ZAMTEL workers and union were made to believe company was sinking
TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 9:09 am
THE National Union of Communication Workers (NUCW) and general workforce at Zamtel were made to believe that the telecommunication firm was fast headed for collapse and that employees would all lose their jobs, the Sebastian Zulu-Commission of Inquiry report says.
The report indicates that the decision to sell Zamtel was imposed on the union and the general workforce.
Former NUCW general Secretary, Clement Kasonde, had told the commission in his submission during the commission sittings that former Transport and Communications minister, Dora Siliya, threatened that no one was to frustrate the sale of Zamtel.
The union was not accorded an opportunity to sit on the committee that considered the sale of Zamtel contrary to the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Act number 11 of 2008.
Mr Kasonde had noted that the NUCW was not afforded an opportunity from pre qualification up to the final selections of the bidding process and did not sit on any of the privatisation committees as representatives of the workers.
“The sale of Zamtel was forced and imposed on the union, workers of Zamtel and the people of Zambia by the former MMD government,” he said in his submission contained in the report compiled by the commission of inquiry tasked to probe the sale of Zamtel to Lap Green Networks.
Mr Kasonde said former Zamtel Managing director, Mukela Muyunda and Ms Siliya created an impression that if Zamtel did not find a strategic equity partner, the company would collapse and the workers would lose what they had worked for.
Mr Kasonde said the MMD government through its agents did not act responsibly and never inspired hope other than inducing unreasonable fear in the minds of the workers.
Mr Kasonde who worked for Zamtel for 20 years, said he had difficulties to see what additional value the new Lap Green management had pumped into the company.
He said ever since the new management took control of management, it had only concentrated so much on the mobile side in the branding and marketing strategies.
“However, on the PSTN side, which has been the traditional demand product for Zamtel for a long time, LAP Green/Zamtel has completely failed despite being the only company with exclusive monopoly,” he said.
He said the performance of fixed line telecommunication facilities has become the worst ever and that this is typical of LAP Green as the story is the same in Uganda where the company also operates.
At another meeting with the workers in Ndola, Ms Siliya explained that Zamtel was a loss-making company and the only way to salvage it was “to go the Zanaco way by privatising it”.
Labels: CLEMENT KASONDE, CORRUPTION, DORA SILIYA, NUCW, PRIVATISATION, ZAMTEL
Read more...
ZAMTEL workers and union were made to believe company was sinking
TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 9:09 am
THE National Union of Communication Workers (NUCW) and general workforce at Zamtel were made to believe that the telecommunication firm was fast headed for collapse and that employees would all lose their jobs, the Sebastian Zulu-Commission of Inquiry report says.
The report indicates that
the decision to sell Zamtel was imposed on the union and the general workforce.
Former NUCW general Secretary, Clement Kasonde, had told the commission in his submission during the commission sittings that former Transport and Communications minister, Dora Siliya, threatened that no one was to frustrate the sale of Zamtel.
The union was not accorded an opportunity to sit on the committee that considered the sale of Zamtel contrary to the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Act number 11 of 2008.
Mr Kasonde had noted that the NUCW was not afforded an opportunity from pre qualification up to the final selections of the bidding process and did not sit on any of the privatisation committees as representatives of the workers.
“The sale of Zamtel was forced and imposed on the union, workers of Zamtel and the people of Zambia by the former MMD government,” he said in his submission contained in the report compiled by the commission of inquiry tasked to probe the sale of Zamtel to Lap Green Networks.
Mr Kasonde said former Zamtel Managing director, Mukela Muyunda and Ms Siliya created an impression that if Zamtel did not find a strategic equity partner, the company would collapse and the workers would lose what they had worked for.
Mr Kasonde said the MMD government through its agents did not act responsibly and never inspired hope other than inducing unreasonable fear in the minds of the workers.
Mr Kasonde who worked for Zamtel for 20 years, said he had difficulties to see what additional value the new Lap Green management had pumped into the company.
