The Post is ready for anything - M'membe
By Mwala Kalaluka
Fri 04 June 2010, 16:10 CAT
Post editor Fred M'membe being escorted to Lusaka Central remand prison under heavy guard. This was shortly after being sentenced to serve four months with hard labour by Lusaka magistrate David Simusamba
POST editor Fred M’membe yesterday said The Post fully knows, understands what is going on and is ready for it.
And M’membe calmly entered Lusaka Central Prison (Chimbokaila) at exactly 13.40 hours yesterday after attempts by his lawyers to secure bail pending appeal for him failed.
Speaking in a very brief interview shortly before he was sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour for publication of contemptuous material, M’membe said The Post was ready for anything.
This is in a matter in which M’membe and The Post were on Wednesday convicted on a charge of contempt arising from the publication of an article in The Post of August 27, 2009 titled: “The Chansa Kabwela case: A comedy of Errors”, authored by United States-based Zambian Professor of law Muna Ndulo.
“I just want to say that we understand what is going on. We fully know what is going on and we are ready for it,” said M’membe, two hours before Lusaka senior resident magistrate David Simusamba sentenced him to four months imprisonment with hard labour.
Passing the sentence, magistrate Simusamba said on June 2, 2010 when the verdict in the matter was pronounced, M’membe’s defence lawyers offered mitigation arguing that according to the position at law, when an offence had an option of a fine or a custodial sentence, the option of a fine ought to be considered.
Magistrate Simusamba said the defence argued that the offence for which their clients had been convicted was not aggravating. However, he said after looking at the circumstances of the contempt, it was his considered opinion that a fine was not appropriate. He said the offence on which M’membe and The Post had been convicted posed a real risk of interfering with the fair administration of justice.
“The core lies in the fair administration of justice and any interference may have far reaching consequences,” magistrate Simusamba said. “It is incumbent upon court to restore the order.”
Magistrate Simusamba said in order to reform the convict and deter others from engaging into such kind of behaviour, it was his considered view that a fine was not appropriate in the case.
“I thus order a four months imprisonment with hard labour for A1 (M’membe) now the first convict,” magistrate Simusamba said.
He said he had directed his mind over the nature of accused number two (The Post), which he said was an entity, and that the position of the law had always been to punish the directing mind of that corporate entity.
He said Post Human Resource manager, Reuben Phiri, who representing The Post as accused number two, was just the administration manager of the corporate entity called The Post.
“Mr. Reuben Phiri can’t be the right person to suffer punishment,” magistrate Simusamba said.
He said Phiri’s duty at The Post had nothing to do with offence before court and that since M’membe was the editor-in-chief of the corporate entity known as The Post, it could not be doubted that he was the mind of the entity.
Magistrate Simusamba again sentenced M’membe to four months simple imprisonment in place of The Post in that he was the controlling mind behind the entity.
“The sentences shall run concurrently,” said magistrate Simusamba.
This means M’membe is supposed to serve four months in prison.
But M’membe’s lawyer Remmy Mainza said in an interview that they would proceed to apply for bail pending appeal immediately.
However, around 13.30 hours a group of sympathisers and journalists that had been waiting at the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court holding cell in view of the bail application process, ran towards Ridgeway Police Post when they noticed that M’membe was being led to Lusaka Central Prison.
Passersby and some women at the Prison Clinic watched in amazement as M’membe crossed the dividing road between the court and the prison under police escort.
After saying goodbye to family members and friends, amidst warning from prison guards, M’membe - who was adorning a cap, checked shirt and blue jeans - entered Lusaka Central Prison.
Commenting on M’membe’s imprisonment, Federation of Free Trade Unions (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde Simukoko said the verdict was saddening.
“But we will respect the decision,” said Simukoko.
National Revolution Party (NRP) president Cosmo Mumba said the sentence was a total injustice to the country. Mumba, who was among those that attended the court hearing, said the campaign started by the MMD government to silence voices would not work.
Change Life Zambia (CLZ) executive director Fr Frank Bwalya described M’membe’s imprisonment as a temporary setback.
“The MMD and their system have become pigs in the country’s animal farms. What I mean is that the rule of law in this country has gone to the dogs unlike under the late president Levy Mwanawasa, which was a government of laws and not men. The current government with Mr Rupiah Banda is a government of men,” Fr Bwalya said.
“It is highly regrettable. It should have been an acquittal but we respect the decision of the court. We are very disappointed that it is a custodial sentence given the fact that it was a misdemeanor. It would have been more appropriate to fine.”
Fr Bwalya said there was need to forge ahead in supporting The Post.
“We know that this conviction will not deter The Post. They have gone through worse situations like this. It is a temporary setback,” said Fr Bwalya.
Others that attended the hearing included Heritage Party leader Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda, retired High Court judge Kabazo Chanda, Post employees and M’membe’s family members.
Labels: CORRUPTION, COSMO MUMBA, FRANK BWALYA, FRED M'MEMBE, JOYCE NONDE, PRESS FREEDOM, THE POST
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FFTUZ ticks off Rupiah’s one year in office
By Margaret Habbuno
Tue 03 Nov. 2009, 15:58 CAT
President Rupiah Banda’s twelve months in office is nothing to talk home about because no economic development has taken place, FREDRATION of Free Trade Unions in Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde-Simukoko has said.
In an interview on Monday to mark President Banda’s one year in office, Simukoko said President Banda had done nothing to address the economic challenges that the country was facing.
“It is difficult to pin point what the President has done in his one year rule because he has failed to deliver for the people of Zambia,” she said. “If you look at the campaign massage that he put across, he had promised to follow the Mwanawasa legacy of which he has failed.”
She said the country doesn’t even know the kind of governance programme he had which made it impossible for the public to figure out what he had done for the country. Simukoko said it was sad that President Banda could not stop the privatisation of Zamtel.
“There is really nothing to say about his rule.The other one that he is likely to cripple is the media fraternity which he intends to give statutory regulation an idea several stakeholders are against,” said Simukoko.
Labels: FFTUZ, JOYCE NONDE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Zambians are docile – Milupi
Written by Margaret Habbuno
Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:51:21 PM
PARLIAMENTARY Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Charles Milupi has said Zambians have displayed a special talent of being docile on several issues. And Federation of Free Trade Unions in Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde Simukoko said over-respecting of leaders by citizens in the country has contributed to poor leadership.
Speaking on Let the People Talk programme on Radio Phoenix yesterday, Milupi said it was sad that Zambians remained docile on issues of governance.
“It is important to know and appreciate the fact that over the years, Zambians displayed a special talent of being docile in the way we reflect on issues. If you look at governance issues in the number of countries, it’s the citizens themselves that drive what needs to be done in the nation,” he said.
Milupi said in developed countries, it was citizens themselves that blocked massive rigging in an election.
“It is the citizens themselves that do not tolerate if there has been massive rigging in an election. With the Zambian context, we need to look at things in a different way. Maybe we are peaceful which is a good thing,” he said.
Milupi said if Zambians had displayed an attitude of unity and fighting poverty in the country, positive results would have been achieved.
And Simukoko bemoaned the pattern of voting in the country.
“The pattern of voting in this country is bad because it is based on friendship, tribe - somebody who is sociable, somebody who can buy us beer,” she said.
Simukoko said it was important that the Zambians start taking the government to task by providing checks and balances.
