Rupiah makes reshuffles
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 4:45:53 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has replaced presidential affairs minister Gabriel Namulambe with lands minister Ronald Mukuma. According to a statement by State House chief analyst for press and public relations Dickson Jere yesterday, Namulambe will now serve as science and technology minister, while Peter Daka is the new lands minister.
President Banda appointed Liuwa member of parliament Lubinda Imasiku as deputy minister of science and technology while Chadiza member of parliament Allan Mbewe is the new deputy minister for energy and water development.
Imasiku and Mbewe take over from Katuba member of parliament Jonas Shakafuswa and Mpulungu member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo who were recently fired by President Rupiah Banda for alleged indiscipline.
President Banda also confirmed the appointment of Inspector-General of Police Francis Kabonde who had been acting since last year.
According to the statement, President Banda congratulated the ministers on their new assignments and urged them to execute their functions in an efficient and diligent manner.
And President Banda is tomorrow expected to visit the Mkushi Farming Block where he will flag off the early maize harvest at one of the farms.
President Banda is expected to visit one small-scale farm and an Agric-Option Storage Facility before addressing a meeting with farmers in the area together with the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) officials.
President Banda, who will be accompanied by agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo and other senior government officials, will return to Lusaka immediately after the meeting.
Labels: CABINET, GABRIEL NAMULAMBE, PETER DAKA, RONALD MUKUMA, RUPIAH BANDA
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COMMENT - No money, and apparently no ideas either.
Govt has no money to guarantee social, economic rights for citizens, says Mukuma
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Friday, February 20, 2009 6:31:38 PM
LANDS minister Ronald Mukuma yesterday told the human rights committee of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) that the government has no money at all times to guarantee economic and social rights for its citizens.
During the on-going sittings, Mukuma cautioned the members of the committee to first look at government ability to provide before agreeing to some clauses in the bill of rights.
"We are putting a clause which is obvious that the state should provide all these things. Let's not forget that these economic and social rights depend on factors, which are not on control of government. I don't agree with some of these clauses," Mukuma said. "The state, government has no money, resources all the time to provide for these social and economic rights of its citizens. We have little resources that need to be distributed. "
But one of the commissioners, Godfridah Sumaili said Zambia was not bankrupt to fail to provide social and economic rights to its citizens.
"There is so much resources so government should show commitment that these economic and social rights are made available," Sumaili said.
Mazabuka UPND member of parliament Garry Nkombo said the government should allocate money in the budget to provide social and economic rights.
"Any government is capable of showing commitment towards the provision of social and economic rights through budgetary allocation," Nkombo said.
He said it was unacceptable for the government to claim that they had no money.
"It is not acceptable to say that government has no resources. There should be budgetary allocation to ensure the provision of these rights," Nkombo said.
However, the committee decided to adopt the progressive realisation of the economic and social rights.
Tourism minister Catherine Namugala asked members to maintain a clause that would not compel the government to act when there was no money.
The committee adopted a clause that would give government the responsibility to show that they had no resources available for the provision of social and economic rights.
The committee also adopted a clause that would compel the government to take measures, including affirmative action programmes designed to benefit disadvantaged persons or groups.
Labels: CONSTITUTION, NCC, RONALD MUKUMA, SITTIGHTLEADERSHIP
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Mukuma warns against giving journalists too much power
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 4:27:50 AM
LANDS minister Ronald Mukuma has cautioned members of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC)’s Human Rights Committee against giving a lot of powers to journalists.
During the ongoing sittings in Lusaka yesterday, Mukuma feared that people's rights would be infringed if journalists were given too many powers.
"These powers you are giving them will infringe on other people's rights.
Once we give these people [journalists] too much powers, we should look at what freedom will do to other people's integrity," he said.
Mukuma was supported by Clementine Chipeta who accused some media organisations of writing things that were not normal.
This was when the committee was debating clause 57 (4) c of the draft constitution that restricts a person, state organ or state institution from harassing or penalising a person for any opinion or view or the content of any publication, broadcast or dissemination.
"Some media organisations are confusing people with what they are writing. They are writing things which are not normal," said Chipeta.
And political activist Dante Saunders submitted that the clause should be maintained to protect reporters from suppression.
Saunders was supported by Itezhi-tezhi member of parliament Godfrey Beene who argued that the clause should be retained to protect journalists from further harassment.
"This clause will protect reporters who have been harassed and I think it will protect them from further harassmen,” said Beene.
