UPND lacks values - ZCTU
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Sat 15 June 2013, 14:00 CAT
As things stand, UPND cannot dislodge the PF and form government because it lacks certain values of an opposition party, says Zambia Congress of Trade Unions secretary general Roy Mwaba.
And Mwaba says it is stupid for people to say that the labour movement has gone to sleep and is sharing a bed and beddings with the PF government.
"They are even saying that we are job seekers because we are quiet over certain things happening in the country. It is stupid to say that, because we are fully awake and we can see what is happening," Mwaba said.
He said the opposition currently lacks certain values.
"UPND, as things stand, can't form government; they can't dislodge the PF government. UPND has no sustainability, they have no nationalism," Mwaba said. "Such values or elements are important for an opposition. Without such, an opposition can't form government. We need a sober and mature opposition in Zambia."
Mwaba said there was no constructiveness in the opposition because most opposition parties in the country, like the UPND, only criticised the government without offering solutions.
He said politicians should know that the PF government was not perfect and needed a strong, sober and mature opposition to provide checks andbalances.
Mwaba said the labour movement was not a political party that had a lifespan but was there to stay.
He said that people stepping on the movement's toes were stepping on the wrong institution.
Labels: ROY MWABA, UPND, ZACTU
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Reliance on foreigners
By Editor
Thu 13 June 2013, 14:00 CAT
Swedish ambassador to Zambia Lena Nordstrom says Zambia's challenges can be fully addressed by Zambians and not foreigners. This is true.
As much as no country in this world can solve all its problems by itself, we should focus much more on self-reliance. We should hope for foreign assistance, but we shouldn't be dependent on it; we need to depend on our own efforts, on the creative power of our people.
We should rely on the forces we ourselves organise for us to defeat poverty, backwardness and underdevelopment. The progress of our country should rest on our own strength, and this means regeneration through our own efforts.
As ambassador Nordstrom correctly observes, we are perfectly capable of deciding upon our own future and discovering and we ourselves dealing with any dangers which might arise.
We need to exert ourselves that much more, and break out of the vicious cycle of dependence imposed on us by the financially powerful; those in command of immense market power and those who dare to fashion the world in their own image.
Yes, we can from time to time seek the assistance of others, but this does not take away our responsibility to deal with our own challenges.
There is just too much dependence on others. Everything we do has to have the input of foreigners. Any small disagreement we have with each other, we rush to foreigners to intervene. Any initiative we come up with, it has to be supported and funded by foreigners.
We seem to have lost faith in ourselves. We seem to trust even foreigners of lower capacity than our own people.
We are living in a very different world. That is the first thing we need to understand. We are no longer a colony to be looked after by the coloniser. We are an independent country. But as we have seen, this independence guarantees us nothing. All it offers us instead is the opportunity to succeed as well as the risk of failure. This independence of ours, if looked at critically, is then both a promise and a challenge. It is a promise that free human beings, working together, can govern themselves in a manner that will serve their aspirations for personal freedom, economic opportunity and social justice. It is a challenge because the success of this enterprise, this independent country of ours, rests upon the shoulders of its citizens, and no one else.
Government of the people and by the people means that the citizens of an independent country share in its benefits and in its burdens. By accepting the task of self-government, one generation seeks to preserve the hard-won legacy of individual freedom, human rights and the rule of law for the next. In each society and in each generation, the people must perform the work of their independent country anew - taking the principles of the past and applying them to the practices of a new age and a changing society.
Josef Brodsky, Russian-born poet and Nobel Prize winner, once wrote, "A free man, when he fails, blames nobody." It is true as well for the citizens of an independent country who, finally, must take responsibility for the fate of the country in which they themselves have chosen to live.
It is time we restored confidence in ourselves and stop believing there is someone else out there to look after us, to take care of our problems.
This habit of thinking others owe us a living and are there to solve all our problems, including resolving the differences among ourselves, will take us nowhere. Of course, we were subjected for many years to the colonial tactics of divide and rule. We were played against each other. We were made to hate and despise each other.