“We have been complaining about the bad state of roads in the country. We should engage government to monitor their activities and look at their expenditure, income and wastage. We have the Auditor General’s report coming out every year. But have the unions taken management to task? Now I am criticising the unions. Yes I am criticising myself as a union. Because we are so scared when we put our leaders in office and because of that, we have been unable to provide checks and balances to our leaders in the country.
“We must be in good books with them so that we get favours from them there is no sacrifice. So we are the ones who have made the leaders to be the way they are in this country today,” said Simukoko.
Labels: CHARLES MILUPI, CIVIL SOCIETY, GOVERNANCE, JOYCE NONDE, PAC
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Barclays unionized workers win pay rise
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Friday, June 12, 2009 8:37:16 PM
BARCLAYS Bank Plc unionized workers have been awarded a 15 per cent (K600,000) salary increment across the board. Speaking at the signing ceremony between the bank and the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAWU) on Friday, ZUFIAWU president Joyce Nonde-Simukoko said as difficult as it may have been, the negotiations reached a conclusion.
She said Barclays Bank had done a lot in many areas like women empowerment and HIV and AIDS and had continued to have a lot of customers.
And Barclays Bank Zambia acting managing director Patrick Wanjelani said the bank was operating in a very difficult time when the country was experiencing the effects of the credit crunch.
Wanjelani said the financial melt down had caught up with them and had brought about a number of challenges not only to the business but to the banking industry as a whole.
He said negotiating during these hard times had not been easy as could be seen by the strikes being experienced all over.
"The two parties have agreed on a number of items among these being a salary increment of 15 percent across the board. Barclays Bank Plc remains committed to staff welfare even in these difficult times, staff come first," said Wanjelani.
Labels: BARCLAYS BANK, JOYCE NONDE, SALARIES, TRADE UNIONS
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Rupiah wanted a cut from $53m deal - HH
Written by George Chellah and Chibaula Silwamba
Thursday, May 07, 2009 3:29:10 PM
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema yesterday described the US$ 53 million mobile hospitals deal as a white-collar crime in which President Rupiah Banda and the MMD want to get a commission.
And Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde-Simukoko questioned the sincerity of the Chinese government when it distanced itself from the mobile hospitals deal when in fact, the company involved is owned by the Chinese government.
Reacting to the visiting Chinese government special representative on African Affairs Ambassador Liu Guijin's statement that his government did not play any role in the mobile hospital deal, Hichilema urged the nation to squarely put the blame on the Zambian government and President Banda in particular.
"In the story today, the Chinese are saying no, it is not them who should decide for Zambia. It is the Zambian leaders that should decide. And this is still what it should be because the responsibility to make decisions on Zambia's development is on the Zambian government," Hichilema said.
"The only difference with the present government is that they are a selfish government and the party that is in office is completely tired and has stopped looking after the interests of the people of Zambia. Other than their own interests... we know that they want to buy these mobile hospitals so that they raise money for the 2011 elections and commissions as usual."
Asked whether he implied that someone in government wanted to get a commission from the deal, Hichilema responded: "Absolutely, there is no question about that."
When asked who that person could be, Hichilema laughed before answering: "The government, the MMD and its President. The MMD and its President wanted to get a commission and we should not allow them to get commission by acquiring debt, which every Zambian will have to pay in future. And they get the commission for their personal agendas as well as the political agendas."
He said the mobile hospital deal was a corrupt transaction.
"We said this the last time that, that's what this mobile hospital deal is all about... it's not about the sick Zambian in Shang'ombo or Kaputa. It is about the MMD and its leadership raising money for elections with some of the money going to personal pockets. This is what is called white-collar crime. This is definitely white-collar crime, corruption of the highest order," he said.
Hichilema said Zambians must now realise where the problem lies in the planned procurement of mobile hospitals.
"I think the problem is not in the Chinese because the Chinese cannot make decisions for Zambia. It is Zambians who should make decisions for themselves. Now we have the wrong Zambians in the name of the leadership of the MMD who are making bad decisions on their behalf. Acquiring debt, you know they are increasing our debt stock. We just had a HIPC qualification, which was so painful to the people of Zambia," Hichilema said.
"Now we have a situation where people are acquiring debt for the nation for personal gains, that's unacceptable. How are we going to fight corruption if corruption is in the highest office in the land? This is what we reminded the people of Zambia just a few months ago during the campaigns that this leadership is corrupt, this MMD is corrupt and we must take it out if we have to see a future in Zambia.
"Look at now the mining jobs that have been lost. There is no strong leadership in the Rupiah Banda leadership. It's a tired leadership, there is no question about that. One doesn't have to be too clever to see. You have to have just common sense to see that this leadership is not strong, this leadership is corrupt and this leadership is tired.
"I ask all Zambians to come together. We must unite to take out the MMD government come 2011. In fact, it's so painful... how we shall survive up to 2011, only God knows under this corrupt leadership that is concerned about itself only."
He said President Banda must apologise to the nation. Hichilema insisted that President Banda speaks highly of things that are meant to benefit him, his party and his family.
"You know, the problem we have with this President, he praises and tries to advance causes that are meant to reward him personally. And when these things are against the wishes of the Zambian people, he tries to use presidency to force his way through. He did that on Dora Siliya and Zamtel, when he was telling us that Dora was smarter than all of us. You know, I keep on laughing about it that Dora is smarter than all of us. I really don't understand," laughed Hichilema. "I will never understand but because he was blinded by his personal greed and his desire to earn a commission on the RP Capital Partners contract. So he talked before he realised whether Zambians where in agreement or not. Now he says mobile hospitals are a damn good thing. What does he mean by that? A damn good thing for Rupiah and company? It is not a damn good thing, that's a terrible thing for Zambia."
Hichilema said President Banda had been caught in his own lies.
"He is behaving like a little partridge. Let me explain it this way, if you plant your maize, as it is germinating the seed is soft and it's now appetising to the partridge and the partridge goes in the field and the owner of the field scares it away. The partridge thinks it's extremely clever and runs in a direction where it thinks the thicket is and it runs straight in a trap and it gets caught," Hichilema explained whilst suppressing laughter.
"Now when it gets caught, it can never deny that it was eating the maize because when you kill it and you open its bowels you will find that there is maize. I’m simply saying he is caught once more in his web of deceit and personal interest. On a serious note, we cannot have a leadership like this. I am not too sure how long Zambians can tolerate this. I can tell you, the only reason why those things were coming was for a corrupt commission, number two to use them for the campaigns. Please write it just as strong as I have put it don't feel sorry for me."
And Nonde-Simukoko challenged the Chinese government to tell the truth because it was clear that CATIC was a state-owned company.
"We have looked at the website www.catic.com.cn/en and we are shocked that the Chinese government representatives are distancing their government from the US $53 million mobile hospital deal when in fact the official website of China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), the company involved in this deal, confirms that it is a large scale state-owned conglomerate," Nonde-Simukoko said.
According to the official website, CATIC is a state-owned company headquartered in Beijing, China.
"China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), was established in 1979, is owned by Aviation Industry Corporation of China. It is a large scale state-owned conglomerate with aviation products & technology import and export as its core business. Headquartered in Beijing," states CATIC.
Nonde-Simukoko challenged the government to quickly issue a comprehensive statement on the US$ 53 million deal.
"We have a right to get correct information as Zambians on the issue and as such, we expect the [Zambian] government to give a full report on what this is all about so that we can make an informed decision because just to have mobile hospitals, we feel as a union, that it will be more costly than having a permanent structure in a district. Short term it's expensive but long term it's cheap," Nonde-Simukoko said.