And Bangweulu Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Joseph Kasongo submitted that there was need to compel journalists to disclose the source of their information.
This was during debates of clause 58 (1) which allows a journalists not to be compelled to disclose the source of information, except as may be determined by a court.
"There is no freedom that is absolute," said Kasongo. "There should be checks and balances put in place to ensure these rights are not misused."
But Lusaka lawyer Dr Patrick Matibini cautioned members on the dangers that might arise if journalists were compelled to disclose the source of their information.
"They [journalists] are in the business of conveying information. But the danger of disclosing their sources is that similar sources will be reluctant to give information in future. This clause will encourage whistle blowers and donít just look at journalists but any other persons. People should be able to give information without fear," said Dr Matibini.
And the committee was yesterday reluctant to include the establishment of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) in the draft constitution.
This was after commissioner Nyambe Muyumbana proposed the inclusion of the establishment of the IBA to restrict government interference in the issuance of broadcasting licences.
But another committee member Rose Salukatula said there was no way the government could completely be removed from the operation of the media.
Labels: CONSTITUTION, NCC, RONALD MUKUMA
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KCM workers had no right to protest, says Mukuma
By Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe and Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Friday July 25, 2008 [04:00]
LABOUR minister Ronald Mukuma has said the unionised Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) workers at the Nkana smelter had no right to protest against the recent negotiated settlement. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday shortly after meeting National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) officials, Mukuma said unionised KCM workers could have found a better way to express their grievances.
He said this in reference to the one-day work stoppage by KCM workers at Nkana smelter in Kitwe last week after which 14 employees were dismissed for allegedly disrupting operations.
The workers protested against the 15 per cent salary increment awarded to them, demanding instead 50 per cent.
“The 15 per cent was a negotiated settlement and workers had no right to go against that because that is what their representatives had agreed to,” Mukuma said.
Mukuma said companies made offers of salary increments and other conditions of service based on their capacity and wondered where more funds would come from if they allowed more than what they were able to pay.
Mukuma said the KCM workers were dismissed based on disciplinary action taken by the company.
“According to the Zambian labour laws, if you go on strike without declaring a dispute then that strike is illegal,” Mukuma said. “They were dismissed under disciplinary action but the local union is addressing it.”
He advised unionised workers to familiarise themselves with labour laws.
“Just as employers can contravene labour laws, employees can also contravene labour laws, so they have to familiarise themselves with the labour laws so that they don’t break them,” Mukuma said.
And during a visit to the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board in Ndola on Tuesday, Mukuma said funding to the institution had increased from K82 billion to K120 billion.
He said the performance of the institution had improved from the time that the restructuring exercise started in March last year.
“... And employer sensitisation seminars have been carried out in some towns and this has resulted in increased collection of K94.4 billion in employer assessments as of March 31st 2008,” he said.
Mukuma said the purpose of his visit to Ndola was to monitor the restructuring programme of the fund which begun in March last year. He also said the new board of directors for the fund would be appointed this week.
Mukuma said the new board would finalise the restructuring process and improved benefit levels at the fund.
Labels: KCM, LABOUR, MINING, MMD, RONALD MUKUMA, STRIKE
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Mukuma challenges unions to prove their transparency
By Bright Mukwasa
Saturday March 15, 2008 [03:00]
LABOUR minister Ronald Mukuma has challenged unions to submit their books of accounts to prove their transparency. Speaking at the national union of miners and allied workers (NUMAW) quadrennial conference on Thursday, Mukuma said he had continued to receive complaints of abuse of workers’ contributions by their union executives.
“And if we put in place laws meant to safeguard and regulate workers’ rights, it’s not meant to punish anyone, it’s for the benefit of everyone,” said Mukuma.
He said there was need for unions to exercise transparency and show their membership how the money was being spent.
At the same function Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) executive secretary Lyson Mando called for the dismissal of labour commissioner Noah Siasimuna for allegedly violating labour laws by interfering in elections of his organisation.
“Under the department of labour, statutory instruments number 23 of 2008 was published on the 20th February 2008. The labour commissioner had effected this statutory instrument on the 18th February 2008 by using it to discontinue FFTUZ elections.
The labour commissioner did not wait for the instrument to be gazetted, neither did he wait for the 30 days to elapse before effecting it,” Mando said.