We know the consequences of such practices. In the end, we were made to hate ourselves without realising it. Even today, we are still being made to hate each other, fight each other and to consequently hate ourselves. You can't hate what constitutes your country without hating yourself. They are masters at making us hate each other, hate ourselves. They are master hate teachers, so much so that they make us think they are teaching love to us, when they are teaching us to hate each other. When you make a person hate himself, he is finished.
Even when it comes to business, we would rather have foreigners owning and controlling all the vital and best resources of our country. The most profitable business sectors we give to foreigners to make super profits and appear to be better entrepreneurs and managers than our own people. The investment incentives that we give to foreigners, our people don't get them. Our leaders are more accessible to foreigners than ourselves. Why should this be so? Which country has ever been developed totally by foreigners?
In saying all this, we are not in any way implying that we should hate foreigners and foreign investment. We need it. We cannot do without it in this highly globalised world that we today live in. All we are trying to say is that there is need to place greater reliance on the contributions from our people. This is where the ultimate success or failure of our country rests. And Dr Kenneth Kaunda put this point aptly: "In future, therefore, we shall welcome foreign capital as in the past. We remain committed to this policy for we need foreign capital in considerable amounts. All we ask our investors is the understanding that we welcome them as participants, and not controllers, of our economic development process" (UNIP national council, August 11, 1969).
We should be proud of our independence. But our independence today doesn't reside in us declaring ourselves to be independent or in our constitution. It resides in ourselves, as true and dedicated members of this country, who believe in themselves and who see themselves as being responsible for the fate of this country.
Labels: DONOR AID, LENA NORDSTROM, ROY MWABA
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Zambians able to address their challenges - ZCTU
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 13 June 2013, 14:00 CAT
ZCTU general secretary Roy Mwaba says Zambians are capable of addressing the challenges that the country is faced with.
Commenting on Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Lena Nordstrom's observation that Zambia's challenges can be fully addressed by Zambians and not foreigners, Mwaba said Zambians were the creators of the challenges hence they understood them better than anyone else.
"As ZCTU, we totally support the stance by the Ambassador. We are capable and we have the capacity to address our own internal issues. Our colleagues from outside can only give advice. Each country has its own way of handling its development programme. As a labour movement, we are supposed to partner with the government, just like what is happening with the constitution. Most of the problems that we have are created by ourselves," Mwaba said.
He said Zambia as a sovereign state should not depend on other countries to develop.
"These people who give us aid, for instance, if it is economic aid, it should be specifically for that. We don't want aid that will be based on how the country is supposed to be governed. We want to maintain independence as a country. We have to resolve our own internal issues as a country, after all, we are the people who created them and we have the capacity to put our heads together. For example, the issue of KCM planning to lay off workers, we did not call foreigners but we solved the issue ourselves," said Mwaba.
During a three-day national legal and clinic for women community workshop held in Mantumbusa community in Mansa District a fortnight ago, Ambassador Nordstrom said Zambians were capable of solving the problems that the country was facing because they understood them better.
"Also if you look at the support which foreign countries render, it is meant for a short period which of course might be hard to rely on. You have enough resources, knowledge and capacity to address all the challenges which you are facing but what is important is to work together and speak one voice. Anyway chilikuliimwe (it's up to you)," said Ambassador Nordstrom.
Labels: LENA NORDSTROM, ROY MWABA, TRADE UNIONS, ZCTU
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COMMENT - I think Brigadier General Miyanda needs to reconsider his position. It is borderline treasonous for opposition members to meet with foreign diplomats and members of foreign governments. Especially as he is a former member of the armed forces, and an active politician. I don't like the entangling of members of the Executive becoming members of the Legislature, and the Brigadier General is pushing the envelope by meeting with foreign diplomats on top of that.
