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Former Communication and Transport Deputy Minister Alfred Ndhlovu has advised government to come up with legislation that will enable employees to be paid according to their level of education.
Mr. Alfred Ndhlovu said government should set a minimum salary that will enable people to be paid according to their education levels saying this will help address the current low wages in the country.
Mr. Ndhlovu, a former Transport and Coomunications Deputy minister in second republican President Dr Chiluba’s [quote]administration, said many workers in the country were being paid poor salaries despite their huge contributions saying this was tantamount to abuse of workers right.
He said paying the workers according to their educational levels will also enable parents put more value on education and thereby invest in their children.
Mr. Ndhlovu said this in a letter to chief government spokesperson Lt. Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha, made available to the media in Lusaka yesterday.
He said slave salaries should cease and allow people live a good standard of living if the country is to attain the much needed development.
He said the low wages lead to poverty adding that this was a major contributing factors why rural areas are not developed.
Mr. Ndhlovu further said the current maize floor price of K 65,000 given to farmers by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is also not enough considering the high cost of inputs in the country.
He also said that he is happy that Information and Broadcasting Minister Lt. Gen Shikapwasha during the commemoration of the world press freedom day expressed concerns at the low wages journalists in the country were receiving.
In his letter the former deputy minister has proposed that those below grade 12 should be paid K 1 million per month, K1.8 million for Grade 12, K4.5 million for First workers with Diplomas/University Degree.
He further said Second University degree holders be paid K 6 million and PHD holders be paid K10 million per month.
Government has urged the church and other stakeholders involved in uplifting the standard of living in communities to apply for land to build more projects.
And the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church says it will build about 3,000 churches and over 20 primary schools around the country.
Lands Minister, Peter Daka said the Church and organizations should apply for land whenever they need it adding that government will not hesitate as it will benefit communities.
Mr. Daka said this when he officiated at the SDA church building promotion programme in Lusaka’s Jack Compound today.
He said government is ready to work with the church in their programmes aimed at alleviating poverty.
He said government fully recognizes the important role churches play in fostering economic, social, and spiritual development in the country.
And SDA Zambia President Pastor Harrington Akombwa disclosed that the church will this year start building more churches and schools around the country.
Pastor.Akombwa said the church has started constructing three primary schools in Livingstone adding that it will also build two schools in each of the nine provinces around the country.
He said the schools will be built through partnership with donors from the United States and is aimed at helping the government achieve the MDGs and education for all goals.
He has thanked government for creating an enabling environment for the church and further pledged his church commitment to the country’s leadership.
And the church has raised more than 15 million toward its programme while other have pledged both financial and material support and the minister has donated K1 million towards the programme.
Ministry of education permanent secretary Lilian Kapulu
The government expects a 100% teacher turn-out on Monday. This follows the successful conclusion of bargaining between government and three teacher-unions, out of which teachers have been given a 15 percent pay rise.
Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary, Lillian Kapulu says teachers that will NOT report for work on Monday, will be doing so at their own peril.
Mrs. Kapulu has warned that labour laws will apply for teachers that decide to stay away from classes but hoped the situation will not reach that level.
She says there is no justification for teachers to continue with their strike action after being awarded a 15 percent pay rise.
And Mrs. Kapulu says the ministry of finance will soon release K15 Billion as part payment of fixed band allowances for teachers.
The Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary said government is aware that teachers are owed K42.5 Billion in fixed band and is determined to off-set the arrears by August this year.
And the three Teacher unions in Lusaka say there is NO need for teachers to continue with the strike action.
And the unions have challenged those within the teaching profession inciting teachers to continue with the strike to leave the profession.
This was said by Lusaka province Basic Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) Chairman Ian Miyoba, flanked his Secretary Clifford Chirwa.
Mr. Miyoba thanked national leaders from the three teacher unions for their courage and determination in reaching at the 15 percent pay rise with government.
And Zambia Union of Teachers (ZNUT) Provincial Secretary Lillian Nshinga, said teachers should report back for work on MOnday.
This is an interview of Zambia’s ambassador to the United States Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika conducted on the 10th of May, 2009 on the Public Broadcast Service (PBS) in the United states.
In the interview, Ambassador Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika discusses the efforts Zambia is making in fighting corruption and how Zambia qualified for the threshold status and how the country qualified for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) compact status.
Many thanks to the First Secretary (Press) at the Zambian Embassy in the US, Mr Ben Kangwa, for making the video clip available to us
This is to inform you that the site will be intermittently available over the weekend to facilitate debugging (trouble-shooting) and fixing of the piece of software that has been causing the “504 Gateway Time-out nginx/0.7.35” error lately.
