed cadres in Lusaka, Thursday that it is a fact Ms. Siliya abrogated the public procurement system by entering into a contract with RP Capital without approval from the Attorney general.

And PF National Youth Secretary Eric Chanda said in a statement that the re-appointment of Ms. Siliya allegedly shows political interference in the Judiciary.

The Lusaka High Court on Tuesday quashed the findings of the Dennis Chirwa tribunal that found former Communications and Transport minister Dora Siliya in breach of the constitution.

Lusaka High Court Judge Philip Musonda ruled that the Dennis Chirwa tribunal exercised excessive jurisdiction when it invoked Article 54 sub-section 3 to declare Ms. Siliya in breach of the constitution.

Ms. Siliya was Wednesday re-appointed to cabinet as Education minister taking over from professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa who has been moved to Communications and Transport.

[ZNBC]

Kitwe residents reject proposed Zesco tariff increment

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Kitwe residents have rejected the proposed 66 per cent electricity tariff increase by Zesco.

And Energy Regulation Board chairperson, Sikota Wina, says Zesco’s application to review tariffs has been made at a time when the electricity sector was facing supply challenges owing to the power deficit in the Southern African region.

Speaking during the official opening of the public hearing on the Zesco Tariff Review held at Endinburgh Hotel in Kitwe today,Mr Wina said the application comes at a time when the world was undergoing economic recession which has resulted in a relative reduction in demand for electricity in Zambia.

He noted that some major consumers in the mining industry have scaled down their operations, a situation which he said has led to a reduction in power demand.

Mr Wina observed that the ERB was mindful of the concerns of the public regarding the performance of the utility as has been manifested in power black outs experienced on Monday.
He added that his organisation has been conducting a detailed and analytical review of the Zesco application and utility’s performance vis-a-vis the multi-year tariff framework effected in January 2008.

And speaking later at the same function, Zesco acting Managing Director, Musonda Chibulu, said his firm was in dire need of over US $800 million to construct new and rehabilitate existing infrastructure.

Mr Chibulu said the company was in need of millions of Dollars to complete its major rehabilitation projects and meet the Millenium Development Goal on increased access to power for all citizens by 2015.

But a representative for Kitwe residents, Councillor Christopher Kangombe, said the proposed increase was unreasonable as it has come at a time when over 10,000 people on the Copperbelt had lost their jobs due to the global economic crisis.

He observed that the current state of the economy has resulted in excess capacity of electricity as a result of industry scaling down or closing down.
He added that an increase in tariffs would work to worsen the situation as industries would be less competitive and have increased costs.

Another resident, Neville Ravensdale, said Zesco has taken so much power to people who cannot afford to pay for electricity.
Mr Ravensdale said it was unfortunate that the company was forcing a few profit making companies to subsidise incredibly expensive projects.

ZANIS

Riotous Serenje pupils appear in court

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A Community Market for Conservantion (COMACO) security guard yesterday told Serenje a magistrates’ court how he abandoned his work and fled for his life when a riotous mob of pupils from Serenje High School approached his working place last Saturday night.

This was in a case in which seven Serenje high school pupils are facing trial for riotous behavior before magistrate Brenda Chiganda.

Over the weekend, Serenje High School pupils rioted in protest against the striking teachers and caused damage to buildings and motor vehicles in Serenje. Seven of them were apprehended and subsequently arrested for the offence.

Jacob Chipembele Mpashi told the court that while at work, he heard noise from a group of people who also threw stones at buildings and motor vehicles and broke window panes, a wind screen and side view mirrors of the school’s projects truck.

Upon seeing that, Mpashi, who was a witness in the matter, said he decided to abandon his work and flee for his life behind the project building, saying he could not recognize the group that was rioting at that time.

Another witness, Constable Alfeyo Banda, explained to the court how he managed to catch one of the rioting boys and got another from an assembly of mourners at a funeral where the boys went to hide when police scared them by firing gun shots in the air.

Constable Banda, who was on duty that night, explained how another police officer rushed into the office and announced that pupils from Serenje High School were rioting.

Banda said he picked up a gun but before the officers could come out of their office,the boys had already arrived at the Boma offices and shattered some window panes.

He said he fired in the air and the pupils scampered and headed towards their school but he managed to apprehend one of them and took him to the police station.

Constable Banda also identified the two pupils among the seven, the one he took to the police station and the one he picked from the funeral place, saying the other five were caught by the members of the public.

Trial continues tomorrow. The seven were granted bail after social welfare officer, Winnie Namonje, applied for it saying the pupils were juveniles who should be in school.

Magistrate Chiganda granted the pupils bail of K200,000 each and two working sureties. They are facing seven charges; in the first count the seven pupils, while acting with others unlawfully, allegedly damaged window panes valued at K339,000 belonging to PEP shop on Saturday night while in the second count the pupils allegedly broke window panes at government office valued at K1,536,000.