Sata is right on EU diplomats - Magande
By Allan Mulenga, Lovely Kayombo and Bright Mukwasa
Mon 14 May 2012, 10:30 CAT
NG'ANDU Magande says European Union Ambassador Gilles Hervio is making himself unpopular by meeting opposition parties. Magande, who is leader of the National Movement for Progress party, said President Michael Sata was right to direct the foreign affairs minister to look into the matter where diplomats were meeting opposition figures in the country.
But
Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda says they are not going to be cowed or deterred from meeting and consulting stakeholders and diplomats on any matter. In an interview on Thursday, Magande said the EU Ambassador was not in the country to hold dark corner meetings.
"The opposition people have just made this Ambassador now unpopular, even when we need to go to him some of us because we are technicians… I want to go ask these people for money to help small-scale farmers to grow cotton. Even to buy ginnery because we want to process our cotton here or the miners to start some small companies like, ZAMESA to process our copper the government will already suspect," he said.
Magande wondered why the EU Ambassador and the representatives of some opposition parties were not ready to share with the public what they discussed in a meeting.
"What will happen now when the Ambassador reports to the commissioner in Brussels? Are you going to allow now one of the opposition members who is here to use a Zambian passport just to fly out to Europe to go and talk about Zambia? Why? Where is the Ambassador going to go now? And especially that the Ambassador is saying 'no, I can't disclose what we are discussing'. So now already the Zambian government is suspecting this Ambassador… has he got a hidden agenda in being in Zambia?" he asked.
Magande suspected foul play in the manner representatives of some opposition parties were dealing with the EU.
"We have a lot of organisations. Why did they meet the EU which is European? Why didn't they go to the Commonwealth? Why didn't they go to SADC? Why didn't they go to Comesa? Under SADC we have a lot of organs there even dealing with political issues, why didn't they pick that one? Again now the same thing when other people are complaining to say why pick a Malawian judge? The question now some of us are asking, why did the opposition pick an international organisation - the European Union - to go and report this matter? They better tell us," he said.
Magande urged opposition parties to be accountable and transparent in the manner they handle issues.
"I am a bit surprised that some representatives from opposition parties, without some of us, went to the EU. You know that I was secretary general of the ACP group (African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States) when we were negotiating the current Cotonou Agreement which is a partnership between the ACP and the EU. Obviously, I am just wondering that, if any one of my colleagues in the opposition won the elections and was the president, he would even ignore that I am the only Southern African citizen who has been involved with the EU for three and half years."
And Magande said President Sata was right to take strong exception to diplomats who were interfering in the country's internal affairs.
"The President is correct. He should leave his minister of foreign affairs to call the EU Ambassador and advise him that he is not here to sort of hold dark corner meetings. He is here to help every Zambian and we want to know, even myself I want to know, what is he talking to some of leaders of the Zambians," said Magande.
During a joint press conference by opposition political party leaders comprising UPND's Hakainde Hichilema, Charles Milupi of ADD, MMD acting president Michael Mabenga, ULP's Sakwiba Sikota and Edwin Sakala, Brig Gen Miyanda, leader of the Heritage Party, said diplomats were free to access citizens and that they were not working with them to destabilise the government.
He said President Sata should revise his position and allow them to interact with diplomats.
"Our own President has attacked us. What it is implying to citizens is that those who have not met us will be afraid to meet us because the President has spoken. The President is an experienced person, he has been in government before. Apart from normal protocols, there is nothing that stops diplomats and ambassadors from calling on other political parties. There is nothing wrong about it, diplomats are free to access citizens," he said.
"We met ZCTU followed by the European Union and the purpose was to brief them and inform them that is why we are disgusted by our President's reaction to that meeting because it is implying that a mere meeting of opposition political parties and diplomats amounts to interference in internal affairs of the nation."
He said the opposition is not against the fight against corruption but is interested in genuine judicial reforms.