He said ever since the new management took control of management, it had only concentrated so much on the mobile side in the branding and marketing strategies.
“However, on the PSTN side, which has been the traditional demand product for Zamtel for a long time, LAP Green/Zamtel has completely failed despite being the only company with exclusive monopoly,” he said.
He said the performance of fixed line telecommunication facilities has become the worst ever and that this is typical of LAP Green as the story is the same in Uganda where the company also operates.
At another meeting with the workers in Ndola, Ms Siliya explained that Zamtel was a loss-making company and the only way to salvage it was “to go the Zanaco way by privatising it”.
Labels: CLEMENT KASONDE, NUCW, PRIVATISATION, ZAMTEL
Read more...
Zambia Development Agency asked to clear air on ZAMTEL
TIME PUBLISHED - Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 8:25 pm
The National Union of Communications Workers – NUCW has challenged the Zambia Development Agency -ZDA- to clear the air on the intricacies surrounding the sale of ZAMTEL to lap green of Libya.
The union is concerned with latest unconfirmed media reports that the sale of the telecoms firm might have been marred by irregularities. NUCW President Patrick Kaonga told ZNBC News on Tuesday that the nation needs to be put in a clear picture on the sell of ZAMTEL and not rely on mere speculation.
And when reached for a comment, ZDA Director General Andrew Chipwende says it will be premature to comment on the matter as government has already intimated that cabinet will soon make a decision on the sale.
Mr. Kaonga says his union has tried to meet ZDA management over the matter but the meeting has failed to materialize.
He says the sale of ZAMTEL to lap green may have serious implications on the future of the telecommunication firm in the wake of unfolding revelations.
Last week the commission constituted by President Michael Sata to scrutinize the sale of ZAMTEL to Lap green established that the transaction was illegal and fraudulent.
Labels: ANDREW CHIPWENDE, CORRUPTION, NUCW, PATRICK KAONGA, ZAMTEL, ZDA
Read more...
COMMENT - This should ring in the end of the neoliberal idiocy called privatisation. The government is tasked with running the parastatals, and run them well. If they won't, they must resign. Most of the companies in China and Taiwan are parastatals, and they are moving ahead leaps and bounds. And on top of that, the sale of ZAMTEL was not even privatisation, because the buyer is just another parastatal, owned by the Libyan government. This neoliberaly idiocy must end now, and we must turn toward Demand Side Economics. Let's put money in people's pockets, lower lending rates for capital goods and SMEs to below 5%, and start running parastatals in a professional manner - no more unprofessional hiring practices and political interference.
Zamtel retrenchees query packages, accuse Rupiah of betrayal
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe and Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Wed 08 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT
FORMER Zamtel workers in Chingola have challenged the National Union of Communication Workers (NUCW) to explain why retrenched workers are being given one month's basic salary in lieu of notice and not the 20 months as earlier agreed.
And the workers have charged that President Rupiah Banda and the line ministries that were involved in the sale of Zamtel have
continued lying on state television that ex-Zamtel workers have been paid their dues.
In an interview in Kitwe yesterday, the workers, who sought anonymity, said they felt betrayed by the union leaders who initially assured them that they would be given 20 months' basic salary in lieu of notice but were surprised that only one month's basic salary in lieu of notice was reflecting on their pay statements.
The former workers said they were not happy with the manner in which the government, the union and Zamtel management were handling their case. They complained that the matter was handled with a lot of insincerity.
“The union leaders assured us that we will be given 20 months' basic salary in lieu of notice as was the case in 1996 when some employees were retrenched but this is not the case. When you look at my pay statement, it’s only one month given; that’s why some of our friends are going away with mediocre benefits. We want the union and government to explain because we feel betrayed,” one of the retrenched workers said.
They further said President Banda and other government officials had continued to cheat the public that the workers were going home smiling because of the good packages they received when monies had not been deposited in their respective accounts.
“This is very frustrating. President Banda was on television some few days ago that we were sent home smiling because of the hefty packages. If we went home smiling, then why are we here complaining? This whole transition is not being handled properly, and the President is betraying his own people to please the so-called investors,” another worker said.