The Pupils in the third count are alleged to have broken a street light valued at K800,000 belonging to Serenje District Council and in the fourth count they are alleged to have damaged a motor vehicle wind screen valued at K500,000 for Chibuye Kapika.

In count five, the pupils are alleged to have damaged window panes at Bata Zambia Shoe company where 11 half pairs of footware valued at K1,766,000 also went missing while in the sixth count they are accused of damaging window panes and one glass sheet valued at K961,000 for Chipundu Investment.

In the seventh count the pupils are alleged to have damaged a motor vehicle right mirror, front wind screen, two window panes and a glass sheet valued at K10,700,000 for Comaco project.

ZANIS

Government developing comprehensive pay policy- Kanganja

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Government is in the process of finalizing a comprehensive pay policy which will provide a framework for systematically and holistically addressing issues related to remuneration in the public service.

Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja said government recognizes the value of a well paid and motivated workforce hence the formulation of a comprehensive pay policy.

Dr. Kanganja was speaking in a speech to launch the activities leading to the Africa Public Service Day, which falls on Tuesday June 23, 2009 under the theme ‘Delivery of Quality Service for Sustainable Development”.

This years theme has four sub themes that include citizen focus, involvement of non- state actors , innovation in service delivery and enhancing service delivery through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) .

He said this year’s Public Service Day is being cerebrated against a background of a number of challenges that have adversely affected the delivery of public services.

He stated that the global economic meltdown which has led to a scaling down of budgetary allocations to ministries and institutions has consequently constrained delivery of public service.

Dr. Kanganja added that HIV and AIDS pandemic, poor work culture, incidents of corruption, theft, mismanagement and misapplication of public resources and uncompetitive conditions of service are some of the factors that have continued to adversely affect the delivery of quality services by the public service.

He said government in addressing these challenges is implementing among others measures the Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability Reforms (PEMFAR) which are aimed at enhancing accountability in the management and utilization of public resources.

“In addition, an HIV and AIDS prevention and mitigation strategy for the public service has been developed and is being implemented to mitigate the effects of the pandemic,” he added.

He said the Public service code of ethics is in place which government shall use to inculcate core values and positive work culture in the public service on continuous basis.

Dr. Kanganja has since called on the public service to be part of the solutions to the many that effect delivery of quality services.

“I call upon my fellow public service workers to stand up to the challenge of serving our masters, the public with integrity, objectivity, respect and impartiality,’ he said.

And commenting o this year’s theme, Dr Kanganja said it demands that the public service goes beyond mere delivery of services by striving for excellence, innovation and stakeholder participation if sustainable development is to be achieved.

He said the theme is calling on the public service to provide an enabling environment for increased individual and private sector involvement in the economic and social development of the country.

Government in line with the theme has already developed charters that have been institutionalized in the ministry of lands, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and immigration department.

The Secretary to the Cabinet disclosed that the charters are ready for launch and implementation in the ministry of tourism, environment and natural resources, public service management division and the departments of national registration , passport and citizenship.

He said the centres are aimed at addressing the needs and expectations of Zambian citizenry in a more focused and satisfactory manner.

“ In he same vein, customer service centers are being established in government institutions and are already operational in ministry of lands, department of immigration , ZRA and Patents and Companies Registration Office (PACRO).

He further stated that government is equally responding to the call for involving non – state actors in matters of national development by providing an enabling environment for the participation of the church, the civil society and the private sector in the provision of basic social services.

He pointed out that because of such measures, two initiatives have won the prestigious United Nations public service awards for improved delivery of services .

These are the improved maternal and child health care under the Masaiti District Health Management Board in 2006 and the Integrated mobile community VCT and Health service under the Itezhi – teshi District Health Management Team.

He however stated that a lot still remains to be done in view of the national goals and aspirations as well as best practices from other countries .

This years activities has been spread out to all the nine province and will include roads shows from tomorrow to 22 June in Lusaka and provincial centers on stipulated days and a march past by representatives of various government ministries and institutions.

In Lusaka the public service workers will march from Manda hill footbridge to Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) .

The wards will be awarded for transparency , accountability and responsiveness in the public service, improving the delivery of services, fostering participation in policy making decisions through innovative mechanism and advancing knowledge management in government.

June 23 was designated as Africa Public Service Day by UN and African Governments as a day to acknowledge and appreciate the critical role of the public service in national development.

ZANIS

Corruption probe should extend to Levy era, Cosmo Mumba

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National Revolution Party (NRP) President Cosmo Mumba
National Revolution Party (NRP) President Cosmo Mumba

THE Government has been urged to thoroughly investigate alleged cases of corruption committed during the reign of late president Levy Mwanawasa as revelations coming out suggest rampant abuse of public funds in his era.

New Revolution Party (NRP) president, Cosmo Mumba, said in Lusaka yesterday that while the late Dr Mwanawasa could have genuinely wanted to fight corruption, what the people under him did suggested otherwise.

Mr Mumba said the corruption that the Government under President Rupiah Banda was being blamed for actually happened under Dr Mwanawasa.