"We believe that the President did not act within the presidential powers when he suspended the judges and appointed a tribunal. We feel that the President acted prematurely. At no time have we said the President has no powers to set up a tribunal as he has done. We have been saying that he has acted without following the due process, that is the matter that has been emphasized. We feel that perhaps the President was misled or misdirected himself. So far those who have condemned us, including those so-called state counsels, have not answered these questions that procedures have not been followed. They are just saying that the President has got powers," Brig Gen Miyanda said.
"…We also feel the timing of the suspension of judges is also suspect because the judges were suspended soon after one of them passed a ruling against the Mutembo Nchito, JNC Holdings Limited and The Post newspapers in a matter involving K14 billion with DBZ."
He accused President Sata and the Executive of interfering with the Judiciary for political and personal gains under the guise of fighting corruption.
Brig Gen Miyanda also disputed allegations that they planned to incite workers to go on a countrywide strike during a meeting with ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba to press President Sata to lift the suspension of the three judges.
ZCTU secretary general Roy Mwaba on Wednesday told the press that opposition party leaders wanted the union to assist in inciting workers countrywide to strike over the suspension of the three judges when they met Hikaumba.
Labels: EU, GODFREY MIYANDA, MICHAEL SATA, NG'ANDU MAGANDE, ROY MWABA
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Opposition should seek other avenues for resolving internal matters instead of courting ‘foreigners’-Roy Mwaba
TIME PUBLISHED - Friday, May 11, 2012, 8:18 pm
THE Zambian Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) general secretary Roy Mwaba has now changed allegiance from the MMD to the party in government when he decided to antagonize the union’s leadership by questioning why it was necessary to meet opposition political party leaders over their stance to oppose President Sata’s suspending Judges.
Mr Mwaba, who was supportive of MMD programmes and activities prior to the September 20 general elections, shocked many people at a press briefing in Lusaka when he asked
why opposition political party leaders were courting the diplomatic community on internal matters which Zambians had the capacity to resolve.
Mr Mwaba said if the opposition were aggrieved on the suspension of judges, they should seek other avenues of resolving internal matters instead of courting ‘foreigners’.
“There are a number of avenues that the opposition can follow if there is any issue that they feel should be addressed. For example the opposition leaders have Members of Parliament (MPs) who can raise an issue in parliament or they can call for an interparty dialogue where issues can be discussed.
“So there are avenues through which internal matters can be resolved. So as a labour movement we are wondering why the opposition is running to seek foreign intervention when there are avenues,” he said.
Mr Mwaba advised foreign missions not to interfere with the country’s internal matters as Zambian’s had the capacity to solve their internal issues.
He said Zambia was a sovereign state which was capable of resolving its internal issues.
Mwaba said opposition party leaders should stop wasting time of the labour movement and they next time they wished to meet with the ZCTU on any matter, they should make a formal application instead of the impromptu approach taken this time.
Mwaba said the opposition political party leaders had besieged the ZCTU headquarters, which are located next to the office for the taskforce on corruption headquarters in Lusaka’s Porsche Woodlands suburbs to seek audience with the labour movement over the suspension of three judges. He said nothing tangible was discussed in the meeting.
“There was nothing that was resolved in the so called meeting and there are minutes to that effect and this will be availed to the board. But advise the opposition that next time they wish to meet us they should follow procedure,” he said.
Mwaba emphasized that the ZCTU would only issues a statement on the suspended judges after gathering adequate information because the Congress did not want to speculate on the case.
He also took time to comment on the Barosteland turbulence saying the labour movement was shocked as to why some stakeholders were making unwarranted comments on the matter when President Michael Sata had not made any official position following the Roger Chongwe Commission of inquiry whose report was tossed out by the President upon its submission at State House.
He said ZCTU always advocated for a united Zambia and that all and its affiliates would always stand to defend the position of the mother body.