"These mobile hospitals; (1) it's not guaranteed that it can provide good services. Look at our road infrastructure; it's not even possible that this mobile hospital can reach the patient at the right time. (2) These mobile hospitals will be highly abused and in the end, we don't even have the control mechanism to ensure that actually this is a mobile hospital. The road infrastructure is nothing to discuss. What about the repairs because of the poor road network? The cost will be too high for the government to contain."
She said the government must have a budget for constructing hospitals in each district and start working on that.
"We must build good structures at provincial level and then move to the district level and then we go down to the chiefdom level. Honestly that should be the priority and we don't want to be quarrelling on things that we should not be quarrelling on," said Nonde-Simukoko. "Whether the Chinese government is involved or not for FFTUZ it's not an issue, it's just not a good decision at all and it will not help the people."
On Monday, visiting Chinese government special representative on African affairs Ambassador Liu Guijin said the Chinese government did not play any role in the US$53 million mobile hospitals deal.
But according to a letter dated April 28, 2009 and addressed to Department for International Development (DFID), health permanent secretary Dr Velepi Mtonga stated that President Banda indicated during the official opening of the National Assembly that the government would procure mobile clinics from a friendly country to complement efforts to construct 15 hospitals in the 19 districts that did not currently have any.
And last Sunday, President Rupiah Banda said the concept of mobile hospitals was a "damn good idea" from the Chinese.
Labels: CORRUPTION, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, HEALTHCARE, INTERNET, JOYCE NONDE, RUPIAH BANDA
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COMMENT - Joyce Nonde for Finance Minister. She has my vote. :)
“Investors believe they are safer engaging casual labour as pensionable jobs may prove costly when the businesses no longer remain profitable and many parastatal companies are failing to restructure operations due to the huge compensation packages associated with downsising,” said Kanyama.
It is time the Zambian government became serious about governing. Pensions should be universal, and have nothing to do with employment - and the way to do that is to let all companies pay their pension to the state - through taxes. There are few enough old people around, so that is more than economically feasible.
FFTUZ condemns Kanyama on laws to impress investors
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 3:06:11 PM
THE Federation of Free Trade Unions in Zambia (FFTUZ) yesterday condemned Lusaka economist Chibamba Kanyama for calling for laws that will impress investors.
On Monday,
Kanyama said the government should urgently revise the Act governing redundancy packages to reflect investor challenges.
But FFTUZ president
Joyce Nonde-Simukoko said in Lusaka that it was shocking and annoying to see Kanyama thinking along those lines.
“Our members are annoyed and shocked and Zambia should not be compared to other economies that are doing well since workers already are getting low packages and they have no opportunity to enhance their livelihoods under the current pensions Act,î Nonde-Simukoko said. ìIt is shocking to see our brother (Kanyama) thinking in those lines by calling for laws that will impress greedy investors.”
She said pension schemes and redundancy packages had been abused and even those who got benefits were thrown into abject poverty.
“Any redundancy package in this country has been abused even at Presidential level this is why the benefits are pegged at the incumbentís (sitting President) salary and conditions of service because these issues have been abused in Zambia and why are we enemies of ourselves by calling for laws to impress investors who are involved in capital flight and even when the environment is good and incentives given, they do not employ people on full-time,” Nonde-Simukoko said.
“So the issue of the economic crisis does not arise because investors are greedy and exploitative in nature, for example, when copper prices reached higher levels, they never considered Zambians as full time workers.”
She said the failure by mining companies to pay good redundancy packages was corporate greed and fraud that should not be allowed to continue.
“Investors are businessmen with a motive for profit, hence looking for loopholes like what our brother is proposing, these investors are greedy and are involved in corporate fraud, for instance, if there is no money to pay workers why are they spending so much to appease politicians by making donations at the expense of hard-working employees?” asked Nonde-Simukoko.
In his weekly commentary, Kanyama said the current redundancy packages Act had many challenges and had rendered the country uncompetitive for investments in the region.
He said many companies preferred to hire casual workers even when they had the capacity to engage pensionable jobs due to the high level of uncertainty in the investment climate.
“Investors believe they are safer engaging casual labour as pensionable jobs may prove costly when the businesses no longer remain profitable and many parastatal companies are failing to restructure operations due to the huge compensation packages associated with downsising,” said Kanyama.
Labels: CHIBAMBA KANYAMA, FFTUZ, JOYCE NONDE
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Nonde calls for change of attitude towards democracy
Written by Moses Kuwema
Sunday, March 22, 2009 6:36:45 PM
UNION Network International (UNI) vice-president Joyce Nonde has said the unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar shows a lack of understanding of democracy by African leaders. In an interview, Nonde observed that most African countries did not have systems that support democracy.
"If you look at our current situation here in Zambia, we still have a one party state in our Constitution, which is a sad development. We need to change our attitude towards democracy as Africans," she said.
Nonde said there were more power struggles as opposed to development in most African countries.
"People want to go to State House not for development but to fill their pockets. That is why you cannot tell whether there is democracy or not in most countries.
“Look at what happened in Kenya, Zimbabwe where there were disputes following the elections while [in] other countries, elections don't even take place," he said.
Nonde wondered what African leaders discuss at the African Union (AU) summits when the electoral systems in most counties were not perfect.
She said the AU should work towards helping to change the attitudes of African countries towards democracy.
"The AU should set standards for democracy because if we are not careful, what has happened in Madagascar will start happening in most African countries. So we should not just look at Madagascar but also look at our own countries. We need to have responsible opposition political parties and governments," she said.
Nonde said there was need to correct Zambia's electoral system before the 2011 elections. She said leaders should avoid being trivial and leave room for criticism.
"People need to allow criticism, but the problem with most African leaders is that they always want to be praised and they don't want to be criticized," Nonde said.
And Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Bishop Paul Mususu said the developments in Madagascar should be of great concern to everyone around the world.
Bishop Mususu said Madagascar was part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the AU, hence the need for people to be concerned.
Bishop Mususu wondered whether what had happened in Madagascar was a creation of those in power or there was discomfort among people.
He called on other leaders on the continent to be careful as they govern because people power was supreme. He said leaders needed to be sensitive to the people they governed.
"People's voice cannot be quenched but unfortunately in Madagascar much as there was people power, the military was also involved and this should be a source of worry," he said.
Bishop Mususu observed that leaders needed to be humble because people's voices mattered.
"I can underscore the fact that the last two elections we have had the people that have been voted into power did not have a majority votes and one would expect to see some humility on their part, but this is not the case," he said.
Bishop Mususu said the good thing about the Madagascar situation was the fact that someone resigned and this would never happen in Zambia.
"There is a resignation which is not a case here even when people have been confronted with issues," said Bishop Mususu.
Labels: DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE, JOYCE NONDE, MADAGASCAR, SADC, UNION NETWORK INTERNATIONAL
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Dora is wrong - Gen Miyanda
Written by George Chellah
Friday, February 20, 2009 6:38:38 PM
COMMUNICATIONS and transport minister Dora Siliya is wrong because she has
ignored or disregarded Cabinet guidelines and practices, Heritage Party (HP) president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda has charged.
Giving his observations on the Zamtel and RP Capital Partners contract, Brig Gen Miyanda stated that he was shocked and exasperated by the casual and flippant manner in which the Vice-President, who is also Minister of Justice, had attempted to cover up what seems to be a pre-meditated scheme to circumvent Cabinet guidelines.
