Kambwili's removal from labour should serve as a warning to other ministers - Mutati
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe and Brina Manenga
Mon 06 Feb. 2012, 12:59 CAT
THE removal of Chishimba Kambwili from the Ministry of Labour should serve as a warning to other ministers that excitement does not pay, says Felix Mutati. And Mutati says commerce minister Bob Sichinga is contradicting finance minister Alexander Chikwanda by claiming that the fallen MMD regime printed K3 trillion 'illegal' notes from China.
Last Friday, President Michael Sata delinked the sports segment from the Ministry of Labour after Kambwili ran a series of attacks on key industry owners whom he accused of disrespecting and flouting labour laws in the country.
Kambwili, who last month was removed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after diplomats accredited to Zambia complained about his lack of diplomatic etiquette, has been confined to sports and youths affairs.
Commenting on the development, Mutati, who is also opposition chief whip, said there was need to maintain level-headedness and consistency among top government ministers.
"Other ministers should be able to learn from what has happened that excitement doesn't pay," Mutati said in an interview.
"What is crucial is to be reflective in the pursuit of delivery to the people of Zambia and that you cannot articulate and formulate policies as you walk about but through an informed and researched stakeholder basis."
And Youth Assembly Zambia has commended President Sata for detaching the Ministry of Labour from sport.
In an interview, YAZ secretary general David Musonda said the detaching of labour from sport has shown that President Sata was passionate about maintaining a friendly atmosphere with investors in the country.
"President Sata has shown that he is someone who cares about investor confidence in the country. What we need is someone who is going to make sure that issues of labour are sorted out in a way that will not keep investors from investing in our country that needs more investments," said Musonda.
Meanwhile, Mutati advised Sichinga to confine himself to issues of commerce, trade and industry to avoid misleading the nation.
Mutati said there was never illegal money printed by the Bank of Zambia during the MMD regime, and that was confirmed by Chikwanda.
"If you recall during the last sitting of Parliament, the Minister of Finance indicated that the banknotes are not an illegal tender," he said.
"So that chapter was closed and the country regained confidence in the currency that was in circulation and continued to use it as legal tender. So, from the opposition perspective, our concern is that we are being told that there is over K3 trillion when in actual fact the minister of finance said otherwise. This is a clear contradiction on a key national policy and it impacts on financial stability...So the government must tell us which minister is telling the truth. They must clarify."
On December 9, 2011, Chikwanda told Parliament that although BoZ violated the public procurement Act in awarding German company Giesecke and Devrient to print new kwacha notes, the banknotes were not illegal tender.
Mutati said the growing inconsistency on key policy pronouncements among government ministers was depressing investor confidence and confusing the general populous.
He said there was need for the PF government to work at building its image among local and international investors to attract large Foreign Direct Investments to make a dent on the high unemployment and poverty levels in the country.
"The general sense we are getting from investors, particularly with investors whether in or outside Zambia, is that the unrest that are taking place in the labour market are creating significant uncertainty," said Mutati who is also Lunte MMD member of parliament.
"When you have local investors worried, it even becomes more for those that are outside the country because investors talk to each other.
"Sometimes it's not what the government says but the conversation they have got with those that have already invested."
Labels: CHINESE, CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, FELIX MUTATI, MICHAEL SATA, MINISTRIES, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY, MMD
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Sata realigns 3 ministries, detaches labour from sport
By Bright Mukwasa
Sat 04 Feb. 2012, 13:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has with immediate effect detached labour from Chishimba Kambwili's portfolio.
In a statement issued by his special assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah, President Sata, who has realigned the ministries of sports, information, tourism and foreign affairs, said he made the changes to curb statements that had the potential to alarm the nation and investors alike.
Kambwili now only remains Minister of Sport and Youth.
"I would like to direct that the portfolio of tourism be transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the labour portfolio be transferred from youth and sport to Ministry of Information. It shall be known as Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour," President Sata said.
"As a government, we have to be level-headed and not be seen to be inciting the public. I expect ministers to discourage strikes and lock-outs. Strikes or industrial unrests have a very negative effect on a fragile economy like ours. The same applies to lock-outs."
President Sata said if not careful, some of the alarming statements had the potential to destroy the little the country has or the little strides it had made economically so far.
He said the government knew that there were numerous short-comings in almost all sectors, but they would not be addressed through threats and being loud-mouthed.
Kambwili has recently made statements against investors, especially the Chinese, saying he would not tolerate anyone who abuses Zambian employees as long as he is labour minister.
In Ndola last week, Kambwili, who was recently moved from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allegedly after complaints from diplomats, ordered the deportation of a Chinese medical officer at SinoZam Hospital for calling him rude.