Labels: MMD, OPPOSITION, ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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ZCTU Monze wants Hikaumba, Mwaba out
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tue 29 Nov. 2011, 13:20 CAT
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions members need to clean up all corners of the congress by removing all ineffective leaders, says the Monze branch. ZCTU members in the Southern Province town have joined growing calls for ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba and secretary general Roy Mwaba to resign.
ZCTU Monze chairperson Foster Matakala and secretary Rays Mwansa in a jointly signed statement described the union mother body as "non-functional" despite its affiliates contributing a lot of money monthly.
The statement was a resolution of the minutes of the ZCTU meeting recently held in Monze
"The leadership has given ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba and Secretary General Roy Mwaba to resign because they are a sellout to the workers," according to the e-mailed statement.
"They don't represent any worker but themselves and their families. Hikaumba and Roy Mwaba used to dine with MMD officials at the expense of bargaining for good conditions of service and better salaries for the workers."
ZCTU Monze also stated that Mwaba and Hikaumba should not be part of the negotiating team for next year's collective agreement.
"What can they negotiate for when they are getting hefty salaries and allowances when the majority of the workers have lived in poverty?" wondered the union officials.
"They were campaigning for MMD in the 2011 general elections and the PF government has kept quiet on the issue of union leadership campaigning for a political party when they are supposed to remain neutral."
The Monze workers stated that ZCTU was even failing to rent offices in districts when it had a lot of money from the affiliates.
"The union in the past five years has not been representing its membership because the leaders only wanted to fatten their pockets," they charged.
"We request the government to consider opening negotiations. Let the government look into the plight of the workers by giving them a good deal," stated ZCTU Monze.
Labels: LEONARD HIKAUMBA, MONZE, ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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It will be a close MMD, PF contest
By Patson Chilemba
Sun 24 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT
ZCTU says PF has made inroads into MMD's strongholds and the political contest in this year’s elections will be between them and the ruling party.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions secretary general Roy Mwaba said the analysis from ZCTU’s research committee revealed that it would be a close contest between the PF and MMD. He said the PF had spread their tentacles.
“So it is logical just to conclude that the competition or the political battle in this year’s tripartite elections will be between the MMD and the PF. And what we are trying to say is that, it is going to be quite a close contest and I think for us as a Congress we have reached a situation whereby for the first time we are going to have a Parliament which is going to be very strong,” Mwaba said.
“The margin between the political party which is going to have the majority of the MPs and the one which will be a follow up won’t be very big, which means whichever government comes into power, it will be very difficult for them to pass bills.” Mwaba said the PF had gained popularity in some provinces where the party was previously not popular. He said places like Mporokoso which had been an MMD stronghold since 1991 was now under the control of the PF.
Mwaba said PF already had traditional strongholds such as the Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces.
“Now when we say the PF has made inroads, we are referring to some provinces where they were not popular but now this time they are popular. We are talking of the past experience like in Mporokoso where the MMD used to have a constituency. We have seen that the PF have grabbed that,” Mwaba said.
“We have seen that even in Kasama the PF fielded a candidate Kasama parliamentarian Geoffrey Bwalya Mwambwa who was not even from a political background, but he scooped the seat. From the last ward and parliamentary seats, we can say the PF has made inroads in some areas where the MMD used to have influence.”
Mwaba said the shooting down of the Constitution of Zambia Bill showed that the Zambian Parliament had matured in that they were now able to look at issues as they came.
He said ZCTU had finished scrutinising the manifestos of the main contenders in this year’s elections and would now scrutinise the candidates.
Mwaba said the ZCTU wanted to bring into government a leadership which had an agenda that was biased towards the workers and ensure the issue of poverty alleviation was closely attended to.
He said ZCTU wanted a leadership that was democratic, accountable on public resources and answerable to the people of Zambia.
“I am not afraid and ashamed to say that this time around when we find a political party that meets what I have just highlighted, we are going to tell our members ‘go and vote wisely for that political party that has got the heart for Zambian people’,” Mwaba said.
“We have already scrutinised manifestos and to us as a Congress what we have seen is like all the three major political parties are almost duplicates of what the other one has.”