The work will largely take place between 24:00 hrs (ZMT) midnight and 06:00 hrs (ZMT) in the morning , the period we have the least traffic. We hope to fix the problem over the next nights.
Sincere apology for the inconvenience this work will cause.
Cattle farmers in Western Province have appealed to Livestock and Fisheries Minister, Bradford Machila, to lift the ban on the exportation of raw cattle skins.
Western Province Cattle Farmers and Marketing Association Chairperson, Mbikusita Munyinda made the appeal through ZANIS in Mongu today.
Mr. Munyinda said small scale cattle farmers were losing huge revenues through the current policy which bars them from exporting raw cattle skins.
He stated that the total value of an animal was inclusive of the price of its skin hence the need for the Minister to lift the ban.
Mr. Munyinda said a lot of cattle skins were going to waste at the butcheries and abattoirs in the province as farmers cannot turn their animal skins into blue leather which can be exported.
He disclosed that currently ZAMBEEF was enjoying the monopoly of exporting leather as it had the capacity to transform raw skins into blue leather.
Mr. Munyinda has since urged ZAMBEEF to consider buying cattle skins from other cattle farmers and even train them in tanning in the province.
Striking Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education workers in Ndola have asked for the immediate resignation of their National Union leaders who are part of the salary negotiation bargaining team.
ZANIS Ndola reports that the decision was reached at a joint meeting between the Health workers and their Education counterparts at Ndola Basic School this morning.
In a joint resolution read by Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) Ndola District Chairperson Nibbu Nyasulu and Civil Servant and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) Joy Beene, the workers said the leaders in the bargaining team had failed to represent the wishes of grass root members.
Mr. Nyasulu said teachers were passing a vote of no confidence in their representatives at national level.
“As teachers we have resolved to pass a vote of no confidence in our national Union Leaders and we have even resolved that the contributions we make to the unions be withheld immediately,” he said.
He further said the teachers have resolved that government and the bargaining team that had prematurely signed the agreement should immediately re-open the negotiations because teachers in the district would not go back for work unless their demands were met.
And the Nurses who earlier in the day had a meeting at Ndola Central Hospital (NCH) resolved to continue their strike until government awarded them a K1.5m salary increment across the board.
Mr. Beene said the nurses had resolved that their national union leaders should not agree to sign the 15% salary increment because the grass root membership had totally rejected it.
Meanwhile, Mr. Beene has appealed to President Rupiah Banda to have a fatherly heart towards the people who were unnecessarily dying, by awarding nurses their genuine demands so that they could go back to work.
A check at Ndola Central Hospital this morning revealed that management had decided to close down all wards on the Fifth, Fourth and Second floors inlcuding the Gynaecology wards.
Zambia’s second biggest sporting event the Lusaka Castle International 7’s tournaments kickoff on Saturday and ends on Sunday.
The event is second in size to the Zambia Golf Open that this year has suffered two delays and two venue switches brought about by the recent global downturn and now set to be held in Ndola this August.
12 teams from five nations including Zambia will battle for honors to be crowned the 11th champions of the Castle 7’s tournament.
Hosts Zambia are seeking their first Castle 7’s title win after finishing runner-up over the last two seasons to
of the competition to defending champions Zimbabwe.
Zambia, two-time champions Zimbabwe and record four-time champions Mpumalanga are the three seeded sides in this years draws and lead Group A, B and C respectively.
Zambia are in Group B together with Botswana A, Harare Sports Club and Zambia Defence Forces side that will comprise players from Arrows and Buffaloes rugby clubs.
Zimbabwe , who are eying a third successive Castle 7’s title, are in Group A and have been paired against Zambia B playing as Lechwe including two South African teams namely Golden Lions and Natal Sharks Academy.
Group C comprises of Mpumalanga, Goshawks of Zimbabwe, Botswana B and Kenya.
Kenya together with Zimbabwe are the two sides in this years Castle 7s that represented Africa at the 2009 IRB 7’s Rugby World Cup and will be the sides to beat for any team with ambitions on this years title.
Kenya reached the semifinals of the IRB 7s World Cup held in Dubai this past March while Zimbabwe reached the quarterfinals of the same tournament.
Barclays Bank Zambia PLC has awarded its unionized staff a 15 percent salary increment translating into K600,000 across the board effective 1st April 2009.
Speaking during the signing of the Collective Agreement with Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW), Acting Barclays Bank Managing Director (MD) Patrick Wanjelani said the current economic meltdown has brought about many challenges to the banking sector.