Labels: FFTUZ, NUMAW, RONALD MUKUMA
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Re-advertise contracts, govt directs Kansanshi
By Mwila Chansa in Lusaka and Mulimbi Mulaliki in Solwezi
Friday January 11, 2008 [03:00]
LABOUR minister Ronald Mukuma has directed Kansanshi Mining PLC to re-advertise the contracts to provide catering and cleaning services it awarded to two foreign companies. Briefing the press at his office yesterday, Mukuma said the action taken by Kansanshi was
not only inconsistent with the provisions of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act but
also with the spirit of the mining development agreement that the company signed with the government.
“My ministry therefore urges the Kansanshi Mining PLC to revisit their decision to award the contracts to foreign owned companies,” he said.
“The contracts should be re-advertised in Zambia and Zambian owned companies should be re-engaged.”
Mukuma added that the government’s policy of recruitment of foreign labour was restricted to those skills that were not available locally.
He said while the government appreciated Kansanshi’s role in improving the economic landscape in North Western Province, it was not happy that contract jobs that could be done by Zambian companies had been awarded to foreign contractors.
“I wish to inform both local and foreign investors that government’s policy is to promote and encourage effective participation of Zambian citizens in the economic sector. The provision of section 21 of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act states that specific areas of commerce, trade and industry shall be reserved for Zambians,” Mukuma said.
He added that the government considered the development of large mines such as Kansanshi as an opportunity for Zambians to meaningfully participate in the economy through the mines contracting out their non core business activities to Zambian companies.
Mukuma said in the development agreement signed between Kansanshi and the government, the company undertook to award contracts to local contractors in an effort to promote the quality of goods and services supplied by locals.
He warned that if foreigners were engaged on contracts that could be performed by locals, they would find it hard to secure work permits for their workers because there was local capacity.
Kansanshi Mine contracts manager Franques Lee, in a letter to the Zambian companies that were providing cleaning services to the mine, said the mine would not renew their contracts and have been awarded to another company.
But most of the contractors to the mine whose contracts have been terminated questioned the criteria the mine used in selecting the foreign companies to provide services to the mine.
The contractors disclosed that Kansanshi mine management has given MR Clean, a South African Company, a contract to clean the offices, ablution blocks and the golf estate while another foreign company, Allterian Services Group ATS, had been contracted to run the mine canteen.
Labels: CONTRACTORS, KANSANSHI MINING PLC, RONALD MUKUMA
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Mukuma calls on private sector to create decent jobs
By Nomusa Michelo
Monday November 26, 2007 [03:00]
LABOUR minister Ronald Mukuma has called on the private sector to help the government by creating decent jobs. In an interview, Mukuma said that the government was doing everything possible to ensure job security and decent work in the country. “My appeal to the private sector is that, they are an important player in the sector, they should help the government by creating decent jobs for people,” he said.
Mukuma said that it was only by creating quality jobs that people would be able to take care of their families properly.
“Much as we want more investment, which will create jobs, we are interested in quality not just quantity of jobs,” he said. “It is only decent work which will enable people to meet their requirements and send their children to school. We are not only looking at quantity but quality of jobs being created.”
And opening a National Social Security Consultative Workshop at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Mukuma said the formulation of a national social security policy would provide an opportunity to focus on the guiding principles that emphasise members’ rights, good governance and fiduciary regulation of investment fund.
He said the government recognised the role that both public and private sectors had to play in the provision of social security to citizens.
“In this regard, it is our intention to encourage the development of policies that would facilitate the participation of the private sector and growth of supplementary schemes to compliment the national basic scheme,” he said.
Mukuma also said the government would also put in place measures to support the Public Service Pensions Fund and the Local Authorities Superannuation Fund (LASF) so that they remain competitive and viable.
“We therefore need to provide these schemes with a lifeline so that they are able to meet the minimum obligations to their members,” he said.
Mukuma said it was hoped that once the proposed social security policy was agreed upon, the government could effect legislative changes that would allow new entrants to begin contributing to the statutory occupational schemes in 2008.
He also said the social security sector as of November 2007 accounted for over K3.6 trillion in pension funds in the economy.
“The growth in pensionfunds brings with it challenges such as the absorptive capacity of the existing investment instruments and the need to support national development projects that would stimulate the creation of wealth, productivity and job creation,” he said. “The challenge, therefore, is how we can improve the governance structures in pension schemes so as to ensure the investment funds are managed prudently.”
Labels: JOBS, LABOUR, RONALD MUKUMA
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