Mwaba said both MMD and PF had adequately catered for the issue of social protection and social security which were previously not there in the manifestos.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, MMD, PF, ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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Address Zambia’s problems, Mwaba urges Rupiah
By Agness Changala
Tue 11 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda should address problems facing the country ahead of tripartite elections, according to the ZCTU. Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba said President Banda should not pretend that there were no problems to be sorted out before the country goes to the polls.
He said the current debates on
violence, the Barotseland Agreement, windfall tax in the mining sector, media freedom and the 50 per cent plus one clause among other issues needed to be addressed adequately.
He said the government’s response to some national issues was worrying.
“It is at times like this that people expect the government to show leadership and tackle and resolve such issues to the expectation of the public,” Mwaba said.
He said the government had to consistently dialogue with opposition parties and other stakeholders to find solutions to some of the challenges.
Mwaba said since President Banda assumed office, he had never called for a forum where MMD and other political parties could dialogue on matters of national interest.
He said there should be dialogue, tolerance and consensus built around important national issues.
He challenged President Banda to find time and call the opposition political parties to address some of the problems that the country is faced with.
“We want to sit down together. If the government can’t do that, we will create a forum and call political parties and chair the meeting ourselves,” he said.
Mwaba said ZCTU wanted to see the government respect freedom of speech and association for all.
Mwaba called on political parties to engage in issue based politics to avoid the occurrence of violence.
He said the congress would scrutinize the manifestoes of political parties and ask members to vote for one that had its interest at heart.
Mwaba said ZCTU would remain free of interference from any political party.
And Mwaba said ZCTU would never go to ‘sleep’ with the government because it was not a government wing.
He said allegations that the government had weakened and compromised ZCTU were unfortunate.
Mwaba said if an individual was compromised in ZCTU, it was not the organisation.
He said those always mentioning ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba must realise that he was not an organisation but an individual.
Mwaba said people must forget if Hikaumba had committed mistakes in the past and allow him to work with different people in the new executive.
Mwaba said the new executive would continue to be a voice of the workers in the country.
Labels: BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, ROY MWABA
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ZCTU blames govt for poor performance of labour movement
By Agness Changala
Sun 22 Aug. 2010, 04:00 CAT
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba has blamed the MMD government for the poor performance of the labour movement in the country. Mwaba said in an interview that the problems being experienced in the labour movement were as a result of the government’s failure to manage issues of labour and lack of implementation of the existing laws and policies.
He said the government was deliberately causing problems so that union affiliates could rebel against their union leaders. Mwaba said funding to the labour ministry was nothing to talk about because the government did not attach any importance to it.
He said the ministry was also incapacitated to carry out its duties because of the shortage of inspectors.
Mwaba said there were several workers who were suffering because their employers had ignored issues of safety and health while the government remained mute.
He said it was common knowledge that people no longer had the desire to belong to the labour movement because they felt that they were not well represented.
“While there’s some element of truth in that the congress is not serving the aspirations and expectations of the workers, my appeal is to go to the drawing board,” he said. “What has caused this and not just condemnation of what caused the mess.”
Mwaba admitted that ZCTU was not as vibrant as it used to be 10-15 years ago.
He said the affiliates were partially to blame for the dormancy of ZCTU because the leadership came from the same people.
Mwaba said it was important that affiliates were part of the solution to the problems because they were responsible for the strengths and failures.
He said the labour movement must unite, work together and come up with a formidable leadership that is not just emotional.
However, Mwaba said he had taken up the full responsibility of the problems facing the labour movement as chief executive officer.
“I accept the blame. But we must do self-surgery and ensure that people that are speaking do their homework, “he said. “Clean their bedrooms and they must not wash dirty linen in public.”
He said it was difficult to be a union leader because whenever they criticized the government, they were perceived to be opposition sympathisers and vice versa.
And Mwaba asked the government to be transparent when bringing investors in the country.