Mr.Wanjelani said these challenges have also affected many negotiating programmes aimed at improving working conditions and salaries for employees.
He however, noted that despite these challenges there is no need for employers to relent as employers continue to play an important role towards increased production in any sector.
He noted that it is for this reason that workers should always be regarded as important resources to the company’s production hence the need to look after their interest well.
Mr. Wanjalani disclosed that regardless of the global economic melt down, Barclays bank remains committed to improve the conditions of staff amid difficult times.
The MD further thanked the workers and the negotiating team for the sober and mature manner in which they engaged management during the negotiations.
Mr. Wanjelani pointed out that this is a clear indication that trade unions and management are willing and able to work closely together in improving the conditions of workers in the country.
He has however, urged employees to work hard and maintain the partnership that is exiting between the two parties.
And speaking earlier, (ZUFIAW) General Secretary Joyce Nonde Simukoko said the banking sector is one of the sectors that should assist government in its economic growth.
Mrs. Simukoko explained that credible investors should be more interested in contributing to the development of the country their operating from by improving their working conditions for their staff.
She said good working conditions for employees can help motivate staff therefore increase productivity.
She expressed happiness that the collective barging agreement between ZUFIAW and Barclay’s management went well without disturbing workers.
Zambia will on Tuesday, 23rd June 2009, commemorate the Africa Public Service Day to reflect on issues affecting the African Public Service and generate positive interest in the work of the Public Service.
Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja, in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, explained that the day which has been designated as a Public Holiday on the Zambian Calendar will be celebrated at national and provincial level with the participation of Public Service employees.
Dr. Kanganja said the Africa Public Service Day, which the Zambian Public Service started observing at national level in 2008, will be used, among other activities, to reward outstanding initiatives and promote professionalism in the Public Service.
In Lusaka, a March Past will be held from Manda Hill Shopping Mall to the Mulungushi International Conference Centre where awards for outstanding initiatives that have positively enhanced service delivery, transparency and accountability in the Public Service will be presented.
Dr. Kanganja said as part of the celebrations, a Road-Show will be held at the Arcades Shopping Mall Grounds from Wednesday, 17th through to Friday, 19th June from 08:00 hours to 17:00 hours.
During the Road-Show, Government ministries and institutions will display information and carry out practical demonstration of the services and products they offer.
ZANIS
Former Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Simon Miti has submitted a declaration list of his property to Law Enforcement Agencies.
This is in connection with on-going investigations into the K27 billion corruption scam at the ministry.
Dr. Miti’s lawyer Rabson MalipengaA confirmed to ZNBC that his client submitted the list at the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) offices Friday morning.
Mr. Malipenga said the submission was agreed upon when a warn and caution statement was recorded from the former health Permanent Secretary.
Dr. Miti was Thursday interrogated from about 12:00 hours to 18:00hrs at the ACC Headquarters. The list has not been released to the public.
Meanwhile, Henry Kapoko has appealed against a magistrate court’s decision to deny him bail pending trial in the Lusaka High Court.
Kapoko, a former Ministry of Health Human Resource Manager, was last week denied bail by Magistrate Kenneth Mulife on grounds that he attempted to evade arrest and tried to flee the country.
Kapoko’s lawyer Kelvin Bwalya has argued in the high court that the trial court erred in law and in fact when it denied his client bail on the ground that he would run away.
Mr. Bwalya submitted that other grounds of appeal will follow at the hearing.
And High Court Judge Essau Chulu has set June 16 as the date for hearing of Kapoko’s bail application appeal.
Kapoko’s defence team had submitted before magistrate Mulife that their client deserved bail because he was of fixed abode and a civil servant.
Kapoko has pleaded NOT guilty to obtaining K1.9 billion by false pretences.
It is alleged that on unknown dates but between January 22 and February 28 this year, jointly and while acting together with other unknown persons and with intent to defraud or deceive the ministry of health, Kapoko obtained money by false pretences.