"There are times when it is advisable for the President to keep quiet; this is not one of those times. In fact where is the President? Has he gone back to Libya? Or is he now on his way to Timbuktu? This wrangle is now beyond Minister Siliya and Vice-President Kunda," Brig Gen Miyanda stated.
"Let the President show that he is the President and not wait for public debates on every national issue. It is the President who must issue the comprehensive statement, which the Vice-President promised but failed to deliver. His Vice has misinterpreted a simple government practice and custom on roles of ministers, deputies and other junior staff."
He stated that remarkably, the RP Capital Partners confusion had been created by the President himself, probably unknowingly.
"When President Banda appointed Mr George Kunda as Vice-President and Minister of Justice, he inadvertently created a two-headed monster which the Vice has taken advantage of and is mesmerising and confusing everybody, including the President. This has resulted in the creation of two centres for giving official legal opinion to the government, that is the Attorney General's and the Vice-President's offices," Brig Gen Miyanda stated.
"The government is supposed to have only one such centre for legal opinion, that is the Attorney General's Chambers. Because Vice-President Kunda is his Vice and a senior lawyer, the President who is but a lay person too, is bound to pay more attention to what his Vice says. It is the Vice-President who misled the President to announce prematurely that minister Siliya was on the right track. Minister Siliya was wrong; but Vice-President Kunda is double wrong because he has advised government wrongly. As to minister Siliya, she is wrong because she has ignored or disregarded Cabinet guidelines and practices. Although as minister she is the overseer of government policy in her ministry, she is not supposed to be involved in the day-to-day management and administration of the ministry as this is the preserve of the permanent secretary, who is the chief executive in the ministry.
"As regards decisions that have financial obligations, the rules provide that where the minister elects to overrule the permanent secretary, he or she must put this in writing, clearly stating that he or she accepts all responsibility for the course of action he or she has directed. This is because ministers are not allowed to commit the government to expenditure or financial obligations. After the Minister's letter to the PS, the PS should then act on the minister's instruction but at the same time report the matter to the Minister of Finance, the Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament."
Brig Gen Miyanda, who is also a former Republican vice-president, stated that the penalty against a minister who ignores such guidelines was a surcharge of the money involved and/or dismissal by the President.
"It will be interesting to know whether such a letter has been written to the PS by minister Siliya assuming all responsibility in the RP Capital deal. But clearly she has been misled by the Vice-President who gave her a legal opinion, which belittled that of the Attorney General and which gave her the courage she has displayed in the National Assembly and outside. As to Vice-President Kunda, his siding with the Solicitor General and abandon the Attorney General is in bad faith. The Attorney General pronounced the Memorandum of Understanding a nullity. This is a very serious position taken by the Attorney General and the Vice-President should not have trashed that opinion. By his statement he has usurped Attorney General Malila's position. The least he should have done was to let the Attorney General make the statement himself," Brig Gen Miyanda stated.
"Further, as Vice-President he is supposed to defend and protect the President; he kept quiet for a very long time while the President was receiving blows left, right and centre. The Vice-President is the real culprit in this confused RP Capital saga, as it is clear now that it is him who wrongly advised the President to say that minister Siliya was on the right track and impliedly that the Solicitor General was right and the Attorney General wrong. He has provided fodder for a running feud between these two senior officials in his ministry!"
He stated that it was fallacious for the Vice-President to suggest that the Solicitor General could do whatever he wanted when the incumbent Attorney General was not available.
"This is not the practice; this is not the convention. It is equally questionable for the Vice-President to declare that the Solicitor General is the deputy to the Attorney General. This suggests ominously that as long as Vice-President Kunda remains Vice-President and Minister of Justice, we shall see Attorney General Malila constantly being sent on long errands to enable [Vice-President] Kunda to direct the Solicitor General to carry out whatever schemes he has. This further suggests that when the President is away, Vice-President Kunda will change matters in the country as he pleases.
This is totally wrong even when said by a learned State Counsel," Brig Gen Miyanda stated. "After the damage has been done, he is now trying to rescue the President, who is also a lay person. If he is so concerned about lay persons doing technical government work, he should not have advised that the [National Constitutional Conference] NCC should proceed the way it is doing, with more than 90 per cent lay persons deliberating and even re-drafting the legal Mung'omba document which has already been drafted by lawyers.
"He and his government were advised to arrange for a constituent assembly, which would essentially be full of lay persons with the mandate to state what the broad principles should be in the constitution. Look at the circus in the NCC now, where at every stage the commissioners are requesting for experts to explain things to them, all because of Vice-President George Kunda's advice to the government when he was Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Now he is busy undermining the incumbent Attorney General. Give Malila a chance to prove his mettle!"
Brig Gen Miyanda stated that Vice-President Kunda's lecture about lay persons was out of place and was certainly not the law.
"I say that even if the Minister of Transport and Communications was a lawyer, he would still be obliged to seek the Attorney General's legal opinion. I would go so far as to state that even transactions emanating from the Vice President's office would require to be vetted by the Attorney General; that is his constitutional mandate. The provision is not an insult nor is it intended to belittle other lawyers but is simply division of labour; it is recognition that too many cooks spoil the soup and the sooner the President realizes this the quicker he should act to rescue the Ministry of Justice and the Cabinet," he stated.
Brig Gen Miyanda stated that the President must move quickly to extinguish the double-headed monster that he created.
"He must make up his mind what he really wants Vice-President George Kunda to be or to do. As regards the alleged offer of free service by Selex, this must be trashed with the contempt it deserves. Where these conmen give you two brooms and three shovels, you can be rest assured that they will receive in return one thousand brooms and shovels plus a tax free incentive," Brig Gen Miyanda stated.
"No business entity exists to conduct free services. This must be stopped; if the current law is not clear then the Minister of Justice must take to Parliament such a law that makes it expressly clear that gifts by business organisations to government will not be entertained and will be prima facie evidence of a plot to defraud or corrupt."
And Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde backed the decision by the civil society to petition the Chief Justice to probe Siliya.
"They are within their right. We have no objection to that as a federation. If the matter is of public interest it will only be fair that the tribunal is called because if it's not called it will be to the disadvantage of the accused. People must be free to go and give evidence so that this matter is put to rest," said Nonde.
"At the moment we don't know the truth, we don't know who is wrong and correct. There has been a debate on this matter, so if it's taken to the tribunal it will be better so that the truth is known."
Labels: DORA SILIYA, FFTUZ, GENERAL MIYANDA, JOYCE NONDE, RP CAPITAL PARTNERS
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Nonde demands govt explanation over cadres in AU summit entourage
Written by Moses Kuwema
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 11:14:25 AM
FEDERATION of Free Trade Unions in Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde has demanded a satisfactory explanation from the government over the inclusion of Edith Nawakwi and Judith Banda Simuziya in the African Union (AU) summit entourage.
In an interview, Nonde expressed concern over the inclusion of FDD president Nawakwi and MMD cadre Simuziya in President Rupiah Banda's entourage to the AU summit, saying the government needed to explain to the people. She said the government needed to provide satisfactory answers to the questions raised by people on issues that involved taxpayers' money.
Nonde said government should learn from developed countries that communicated to their people effectively.
"We need to be told in what capacity these people travelled there because for the President to have taken them along, there is a reason. So government needs to have an effective way of communicating because we are the taxpayers, the ones who made it possible for them to be there. They don't need to be rude, they need to answer with a lot of respect," Nonde said. "I know that the opposition can be invited at such functions, but we also need to look at the value that these people will have. For instance, what value is a cadre going to add there which will benefit the country?"