“The Mwanawasa Government committed a lot of corrupt practices hidden under the purported fight against corruption which was only targeted at Dr Frederick Chiluba and his regime,” he said.

He said the corrupt practices committed under Dr Mwanawasa if properly investigated would lead to the arrest of more senior officials than the investigative wings were currently dealing with.

Mr Mumba said it was surprising that the Government could decide to abolish the Central Board of Health, which provided serious safeguards against theft of funds intended for health.

He said the investigative wings should seriously probe the relationship between officials in the Ministry of Health and the commercial banks that they were dealing with.

He said even the ministers who worked in the Mwanawasa Government should be probed because it appeared that a lot of money was stolen, while attention was focused only on the Chiluba administration.[quote]

Meanwhile, Lusaka Province Minister, Lameck Mangani, has said the president will not shield any corrupt minister or civil servant because he hates corruption.

Mr Mangani said in Lusaka yesterday that the Dennis Chirwa tribunal that was set to probe Dora Siliya’s alleged corrupt practices was an example.

He said this when the MMD women’s wing went to his office to show solidarity with Mr Banda and his stance in the fight against corruption.

The minister said Mr Banda never wrote a letter to anyone that Ms Siliya should be cleared but that the judiciary acted according to its jurisdiction and cleared her.

MMD women acting chairperson, Tafira Lubinda, said the women commended Ms Siliya for being calm during the tribunal.

“We stand in solidarity with her zeal to fight on for her rights considering that she is a woman,” she said.

Ms Lubinda commended the unions and the Government representatives for the manner in which they conducted negotiations for workers’ salaries.

She said the women were disappointed with United Party for National Development president Hakainde Hichilema for allegedly inciting nurses and civil servants to continue with their strike.

She said this showed how immature Mr Hichilema and some political parties were.

[Times of Zambia]

The Drug Enforcement Commission cautions Ngandu Magande

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The Drug Enforcement Commission(DEC) has recorded a warn and caution statement from former Finance Minister, Ngandu Magande, over the operations of the closed Zambian Airways.

Mr. Magande told ZNBC news that the warn and caution statement was recorded in a free atmosphere in the presence of his lawyer, Remy Mainza.

He said DEC officers asked him what he knew about the defunct airline.

“I appeared at DEC offices today and left around 13:00 hours, if you need any details please get in touch with DEC officials, I was merely speaking on behalf of other people,” he said.

The former minister said he will continue to make himself available because he has nothing to hide.

Mr. Magande also said he does not feel victimised by the DEC’s action.

Recently law enforcement agencies investigating the airline saga recorded warn and caution statements from its Directors – the two Nchito brothers and Post Newspapers Editor, Fred Mmembe.[quote]

The probe is looking into among other things the alleged failure by Zambian Airways to remit passenger service charges to the National Airports Corporation.

The Director of Public Prosecutions directed investigative wings probing the operations of the defunct Zambian Airways to extend their investigative sphere to other countries to avoid piecemeal conclusions.

Sources said the investigating team was pursuing the criminal charge of theft by agent against the airline’s directors in contravention of Section 272 and 280 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

The team was also investigating how the Zambian Airways in 2007 secured a US$5.5 million loan through a consortium of financial lending institutions, which consisted of Investrust Bank, Intermarket Banking Corporation and the Development Bank of Zambia.

The investigations are being carried out by the police, the Anti Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission.

[ZNBC]

Zambia Police to circumcise all male recruits

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The Zambia Police Service says plans are underway to introduce a mandatory circumcision policy for all male recruits.

Kamfinsa Police training school commanding Officer, Malcom Mulenga, says male circumcision will help prevent HIV and AIDS cases in the Police service.

Mr. Mulenga, says the Zambia Police Service has continued to lose qualified manpower as a result HIV/AIDS.

He was speaking when the American government handed over a Voluntary Counselling and Testing centre to the Zambia Police Service.

At the same function, Home Affairs deputy Minister, Misheck Bonshe, welcomed plans by the Zambia Police Service to circumcise male recruits.

And the United States Charge d’ Affairs for Zambia, Michael Koplovsky, said his government has set aside K1.5 billion for the construction of health centres for police officers.

[ZNBC]

Am not inciting striking workers-HH

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UPND President, Hakainde Hichilema, has denied allegations that he is inciting striking workers in the country to continue with their work stoppage.

Mr. Hichilema says all he has done is to push government to engage unions in serious discussions.

He said no leader can encourage workers to go on strike.

On Tuesday, Chief government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikwapsha, warned opposition political party leaders of possible treason charges if they incite employees to stay away from work.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha alleged that Mr. Hichilema is one of the leaders encouraging workers to continue with their strike.

He said the UPND leader risk being prosecuted for his actions.

Health workers country wide are on strike to press for better conditions of service.

Unions representing the workers have agreed to the 15 percent pay rise offered by government.

However, the workers have rejected the offer.

[ZNBC]

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