And during the Kwacha Good Morning Zambia programme on Sunday, Kambwili said Chinese Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao could not intimidate him over his remarks on Chinese investors.
Kambwili explained that while he was on the Copperbelt inspecting some selected companies to check on workers' conditions of service, he was shocked by the treatment he got from one company run by a Chinese investor.
He said later, Ambassador Zhou even phoned the acting President, Alexander Chikwanda to complain that he (Kambwili) was intimidating Chinese investors.
Kambwili had said he was disappointed with some Chinese investors who were exploiting Zambians.
But Ambassador Zhou said it was unfortunate Kambwili had blown out of proportion the incident which occurred at Sinozam Friendship Hospital where the minister exchanged bitter words with the chief medical officer Xisheng Qin over workers' conditions of service resulting in the revocation of his work permit.
Ambassador Zhou, who asked the government to clear up the matter, said he was on holiday the time the incident happened.
"The minister is making groundless accusations on me. I was not even in town when the incident took place. I was in Kariba, then Livingstone showing my visiting daughter and my son in-law around…showing my daughter around to enjoy the beauty of your country. I only heard about the incident at Sinozam (Friendship Hospital) much later. I did not react because I understand he (Kambwili) has been making statements everywhere, anywhere so I had no reaction towards that," he said.
"I believe a responsible government will come out and say something because I did not say a single word and I did not make calls to anyone apart from he himself and I was told his phone was off, unfortunately."
Ambassador Zhou said that it was unfortunate that Chinese investors were still being portrayed in bad light in Zambia.
And President Sata said Zambians expected the government to handle the problems facing the country with sobriety.
"I am alive to the fact that most of my colleagues that have been appointed as ministers have no experience in these portfolios.
"Therefore, I strongly feel it's my duty to protect the image of the party, the government, the people of Zambia and the economy in general," he said.
"In my statement of 30th January, 2012, I enjoined and cautioned ministers not to make statements that did not reflect government policy or which had not been referred to and cleared by Cabinet.
"Statements on the economy made by ministers that are not the competent channels for the issues they raise are damaging to our credibility as a country. Policy consistency is a compelling need for all governments all over the world. As my very final warning, I ask all the ministers not to lead me into temptation."
President Sata has since directed the acting Secretary to the Cabinet Evans Chibiliti to proceed with all the necessary procedures and immediately implement the changes.Labels: CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, MICHAEL SATA, MINISTRIES
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Govt asks diplomats to stop direct contacts with ministries
Written by Bivan Saluseki
Monday, October 19, 2009 6:56:53 AM
THE Zambian government has asked all diplomats to stop direct contacts with ministries.
In a note verbale No. 1996/2009 to all heads of diplomatic, consular, trade missions and international organisations accredited to Zambia dated October 5, 2009, the Ministry of Foreign affairs stated that there would
no longer be direct contacts with all ministries except through foreign affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded the diplomats about the need to uphold the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention in particular Article 41 sub paragraph (1) which calls on all diplomats to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State and not to interfere in the internal affairs of the host country, as well as, sub paragraph (2) which stipulates that all official business with the receiving State shall be conducted with or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"In this regard, the ministry wishes to advise that henceforth, all contacts with government ministries and institutions will be conducted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To this end, direct contacts by members of the diplomatic corps will with immediate effect no longer be entertained," it stated.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zambia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to all heads of diplomatic, consular, trade missions and international organisations accredited to the Republic of Zambia the assurances of its highest consideration."
Recently, information minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha accused former minister of defence George Mpombo of being one of those allegedly holding secret meetings with some diplomats with a view to bringing down the government.
But Mpombo dismissed the allegations.
And Minister of Home Affairs Lameck Mangani said the government had uncovered a scam in which some diplomats had been holding secret meetings with some former government officials with a view to bringing down the government.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha said the government was making consultations through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ascertain if the actions of some diplomats accredited to Zambia have the blessings of their respective countries.
Labels: DIPLOMATIC SERVICE, GEORGE MPOMBO, LAMECK MANGANI, MINISTRIES, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA
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COMMENT - This is what I mean when I say that nearly all the money gets stuck at the ministerial level. I want the ministry of Finance and National Planning to have electricity, but $48 million sounds like a lot of money to spend just on a ministry. That is two times the budget for the Ministry of Technology and Vocational Training.
Zambia receives K274bn loan from Japan
Written by Florence Bupe
Friday, March 27, 2009 6:04:05 AM
THE Japanese government has provided a
K274 billion (approximately US $48 million) Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan to Zambia for the implementation of the Increased Access to Electricity Services Project.
The two governments yesterday signed an exchange of notes for
the electrification project at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning in Lusaka.