She said people should not be taken to such events for the sake of appeasement but that they needed to be of value to the deliberations.
"I don't know in what capacity Edith Nawakwi and the MMD cadre [Simuziya] travelled to Ethiopia but there is need to go to such events and add value to their country and the summit," Nonde said.
And Mansa Catholic Diocese Vicar General Fr Mambwe Mpasa said it was sad that the opposition, which was supposed to speak for the people had now joined government in misusing national resources.
Fr Mpasa questioned the value that Simuziya would add to the summit and ultimately benefit the country.
He said President Banda should not appease people.
"What is she going to do that will benefit the nation, because President Banda did not go there for a party function but a national function," he wondered.
Fr Mpasa called on other church leaders to pray for the leaders in government to make them realise that the country was in difficult times.
"One thing I find to be sad is that some opposition parties decided to join the MMD during the campaigns and this, I think, weakened the opposition and is a drawback to the our young democracy," Fr Mpasa said.
Fr Mpasa said the opposition political parties should stand against misuse of public resources as opposed to what was currently happening.
Labels: AU, CADRES, CORRUPTION, JOYCE NONDE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Consider civil servants as important, Joyce Nonde tells govt
January 31, 2009
The Federation for Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) has appealed to government to start considering the civil service as one of the important sectors in the country.
FFTUZ president Joyce Nonde expressed sadness that government has continued to ignore issues such as the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) that affect the Zambian workers.
Ms. Nonde explained that workers in the civil service play an important role towards the economic development of the country hence the need for government to treat them fairly.
She told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that despite the number of workers increasing, government has not been improving their working conditions. She noted that the civil servants’ take home pay has remained pitifully low despite reduced taxes.
Ms. Nonde disclosed that her organisation was concerned with current global economic recession, noting that this will adversely affect workers in the country.
She stated that the current increase in the PAYE exempt threshold from K600,000 to K700,000 did not bring any change, saying only few people earn less than K700,000 per month.
She added that government should have thought of broadening the tax base further to K1, 000,000 for many workers to benefit.
The FFTUZ president further explained that the tax base unveiled in the 2009 budget does not give hope to workers, adding that it is only targeted at a small number of workers who earn less than K700, 000.
Yesterday, Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane presented the 2009 national budget to parliament in which he said government is committed to providing tax relief to the workers and increased the PAYE exempt threshold.
Workers getting up to K700, 000 will not be taxed while those getting between K700, 000 and K1, 235,000 per month will have their salaries taxed at 25 per cent.
Those going home with K1, 235,001 up to K4, 000,000 will attract tax rate of 30 per cent while those getting over K4, 000,001 per month will pay 35 per cent as PAYE.
ZANIS/MM/KSH/ENDS.
Labels: 2009 BUDGET, FFTUZ, JOYCE NONDE, PAYE
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Govt expenditure is very depressing, says Nonde
Written by Gillian Namungala and Constance Matongo
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 7:54:05 PM
ECONOMIC consultant Bob Sichinga has doubted the implementation
of projects outlined in President Rupiah Banda’s speech to Parliament last Friday.
And Federation for Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde has said government expenditure as explained in the Auditor General’s report is very depressing.
Speaking on the ZNBC’s National Watch programme on Sunday, Sichinga doubted whether the government would implement all the projects announced to Parliament considering the current economic situation.
“With the current global crisis, we expect donors to only continue with projects that they are already committed to,” he said.
He said it would have been prudent for the government to come up with ten projects that could be easily fulfilled than a large number which would not be implemented.
“In 2006, we urged government to tax the mines when the prices of copper were high but they only introduced the tax in 2007 and on the way, the prices of copper reduced,” he explained.
“Therefore, this year’s budget will not be an easy one because both indirect and direct support will suffer. The highest budget income was from Pay As You Earn [PAYE] but we are talking about half a million people in formal employment…they can even be much less with the current job cuts.”
Sichinga who also called for the prudent use of resources, said Zambia had the potential to develop further once priorities were set right.
“In December, I attended parliament from the terraces where they announced that on top of the 13.7 trillion 2008 budget, government had a supplementary budget of 2.3 trillion which was not planned for. I was surprised; I expected a lot of debate on this one but only one member of parliament, Given Lubinda, spoke,” said Sichinga. “The challenge this country has is to convert the little resources into reality.”
And Nonde observed that Zambia would have made progress if taxpayers’ money was not being misused. She further said there was need for the government to reduce its debt.
“The government has spoken of reducing debt and I’m happy that they have started paying back the debt owed to pensioners but I must also say that the laissez faire attitude should come to an end, because half the time it’s leisure,” said Nonde.
Labels: AUDITOR GENERAL, EXPENDITURE SYSTEMS, JOYCE NONDE, ROBERT SICHINGA
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Sata advised to dialogue with govt on contentious issues
December 17, 2008
Both the United Liberal Party (ULP) and the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Zambia (FFTUZ) have advised opposition Patriotic Front (PF) President Michael Sata to consider dialogue with government on the high mealie-meal prices in the country.
Speaking in separate interviews with ZANIS in Lusaka today, ULP President Sakwiba Sikota said dialogue was an amicable way of addressing and ironing out contentious issues facing the country.
Mr. Sikota further said dialogue with the government on national issues would help maintain peace and reduce tension in the country.
He noted that perceived tension impacted negatively on the country as it scared away investors.
And commenting on reports that Kitwe Patriotic Front (PF) women have threatened to undress during the demonstrations over the high mealie meal prices, Mr. Sikota said the women would only embarrass themselves.
He added that it does not make sense to undress during the demonstrations.
And FFTUZ President Joyce Nonde has encouraged the opposition leader Michael Sata to dialogue with the government.
Ms. Nonde, who noted that the problem was that the opposition has not accepted the outcome of the October 30, Presidential by- elections, advised Mr. Sata to discuss with government on finding solutions the problems in the country.
She however challenged government to comprehensively explain what has led to the high mealie-meal prices in the country.
Ms. Nonde charged that politicians both in the opposition and the government were to blame for some of the problems facing the country as their influence should be used to better the situation not seeking political mileage.
And Ms Nonde has since condemned the Kitwe PF women who want to undress during the food demonstrations.
She said Zambia is Christian Nation adding that God does not allow people to expose their nakedness to the public as the human body is his temple.
ZANIS/AJN/AM/ENDS
Labels: JOYCE NONDE, SATA
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FFTUZ opposes plans to ‘privatise’ Zamtel
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Friday, December 12, 2008 4:26:34 AM
THE Federation of Free Trade Unions (FFTUZ) has expressed opposition to the intended partial privatisation of Zamtel Limited by the government.
Commenting on the announcement by communications minister Dora Siliya that the government was going to partially offload some shares in Zamtel to private investors as part of the rescue plan for the financially beleaguered company, FFTUZ president Joyce Nonde wondered why the government was rushing on a privatisation programme when it was very clear the exercise had been a disaster in the past.
Nonde said the fact that highly capitalistic countries like United States and United Kingdom were now nationalising other privately-owned institutions and financial institutions in the name of protecting national interest spoke volumes about the future of privatisation in the world.