“This is unacceptable and we are not going to tolerate it anymore. We need money in the banks, not mere rhetoric that they have paid us when in fact not.”
They further insisted that the government, with Zamtel management, had continued abrogating the agreement signed in August that stipulated that the ex-workers would be paid their benefits within 24 hours of receipt of their retrenchment letters.
But when contacted for comment, NUCW president Patrick Kaonga said the one month basic salary in lieu of notice was negotiated for and agreed upon between the union and management.
He said the benefits and other payments of retrenched Zamtel workers were in line with the signed collective agreement.
“You ask those who are complaining why they have been given such packages. Retrenchment packages are being given according to the years one worked at Zamtel and the position. Even you there at The Post you cannot compare your retrenchment package to that of your boss. These are benefits, and they are different according to the grade,” Kaonga said.
He said some workers went away with small packages because of debts to the company and other financial institutions.
Kaonga said arguments from some quarters that the former workers were supposed to be given three months or 20 months in lieu of notice were baseless because the issue of lieu of notices was a “negotiable matter and not a constitutional mandate”.
Kaonga said the union was doing everything possible to ensure that all retrenched workers got benefits accordingly. And Zamtel has closed the Sesheke telephone exchange, and the keys to the facility have been handed over to the area manager in Livingstone.
According to highly placed sources in Zamtel, the number of technical staff running most telephone exchanges in rural areas had been reduced.
“We just saw a vehicle being dispatched to Sesheke where the technicians went and locked the exchange, and the keys are here with the area manager,” one of the sources said.
“We can assure you that there is going to be a big problem with regar to communication because major institutions are being affected due to faults which are not being checked. It is not only Sesheke, a lot of other exchanges in rural Zambia such as Nakonde, Chilubi have been closed.”
The sources said the collection of revenue could be greatly affected in rural areas if the situation was left unchecked.
“If you went to Sesheke Zamtel exchange now, you will be greeted by a padlock; and if you want to pay your bills, you have to travel to Livingstone,” the source said. Zamtel area manager Batahba Ndiyoi said the Sesheke office would be inspected on a weekly basis and personnel in the sales department would soon be sent to the area.
“The operations of the switch is operating normally. It is the sales band that we need to attend to as the staff there are among the affected people during this transition. We shall be sending people there on a weekly basis to check on the switch,” he said.
Ndiyoi said the office was not closed and people could still make phone calls.
Labels: CORRUPTION, NUCW, RUPIAH BANDA, SALARIES, ZAMTEL
Read more...
Zamtel suspends Ndola NUCW leader over press statement
Written by Margaret Habbuno
Monday, August 31, 2009 3:46:48 PM
ZAMTEL management has
suspended National Union of Communication Workers (NUCW) Ndola branch chairperson Mwape Chilyobwe for
issuing statements to the media over the partial privatisation of the company.
According to a letter dated August 19, 2009, signed by area manager Godfrey Mwiya and copied to the regional director for human resource, management had decided to
suspend Chilyobwe from his position as senior technician pending investigations into alleged misconduct.
"This serves to inform you that management has decided to suspend you from duty with immediate effect. This is to facilitate investigations into your alleged issuing press statements related to the company without authority according to part 111 Clause 1 (9) of the Zamtel Disciplinary Code," Mwiya stated.
"During this period of suspension you are placed on half salary less all statutory deductions and any indebtedness to the company. You are further prohibited from entering any company premises except the Human Resource Department. You are also not allowed to leave Ndola without permission from this office."
The letter stated that the suspension was in accordance with the company's disciplinary code and grievance procedure.
"The suspension is in accordance with part 11 Clause 3 (b) and (c) of the Disciplinary Code and Grievance procedure and will remain in force until investigations are concluded. Meanwhile the charge raised against you has been withdrawn until investigations are completed."
But according to a letter to management availed to The Post by reliable sources, Chilyobwe refuted allegations levelled against him.