During the signing ceremony, finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane said limited access to electricity services was a major factor undermining the pace and scope of rural development.
“The limited access to electricity services has been a major factor that has been undermining the pace and scope of rural development. This has hindered the growth of income generating activities and incapacitated government’s ability to provide public services in rural and peri- urban areas,” said Dr Musokotwane.
The Increased Access to Electricity Services Project is a five-year deliberate intervention embarked on by the government under the Rural Electrification Project to address the challenges hindering the smooth distribution of electricity in the country.
And Japanese charge d’affaires Toshihiko Horiuchi said access to electricity was a prerequisite to the eradication of poverty in Zambia.
“The government of Japan considers access to electricity as a critical prerequisite to the eradication of poverty in Zambia by stimulating economic and social development in rural areas,” he said.
Horiuchi explained that this was the first ODA loan provided to Zambia since 1992.
“The Japanese government has not extended an ODA loan to Zambia since 1992 because the Zambian government was suffering from heavy indebtedness. However, following Zambia’s attainment of the HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Countries) point in 2005, we are now able to resume the provision of ODA loans to Zambia,” said Horiuchi.
Labels: DEBT, ELECTRIFICATION, JAPAN, MINISTRIES
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Bisect agriculture ministry, advises farmers' union
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Thursday July 10, 2008 [04:00]
THE ZNFU has proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives be bisected to improve efficiency and delivery with one department dealing with livestock and fisheries, the other food crops. And the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has entered into partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZNCB) to provide friendly agriculture loans to identifiable emerging farmers.
In an interview, Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) first vice-president, Jervis Zimba accused the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MACO) of operating in what he called ‘reverse gear.’
"Even at our recent meeting with His Excellence the President, we proposed to him that maybe MACO should be split into two. At the moment, the ministry is not performing to the expectation of everyone…maybe it is too big," Zimba said.
"We are of the opinion that we should have a ministry to deal specifically with livestock and fisheries, on the other hand, the other ministry should deal with crops and general agriculture."
He also alleged that most of the senior officials at MACO were ‘over educated.’
"The President has shown commitment to improving agriculture in the country but we don't see corresponding commitment from MACO. If any thing, we feel MACO is even working against the progress the country is making…they are in reverse gear.
Livestock diseases are almost everywhere, yet they have one of the most educated staff. Almost all departments are headed by doctors but still they are failing to come up with solutions to agriculture," said Zimba.
And ZNFU liaison officer, Coillard Hamusimbi said the ZNFU/IFC and ZNCB partnership would help to grow emergent farmers to commercial status.
"The minimum one farmer can borrow is US$10,000 (about K33.3 million) and the maximum is US$150, 000 (K500.7 million). The pilot project starts next month and we are targeting to start with at least 10 to 15 very good farmers per province," said Hamusimbi.
Hamusimbi said ZNFU would start with Southern and Central provinces and depending on the success of the pilot project, the union would increase the number of farmers and provinces to benefit.
Labels: MINISTRIES, ZNFU
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Milupi calls for refocusing of civil service operations
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Monday February 18, 2008 [03:00]
Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee chairperson Charles Milupi has observed that there is need to refocus operations of the entire civil service if budget implementation and execution is to be expedited. Milupi charged that most permanent secretaries and controlling officers lacked capacity to expend their annual budgetary allocations because they lacked professional understanding.
Milupi said in an interview that slow expenditure by ministries, provinces and all spending agencies (MPSAs) could not entirely be blamed on the short government expenditure cycle.
“We are saying that if government is saying they have no capacity, then let us create it or hire that capacity; it is as simple as that,” Milupi said.
“The minister (Magande) should realise that there are many men and women in government who are very educated and have degrees. It is the question of focusing the way we do things, the capacity is there.”
Milupi said there was need for the government to revert to the earlier system where permanent secretaries were appointed from within the civil service.
“Before the MMD government came into power, permanent secretaries used to have roots in the ministries; they used to rise through the civil service,” Milupi said.
Milupi also said there was need for the country to reflect on huge projects like the construction of the Parliament building, the University of Zambia that the country undertook when the country had only few educated officials.
“If we could undertake serious and huge projects like building the National Assembly, UNZA where was the capacity? How has capacity evaporated? Let us not just say things anyhow without analysing them,” said Milupi.
“We should be able to execute projects to completion on time to cost and to quality.”
During the just ended workshop for controlling officers on financial management for permanent secretaries, both finance minister Ng’andu Magande and secretary to the treasury Evans Chibiliti expressed concern at the lack of capacity for ministries to execute their budgetary allocations.
Labels: CHARLES MILUPI, CIVIL SERVANTS, MINISTRIES
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