“You can’t privatise Zamtel. You know information is vital. As FFTUZ you know our position on privatisation. We strongly feel about this and we strongly oppose this move by the government just like we opposed the privatisation of Zesco,” Nonde said. “Look at what the effects of privatisation in the country are. We are having these mealie-meal problems because everything is in the hands of the private sector. Just look at what is happening on the Copperbelt, mining companies are now trying to blackmail the government by laying off workers on the basis of copper prices when in actual fact what they want is to compel the government to backpedal on the new taxation (new mining fiscal regime) and here we are taking some more companies to the private hands.”
Nonde maintained that Zamtel was a financially viable company which had been wrecked by, among other things, the government’s failure to pay its obligations to the telecommunications company.
“Instead of rushing to privatise, the way out is to ensure we increase the checks and balances in Zamtel. But it is incorrect for anyone to suggest that Zamtel is unviable,” she said.
And Nonde dismissed assertions by Siliya that the government would want Zamtel’s privatisation to take the route of Zanaco sell to Rabobank which the government described as a successful transaction.
“What success are they talking about in the privatisation of Zanaco Plc? The bank (Rabobank) is barely laying the ground and you are saying it has been a success. What success?” asked Nonde. “Now it is a disaster because the financial sector in the country is completely in the hands of the private sector and already we are seeing how Zambians are struggling to get access to loans. You find that now foreigners are finding it easier to access money from our local banks than our own Zambians. Our people are having difficulties because too much is being demanded from them…you find that they will tell you that even your house is not enough to get collateral…people have to move with everything like payslips, what about those who don’t work. Zambians can’t access loans?”
Labels: FFTUZ, JOYCE NONDE, ZAMTEL
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FFTUZ to take on new govt over workers’ conditions
Written by Allan Mulenga
FEDERATION of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde has said no amount of intimidation by the new government would deter union leaders from advocating better working conditions for the workers.
And Nonde has said the call by labour minister Austin Liato to engage the labour movement in dialogue was an admission that the MMD government had failed to address workers’ interests.
In an interview yesterday, Nonde said the new government should not resort to threats whenever workers demanded for improved working conditions.
“We don’t want the things that were happening in the previous government to start occurring again in this new cabinet where workers have been constantly threatened with dismissal by government leaders whenever they press for improved conditions,” she said.
Nonde said the new administration was destined to fail if it attempted to adopt policies aimed at intimidating the labour movement.
“World-over, no single government has succeeded with intimidation of the labour movement. I would like to warn the new administration that it risks being de-campaigned by the unions if it adopts strategies aimed at frustrating workers,” she said.
And Nonde said although the union movement had welcomed the promise by the new labour minister to engage in dialogue with union leaders, the sentiment was a clear manifestation that the MMD were guilty of having done very little for workers.
“We know there is nothing the MMD can boast about when it comes to improving the conditions of workers. No wonder you saw during the just-ended presidential election that people in urban areas did not vote for them,” she said.
Nonde said during the past regimes, workers had been subjected to poor working conditions, hence the need for the new Cabinet to address the interests of workers.
“What we want as a union is to demand for better working conditions of the workers and our hope is that the new Cabinet will take the interests of workers first, unlike the past governments where workers were not given an opportunity to air their grievances,” said Nonde.
The newly-appointed labour minister Austin Liato on Sunday promised to engage the labour movement into dialogue, so as to address critical labour issues.
Liato said the outcome of the just-ended presidential election especially in urban areas, revealed that workers and the labour movement were not satisfied with the way the government had handled labour issues.
Labels: FFTUZ, JOYCE NONDE, LABOUR
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Politics of appeasement shouldn’t be encouraged – Nonde
Written by Lambwe Kachali
Friday, November 07, 2008 3:45:48 AM
FEDERATION of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde yesterday said politics of appeasement should not be encouraged in Zambia because they breed segregation and quarrels among citizens.
Commenting on former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa's rejection of a house that the government offered to rent for her in Roma township, Nonde observed that it was not right for Maureen to reject the house.
Nonde said as much as it was important for Maureen to be given decent accommodation, she should not dictate to the government.
"We know it's the first time we lost the president in office but we need to be guided... We are getting more confused. Is the former first lady going to choose what the government should give her or it's the government to follow the provisions of the law? Because if my employers say I am entitled to a 4 x 4 car, I can't reject it and demand for a car of my choice. Otherwise if everybody was to choose their benefits, I am sure this country would be worse," Nonde said. "So if the former first lady should be choosing, then our country is not going to be safe...because the government has to say that ‘this is your entitlement’, rather than playing hide and seek."
Highly placed sources at Cabinet Office and State House on Wednesday disclosed that Maureen had rejected a house that the government had earlier offered to rent for her in Lusaka's Roma Township on grounds that she wants a modern house.
The sources said after the burial of president Mwanawasa in September, Maureen had agreed to move into a house in Roma that the government had offered to rent for her.
Sources said this followed President Rupiah Banda's instructions that the government should take proper care of Maureen and the family by offering her the accommodation she deserved.
Sources said President Banda also said Maureen should not be disturbed and that she should only move from State House after government finds a house of her choice.
Sources said it was difficult to search for a much better house that would please the former first lady because of the election campaigns.
Sources said the government's aim was to please Maureen so that she could overcome the loss of her husband.
They said now that President Banda was supposed to occupy State House, the government had decided to temporarily accommodate Maureen at one of the lodges in Lusaka's Kabulonga residential area. The sources said the government had rented an entire lodge for the former first lady and that they had found another house in Kabulonga, which they hoped she could move to in the next two weeks.
On September 1, 2008, Attorney General Mumba Malila explained that Maureen is entitled to a salary equivalent to 50 per cent of that of a serving head of state following president Levy Mwanawasa's death.
Malila said Maureen is also entitled to a diplomatic passport and a fully paid foreign trip once a year.
Malila said Maureen is also entitled to a house to be constructed in an area of her choice by virtue of her being the widow of the former head of state.
According to the former presidents benefits Act No. 21 of 1998, the widow is allowed to enjoy such benefits jointly with children below the age of 21 until she dies, as long as she does not go into politics or joins the government.
Maureen is also entitled to a vehicle, a driver and a house servant.
The two former first ladies of Zambia have not enjoyed this facility because their husbands are still alive and enjoying their benefits as provided for by the law.
Labels: FFTUZ, JOYCE NONDE
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Nonde fears industrial unrest over labour relations bill
By Mutuna Chanda
Friday April 25, 2008 [04:00]
FEDERATION of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde has warned of unprecedented industrial unrest if the government does not withdraw the Industrial and Labour Relations Amendment bill. The bill is currently before parliament. Briefing the press in Lusaka on Wednesday, Nonde described the bill as primitive, suppressive and vindictive and was only targeted at individuals in the labour movement.
She said the bill violated the Republican Constitution, the International Labour Organisation conventions and infringed on human rights.
“The bill that we agreed on at the tripartite labour council is not the one that has been presented to Parliament,” Nonde claimed. “Collective bargaining has been destroyed in this amendment bill because workers will no longer be represented by union officials of their choice but by those imposed by government and employers.
This is taking away our freedom of association, which we fought for in the 1997 amendments. Workers must be represented by leaders of their choice without interference from employers and government.”
She noted that the Labour Commissioner had been given powers to register or not to register a trade union based on threats to national security and yet national security had not been defined.
“This proposed law will lead to non-registration of trade unions and therefore leave many workers at the mercy of employers. This is testimony that today the Labour Commissioner has continued denying workers the right to form their trade unions.
The few trade unions that have been registered recently have been through court orders... . Under the bill, the minister has taken away the powers from the workers and employers through the tripartite consultative labour council to himself alone to decide which category of workers are essential and not eligible to take strike action.