He said the government’s failure to involve the labour movement always showed that they had something to hide.
“They should become more transparent and ensure that they involve the labour movement,” he said.
Mwaba said for the government to avoid problems, they must involve the labour movement at every stage of development.
He said the government knew that the labour movement was a key stakeholder in the economic, political and development of any country but deliberately excluded them.
“And when they want to implement, they want to bring them on board. No! There must be ownership, there should be nothing happening in the mines without the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ),” he said.
“And the other unions, they must be involved because if they don’t get them involved how do they expect them to implement wholeheartedly?”
Mwaba observed that whenever President Rupiah Banda travelled out to look for investors, he did not have people from the union in his entourage.
Mwaba said he would join Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) workers on the Copperbelt in their planned peaceful protest as a show of solidarity.
He said the decision for the members to protest was just and he advised them to obtain a police permit.
“I am joining in the peaceful demonstration, ZCTU will join through me as a way to show solidarity,” he said.
Mwaba said the mineworkers should go ahead because dialogue with the government had failed.
He observed that Zambian workers were frustrated and because the government was not doing anything about it, they would have to look to God for redemption.
Mwaba said the workers were now resorting to demonstrations because they had no other options.
Labels: LABOUR, ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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ZCTU blames govt for poor performance of labour movement
By Agness Changala
Sun 22 Aug. 2010, 04:00 CAT
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba has blamed the MMD government for the poor performance of the labour movement in the country.
Mwaba said in an interview that the problems being experienced in the labour movement were as a result of the government’s failure to manage issues of labour and lack of implementation of the existing laws and policies.
He said the government was deliberately causing problems so that union affiliates could rebel against their union leaders.
Mwaba said funding to the labour ministry was nothing to talk about because the government did not attach any importance to it.
He said the ministry was also incapacitated to carry out its duties because of the shortage of inspectors. Mwaba said there were several workers who were suffering because their employers had ignored issues of safety and health while the government remained mute.
He said it was common knowledge that people no longer had the desire to belong to the labour movement because they felt that they were not well represented.
“While there’s some element of truth in that the congress is not serving the aspirations and expectations of the workers, my appeal is to go to the drawing board,” he said. “What has caused this and not just condemnation of what caused the mess.”
Mwaba admitted that ZCTU was not as vibrant as it used to be 10-15 years ago.
He said the affiliates were partially to blame for the dormancy of ZCTU because the leadership came from the same people.
Mwaba said it was important that affiliates were part of the solution to the problems because they were responsible for the strengths and failures.
He said the labour movement must unite, work together and come up with a formidable leadership that is not just emotional.
However, Mwaba said he had taken up the full responsibility of the problems facing the labour movement as chief executive officer.
“I accept the blame. But we must do self-surgery and ensure that people that are speaking do their homework, “he said. “Clean their bedrooms and they must not wash dirty linen in public.”
He said it was difficult to be a union leader because whenever they criticized the government, they were perceived to be opposition sympathisers and vice versa.
And Mwaba asked the government to be transparent when bringing investors in the country.
He said the government’s failure to involve the labour movement always showed that they had something to hide.
“They should become more transparent and ensure that they involve the labour movement,” he said.
Mwaba said for the government to avoid problems, they must involve the labour movement at every stage of development.
He said the government knew that the labour movement was a key stakeholder in the economic, political and development of any country but deliberately excluded them.
“And when they want to implement, they want to bring them on board. No! There must be ownership, there should be nothing happening in the mines without the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ),” he said.
“And the other unions, they must be involved because if they don’t get them involved how do they expect them to implement wholeheartedly?”
Mwaba observed that whenever President Rupiah Banda travelled out to look for investors, he did not have people from the union in his entourage.
Mwaba said he would join Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) workers on the Copperbelt in their planned peaceful protest as a show of solidarity.
He said the decision for the members to protest was just and he advised them to obtain a police permit.