"I would like to regret your misdirected charge against me which purports that I spoke on behalf of management on company matters without authority. I have never issued any statement on behalf of management as I have no authority to do so," Chilyobwe stated in his letter.
"Whatever I have communicated to the workers or to anyone has been from the union and as branch chairman for which I was elected. The industrial labour relations Act 269 of Zambia gives the union authority to speak, protect and advocate for its voiceless members."
Chilyobwe stated that he did not need any authority from management to carry out his duties as union chairman.
"The communication issued in The Post that was obtained by the press quoting Mr Mwape Chilyobwe clearly states that these are union matters and in response to misinformation and gross misrepresentations by our union national president Mr P. Kaonga," he stated.
"I would like to tell you that I have the mandate from Zamtel workers Ndola Central Branch (NUCW) to speak, protect and advocate for their rights. I was elected as chairman of NUCW for this purpose."
Chilyobwe stated that the union was guided by the constitution and that there were ways in which the matter could be addressed in the event that he made a mistake.
"This is a clear sign that this is a wrong NUCW leadership to represent Zamtel workers. Finally I would like to advise you to keep away from our union matters because I am a legally recognised chairman, legally elected - not through rigged elections but one that is recognised and have the mandate to speak for our unionised staff," stated Chilyobwe.
Recently, President Rupiah Banda announced government's intention to sell a 75 per cent stake in Zamtel to save the company from collapse. President Banda also said the workers of Zamtel asked government to sell the parastatal and this position was later supported by NUCW national president Patrick Kaonga.
However, Chilyobwe said workers were not for the idea of the partial privatisation of Zamtel and that they had not even been consulted over the matter.
Labels: GODFREY MWIYA, MWAPE CHILYOBWE, NUCW, RETALIATION, TRADE UNIONS, ZAMTEL
Read more...
Workers didn’t support Zamtel sale – Chilyobwe
Written by Margaret Habbuno
Sunday, August 09, 2009 9:33:17 PM
NATIONAL Union of Communications Workers (NUCW) Ndola branch chairman Mwepa Chilyobwe has refuted assertions that the partial privatisation of Zamtel was supported by all workers. Reacting to
NUCW president Patrick Kaonga's statement that
workers were the first to get the news of privatisation of Zamtel, Chilyobwe said that was not true because
the employees were left out of the whole process.
"As the
Zamtel workers, we have
never been given a platform by our union where we could air our views but we were surprised when we read in the Daily Mail newspaper dated August 5, 2009 that we were of the idea of partial privatisation of the company. Our president Mr Kaonga is not telling the truth because we have been left helpless after the [planned] partial privatisation of our company as workers," Chilyobwe said.
He said the national union did not consult the workers on what their views were regarding the partial privatisation of Zamtel.
"We were not asked on what our suggestions were or maybe the solution to the current problems the telecommunication company is facing, what the percentage of the partial privatisation would be, so the statement by Kaonga that he made to the newspaper was unfortunate, misleading to the nation and did not reflect the view of the workers," he said.
Chilyobwe said it was important for union leaders to get views from the workers and present them to the government and management.
"We are in a position of helplessness now as workers have lost faith and trust in the union leadership. The poor leadership that exists currently in our union is unfortunate and does not have our blessings," said Chilyobwe.
Last week, Kaonga said Zamtel workers were the first to get the news of privatisation of the company because they were not only stakeholders in the company but also Zambians.
Kaonga's statement came in the wake of President Rupiah Banda’s announcement that the government had decided to offload 75 per cent shares in Zamtel to a strategic partner while the remaining 25 per cent would be floated to the public through the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE).
However, several stakeholders have opposed the manner in which the government is handling the privatisation of Zamtel with others calling for the immediate release of the valuation report on the company that was carried out by RP Capital Partners of Cayman Islands, which was single sourced by the Ministry of Communications and Transport to undertake the exercise.
Labels: MWEPA CHILYOBWE, NUCW, PATRICK KAONGA, PRIVATISATION, ZAMTEL
Read more...