So if for example today at Bank of Zambia the workers are not happy with the conditions of service and they want to revolt, the minister can sign a statutory instrument in the night and declare them essential workers before they take any action. It would be long before all workers in Zambia are declared essential workers.”
She further said the amended labour law, if passed, would render trade union secretariats non-existent as they would now be run by part-time staff.
“All general secretaries of existing trade unions have been disqualified under the amendment bill from recontesting their elective posts. The law proposes that full-time positions in trade unions should be on part-time and that once a trade union official is seconded, he/she should cease to stand for re-election,” Nonde noted.
She said that her union would consult with the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions whether or not to attend next week’s tripartite labour council to which they have been invited.
“What will be the purpose of the tripartite labour council if the law has already been sent to parliament? We won’t be used as rubber stamps to show that we are in agreement on the amended law,” said Nonde.
Some of the contentious issues that FFTUZ disputes included the amendments of: section 69 of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act where the most representative trade unions in the sector, trade or industry would lead negotiations with employers after forming an alliance with minority labour bodies; section 21 where the labour commissioner had been given powers to appoint an independent auditor to look at the books of account of a trade union which is suspected of abusing funds or using them contrary to its objectives and that depending on the auditor’s recommendation, officers of the union could be suspended for a period not beyond 90 days pending conclusion of the audit report.
Labels: FFTUZ, JOYCE NONDE, LABOUR, STRIKE
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Mask no failures, difficulties
By Editor
Sunday January 13, 2008 [03:00]
One can get tired listening to government pronouncements that are never implemented. But we shouldn't get tired of listening. We should listen and hold our politicians accountable for what they say, for their pronouncements and declarations. We have to continue demanding delivery on the promises or pronouncements our politicians make.
Many things are easier said than done and many politicians are very eager to announce, pronounce and declare things but when it comes to implementation it's a different thing. Many will promise you heaven and tell you that they are driving you on the path to heaven and it's just a matter of time before you get there when they are actually not even on the route or anywhere near purgatory.
We can understand Zambia Congress of Trade Unions president Leonard Hikaumba's frustrations with government pronouncements that are never implemented. But it is better for our politicians to at least make such pronouncements than to keep quiet. If they open their mouths and promise to do something, it's easier to hold them accountable against their own words than if they had said nothing. If we can't hold them against their own words, what would be the situation if they had said nothing? How would we hold them accountable against nothing when we can't hold them on what they have said or promised? But of course we should by now know that our politics is full of sweet nothings. Everything is made to look good.
Very few of our politicians have the courage of their responsibilities, exacting from others a proper respect for their work and properly respecting the work of others. They should learn to hide nothing from the masses of our people. We should teach them to tell no lies. We should expose their lies whenever they are told. We should not allow them to mask any difficulties, mistakes, failures. And above all, we should not allow them to claim easy victories.
What is seriously lacking among our politicians is the spirit of criticism and self-criticism. Honest politicians should not fear criticism because the truth is on their side, and the basic masses are on their side. We are looking forward to a day when our politicians will courageously shoulder their responsibilities and overcome all difficulties, fearing no setbacks or gibes, no hesitating to criticise that which needs to be criticised. Conscientious practice of self-criticism will be a hallmark distinguishing honest politicians from crooks. We should understand that the main task of criticism is to point out political and organisational mistakes. If we base all our actions on the highest interests of the broadest masses of our people and are fully convinced of the justice of our cause, we will never balk at any personal sacrifice and we will never be reluctant to discard any idea, view point, opinion or method which is not suited to the needs of our people.
We must not become complacent over any success. We should check our complacency and constantly check our shortcomings, just as we should wash our faces or sweep the floor every day to remove the dirt and keep them clean.
As for criticism, let's learn to do it in good time; and not get into the habit of criticising only after the event.
Taught by mistakes and setbacks, we should have become wiser and be better placed to handle our affairs in a more effective, efficient and orderly manner. It is hard for any organisation or person to avoid mistakes, but we should make as few as possible. Once a mistake is made, we should correct it, and the more quickly and thoroughly the better.
What worries us most is the fact that whenever our leaders, especially the President, make a speech it's full of nothing but self-exaltation about what has been achieved. Failures are not talked about. If they are talked about at all, it is in reference to others.
We would like to see a day when the President addresses Parliament and in his address there is a long catalogue of the failures of his government and he openly takes responsibility for that. We are not suggesting this to humiliate the President or anyone else for that matter. We are saying this because the attitude - that is to say, the seriousness or purpose - of any government or organisation should be, or is, measured, basically, by the attitude it takes towards its own mistakes, failures or weaknesses. Of course, enemies or political opponents are always alert to know what those mistakes, failures or weaknesses are. But when these errors, mistakes or failures are not subjected to self-criticism, enemies or political opponents take advantage of them. When those errors or mistakes are made and are subjected to self-criticism, they may be used by the enemy or political opponent, but in a very different way. This is because in the former case, they would not be corrected and in the latter they would be. That is why our politicians should take a forthright and serious attitude towards their errors, mistakes or failures. We should always be analyzing all that has been done, good things that have been done and also the errors that have been made and the failures that have been recorded.
Admitting mistakes or failure is not a weakness; it doesn't reduce or diminish a person's integrity; it actually increases it. And integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of any leader. But of course, one has to always keep his word to continue being respected. And respect is important because it is the key determinant of high performance leadership. Let us not forget that sometimes we fail because of incorrect assumptions that lie at the root of our actions. And if we have the courage of self-criticism, we will be able to test our assumptions. It should never be forgotten that any great achievement is preceded by many difficulties and many lessons; great achievements are not possible without them. So it is ridiculous to pretend all is well and we are only scoring one success after another, no failures or mistakes. This is what seems to be the case with our politicians.
It is for this reason that people like Hikaumba are getting tired with speeches or pronouncements that appear to never be implemented. Let us not forget that words have a longer life than deeds. And sometimes a speech is no more than a device for saying nothing - and a neater one than silence. Words are chameleons, which reflect the colour of their environment.
Labels: JOYCE NONDE, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, ZCTU
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ZCTU calls for action on new tax regime
By Mutuna Chanda
Sunday January 13, 2008 [03:00]
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has said the labour movement is tired of listening to government pronouncements that are not implemented. And Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia president Joyce Nonde has said the new tax regime announced by President Mwanawasa has come a little too late when the country has already been swindled.
Commenting on President Levy Mwanawasa’s opening speech to the second session of the 10th National Assembly on Friday, Hikaumba said he hoped what the President said would be implemented, particularly the measures on a new tax regime that would enable Zambia benefit more from mining revenue.
Hikaumba said this in reference to the government’s failure to implement the increase in mineral royalties which finance minister Ng’andu Magande announced in the 2007 budget.
“We hope what has been pronounced is on the government’s agenda for action,” Hikaumba said.
Magande in last year’s budget proposed to increase mineral royalty tax from 0.6 per cent to three per cent for base metals and from two to three per cent for precious metals, but this was not effected for large scale mines which had development agreements with the government.
Hikaumba said Zambians had not benefited much from the country’s mineral resources.
“It’s not just copper, it’s also from gemstones, other minerals and other natural resources,” Hikaumba said. “Government should move fast and ensure that we maximise benefits from our natural resources.” He said the expected increase from mining revenues should translate into improvement of the welfare of workers countrywide.