Zambia Intelligence Services Chief Regis Phiri captured at the University Teaching Hospital where there is a strike by nurses and other health staff
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Zambia Intelligence Services director General Regis Phiri spotted strolling around the University Teaching Hospital main entrance where there is a strike by nurses and other health workers
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Nurses sun-bathing on the University Teaching Hospital lawns during the strike action
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A student nurses helps a family transport a patient at the University Teaching Hospital because nurses are on strike
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Bereaved families stranded outside the Brought In Dead block at the University Teaching Hospital because the health workers are on strike
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Nurses sun-bathing at UTH
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Resident doctors leaving the common room where they had resolved to withdraw labour at the University Teaching Hospital yesterday
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Resident Doctors Association president Crispin Moyo briefing journalists on the strike action by the doctors in Lusaka
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Bereaved families stranded outside the Brought In Dead block at the University Teaching Hospital because the health workers are on strike
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Police officers bundling a pupil from Highridge High school into a lorry after being apprehended for rioting
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Two pupils from Highridge High school locked in a police lorry after being arrested for rioting.JPG Two pupils from Highridge High school locked in a police lorry after being arrested for rioting
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President Rupiah Banda Zambia's High Commisioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula going to attend the World Economic Forum on Africa in South Africa
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President with Bank of Zambia Governor Dr Caleb Fundanga and Geoff Rothschild, Director of Government and International affairs in the of SouthAfrica
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Former State House press Aid Richard Sakala is interviewed by reporters after he was acquitted by the Lusaka magistrate Court
Here are the Faz league fixtures and standing ahead of Faz Premier Division Week 14 and division 1 Week 15 games this weekend.
Faz Premier Division
Week 14
13/06/2009
Chambishi – Zamtel
Choma Eagles – Konkola Blades
Zesco United – Nakambala Leopards
Lusaka Dynamos – Green Buffaloes
City of Lusaka – Zanaco
Young Arrows – Forest Rangers
Kabwe warriors – Red Arrows
Power Dynamos – Roan United
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati has called on public service workers to exercise restraint in their demands for increased salaries and other conditions of service in view of the shrunken government revenue base brought about by the global economic crisis.
Mr. Mutati has since appealed to public service workers to appreciate government’s inability to meet their demands due to budgetary limitations.
He was speaking in Cape Town, South Africa, last night when he addressed Zambians resident there.
He was drawn to the matter by one of the residents who wanted government’s reaction to demands for higher salaries and improved conditions of service for public service workers.
Mr. Mutati said government’s revenue base has been severely affected by the global economic crunch which has resulted in closure of some of the country’s principal sources of income, such as the mines and other companies.
He, however, said government is working hard to diversify the economy from dependence on copper to other sectors, such as tourism and agriculture, as a long term measure to grow the economy and improve the living conditions of the Zambian people.
The minister urged Zambians in the Diaspora to be good ambassadors in selling Zambia’s investment potential to investors.
He said government has put in place a conducive investment climate ideal for all levels of investors from micro, medium to large scale investments.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mutati, says revelations of corrupt practices in some government ministries and other public institutions are a sign that government has put in place right mechanisms in the fight against corruption.
He said government is happy with the good work the office of the Auditor General and other law enforcement agencies were doing in exposing various financial scams and corrupt practices so that perpetrators of such vices face the wrath of the law.
He said the recent revelation of the K27 billion scam at the Ministry of Health is an example that those that want to take short-cuts to get rich will not escape the long arm of the law.
Mr. Mutati said recent approval of the Anti Corruption Policy by Cabinet, among other measures, is a demonstration of President Rupiah Banda’s commitment to zero-tolerance of corruption.
He explained that the policy aims at enhancing the role and capacity of the ACC in the crusade against corruption.[quote]
At the same function, Bank of Zambia Governor, Dr Caleb Fundanga, said Zambia’s financial sector has remained vibrant despite the global economic meltdown.
Dr Fundanga said no single bank has collapsed, but instead more new banks continue to be opened in the country, a sign of a promising economy despite the current global financial turbulence.
Speaking earlier, President Banda’s political advisor, Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, told the audience that looking at the pace of constitutional reform process by the NCC, it was possible to have a new constitution in place before the 2011 presidential and general elections.
Mr. Lewanika added that Zambia’s multi-party democracy is taking root as evidenced in the competition for office by various political players during elections.
And in his welcome remarks, Chairman of the Zambian Community in Cape Town, David Phiri, called on the government to establish a consular office in Cape Town that would represent and protect the interests of the growing list of Zambian nationals resident there.
Mr. Phiri said the consular office would also help promote economic and commercial relations between Zambia and Cape Town and foster social and cultural co-operation between Zambia and South Africa.
He said Cape Town has about 4,000 Zambian nationals engaged in various occupations who find it difficult to access consular services at the Zambia High Commission in Pretoria, which is thousands of kilometers away.
Mr. Phiri also appealed to the government to speed up the processing of new passports for Zambians resident in Cape Town. He said a number of them have applied through the High Commission in Pretoria but it is taking long for the new passports to be processed in Lusaka, a situation that has adversely affected the residents.