“We should also make sure that equitable distribution of revenues from the mines encompasses workers,” Hikaumba said. “We want to see a significant improvement in the conditions of service for workers.”
And Nonde said the current generation would go down in history as one of the most irresponsible, going by the development agreements the government had with the mines and the failure to act quickly on the tax regime to enable Zambians benefit from high metal prices.
“In our time and the history of the country, those development agreements were the worst. I don’t believe those agreements were made by Zambians,” Nonde said. “We have been giving away our resources for nothing in return. The last 15 years for our country have been wasteful and whoever benefited from those development agreements among us Zambians will be swallowed in the air.”
She said her union was happy the President Mwanawasa pointed towards acting on development agreements and a new tax regime.
“We hope they will act swiftly now. We have had a lot of times when things have been promised without the government having the intention to act,” Nonde said. “Like in the budget, a lot of promises are made but they are not honoured. That is why we have money being returned to the treasury.”
She cited the failure by the government to move swiftly in implementing the broadening of the tax base, non-action on the Auditor General’s reports and the mismatch in paying pensioners their retirement packages.
“Year in and out the government talks about widening the tax base but we see little of this happening,” Nonde said.
“They even know the sector which to tax but when it comes to implementing, they are stuck, fearing that they are going to touch the voters.”
And United Liberal Party (ULP) Sakwiba Sikota demanded a comprehensive report on what led to the fish disease in Western Province and what would be done to prevent it from recurring.
President Mwanawasa in his speech said the fish disease on the upper Zambezi last year negatively affected the livelihoods of many people and that the government had commissioned an independent study to ascertain the cause and extent of the disease.
“Following the recommendations of the team, government will carry out a number of measures including revision of the legal framework regarding definition of stock diseases to include fish and fish diseases, continued collaboration and improved consultations with the countries sharing the Zambezi river basin,” said President Mwanawasa. “It will also conduct routine monitoring in the Zambezi river system to determine patterns of disease occurrence and increase public awareness on the disease.”
Labels: DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, FFTUZ, JOYCE NONDE, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, MINING AGREEMENTS, TAXATION, ZCTU
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Nonde questions size, cost of Cabinet
By Joan Chirwa
Tuesday December 11, 2007 [03:00]
THE Zambian government has continued to incur huge costs because of having a large number of cabinet ministers, Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) general secretary Joyce Nonde has said. Nonde, in an interview, said the trade union and other stakeholders have
always been in support of having a small cabinet that could deliver regardless of an individual’s tribal grouping. She was commenting on chief government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti’s statement that Zambia would not emulate Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade’s decision to downsize his Cabinet
from 38 to 28.
President Wade reduced his Cabinet by more than a quarter last month in solidarity with citizens in view of the rising prices of fuel and food, after he pledged a month earlier to trim the number of his ministers and cut ministerial allowances.
But Mulongoti said Zambia could not compromise national security by reducing the number of Cabinet ministers. He said Zambia needed to take into account that some tribal groupings could feel marginalised if the size of the cabinet was reduced.
But Nonde said most Zambians were not interested in tribal groupings when choosing Cabinet ministers, as long as a selected individual was capable of delivering quality services to the people.
“We are not interested in seeing tribes being represented in Cabinet. What we need are people who are able to deliver to the people. I therefore disagree with Mr. Mulongoti that reducing the number of Cabinet ministers would make other tribes feel marginalised,” Nonde said.
“That is a very old-fashioned way of talking. I personally don’t care whether my tribe is represented in Cabinet or not, as long as the team put in place is capable of making this country develop.”
Nonde said most people aspiring for high government positions were using tribes for personal gains.
“We need people who can speak on behalf of the masses and not those who just want to get to a top position for personal gain,” Nonde said.
“This is why we have this huge number of ministers in Zambia but very little work being done, and yet government has to incur costs for maintaining them in those positions at the expense of a number of poor people in this country.”
In Senegal, President Wade saw it prudent that his Cabinet be trimmed and ministerial salaries cut in a bid to reduce the suffering of the country’s poor, who have suffered high prices of basic goods like rice and bread in recent months.
A few weeks ago, riots erupted in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, with stone throwing protesters complaining about high unemployment and rising prices at a time when the government was constructing luxury hotels and four-lane highways.
Labels: CABINET, JOYCE NONDE, ZUFIAW
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Next year's budget will expose 'the reality' - Nonde
By Fridah Zinyama and Mutuna Chanda
Wednesday November 14, 2007 [03:00]
FEDERATION of Free Trade Unions of Zambia president Joyce Nonde has said next year's national budget will expose the reality of the much talked about growth in the Zambian economy. And Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) committee member Bob Liebenthal has said the government needs to be commended for coming up with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as it gives stakeholders a clear picture of what it intends to accomplish.
In an interview on the proposed 2008 budget and the Medium term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2008 to 2010 which was launched by finance minister Ng’andu Magande last week, Nonde said what was being awaited was the truth on how much the government had done on the issues that they had committed themselves to, such as broadening the tax base and renegotiating the development agreements so as to increase revenue from mineral royalties.
“What we are expecting is for the government to tell us that they have broadened the tax base across many sectors so that there is relief on workers’ taxes. They have been talking about broadening the tax base and we want to see that in the 2008 budget,” Nonde said.
“We also expect them to announce by the time the budget is presented next year that the renegotiation of development agreements has been concluded so that we know how much is going to be committed to development resulting from that. There have been a lot of tax holidays mainly on foreign investors.
“If there is nothing on broadening the tax base and increasing mineral royalties then there would be nothing for the workers because we would not expect anything.”
She also said if the government continued borrowing huge sums of money to finance its activities, then the growth of the economy would be questioned.
“There is a lot of talk on the economy doing well but for whom? We should see the doing well of the economy reflecting in the reduction of problems for workers. If we are growing and our income as a country is increasing we must see a reduction in borrowing,” Nonde said.
In a separate interview, Liebenthal said there was need for the government to ensure that it puts measures in place to implement the good plans it had come up with.
Liebenthal said the Green Paper was a very welcome gesture by government as it gave stakeholders enough information and time to react to what the government was trying to do.
“Another thing to commend government about is that the Green Paper is being done in a three-year period. Other countries have been doing this for a long time now and it helps stakeholders to know what government is doing and allows the stakeholders adequately,” he said.
Liebenthal said the government had given priority to important sectors that dealt with uplifting the lives of people.
He added that on the macroeconomic level, the government’s targets were realistic as it was aiming for 7 per cent real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.
Liebenthal said if government could control other factors like the exchange rate, the prices of food and fuel, the five per cent inflation target was achievable.
“And government’s intention to limit borrowing to one per cent of GDP is rather conservative,” he said. “However, it should be commended as there is no reason to continue borrowing if plans are not being well implemented.”
Meanwhile, Liebenthal observed that the government had been doing a terrible job in implementing most of the strategic programmes that it had been putting in place.
“Implementation is the most important of the part of the strategic plans that the government comes up,” he noted.
“If implementation is poorly done, then the strategic plans just end up being academic papers and of no use to anybody. And government should also try and indicate how they have spent the funds that they managed to raise. The paper doesn’t indicate anything on how money was spent.”
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Treasury Evans Chibiliti has urged the controlling officers to ensure that they implement the strategic programmes that government comes up with.
“The biggest problem that we have at the moment is implementation of these programmes,” Chibiliti said.
“Once we iron out these areas, we will be heading in the right direction.”
Labels: JOYCE NONDE, MTEF
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