“I am joining in the peaceful demonstration, ZCTU will join through me as a way to show solidarity,” he said.
Mwaba said the mineworkers should go ahead because dialogue with the government had failed.
He observed that Zambian workers were frustrated and because the government was not doing anything about it, they would have to look to God for redemption.
Mwaba said the workers were now resorting to demonstrations because they had no other options.
Labels: ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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COMMENT - The ZCTU is completely corrupt.
Changing ACC Act will end corruption fight – EK
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 15 July 2010, 10:20 CAT
ENOCH Kavindele yesterday observed that the government’s intention to remove abuse of office offence from the revised Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act signals the end of the fight against corruption.
In an interview, Kavindele - a former Republican vice-president – said political leaders were now panicking because they did not trust some of their decisions. He said there was no need to remove a piece of legislation that had served the country very well for many years.
“In my view, this signals the end of the fight against corruption in Zambia. Abuse of office offence is cardinal in the fight against corruption because it ensures that those in authority should be questioned for their actions. Now if those in authority cannot be questioned for their actions, what example are they giving to those they lead?” Kavindele asked.
On Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba’s support for the removal of the offence from the ACC Act, Kavindele said ZCTU should have been the first to defend the law.
“It does not augur well for the union to support the removal of this law. The normal trend should be that people should be leaving government to go and make money. It should not be a situation where people leave their small tuntemba to go and make money in government; this is wrong. Civil service work is full-time, business also is full-time. And when you are in business, we are not talking about selling tomatoes, but big businesses,” he said.
Kavindele said there was no need for anyone to panic over the law if they were clean. He said the abuse of office offence would always help people live within their means.
“I can see there is panic because most of these people are aware that the decisions they make will follow them. But there is no need to panic, let them just be clean and do the right thing. This law is good for everyone and we should support it. I can see that most of those affected by this law are civil servants. But this is simply because they are the people who sign those documents.
They are the people who form companies and award themselves tenders. A person from Luwingu will not come and sign those documents because he doesn’t know anything. So, let them just be clean on this one and maintain the law,” said Kavindele.
Labels: ACC, CORRUPTION, ENOCH KAVINDELE, ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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ZCTU gives Banda kudos over inflation reduction
Monday, July 5, 2010, 8:11
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has said the historic annualised rate of inflation recorded during the month of June is a sticking point that President Rupiah Banda’s prudent economic efforts had exceeded the economic policy measures of the previous administrations.
ZCTU secretary general Roy Mwaba said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that previous efforts had been consolidated to speed up economic growth coupled with high productivity but there was now evidence that the current Government was making the right decisions.
He said the combination of President Banda, Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and Commerce Minister Felix Mutati had proved to be the best for Zambia.
Central Statistical Office director Effrida Chulu announced last week that Zambia has tapped a historic annualised rate of inflation at 7.8 per cent which was the lowest in three decades.
The drop in inflation was spurred by a decrease in prices of food such as mealie meal, fresh vegetables, and dried kapenta which helped push down Zambia’s annual inflation rate, to 7.8 per cent in June from 9.1 per cent in May.
Of the total 7.8 per cent annual inflation rate in June 2010, food products in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) accounted for 1.9 percentage points, while non-food products accounted for 5.9 percentage points.
The reduction in the annual rate of inflation as measured by the CPI was attributed to the downward spiral of prices for food items which include maize grain.
The only time the rate came down to about eight per cent was in 2006 when late President Levy Mwanawasa as in power.
Mr Mwaba said the Government now needs to work on measures that would ensure that sound economic figures trickle down the ordinary Zambians and the workers.
Mr Mwaba said the 15 per cent salary hike for public service workers was too low and it was important in future to consider a higher percentage to allow the workers benefit from the economic growth.
He said the 15 per cent salary rise was given just when the cost of fuel and electricity tariffs were increased which has left the workers with little benefit from their efforts.
Mr Mwaba said good economic decisions were historically very difficult to make but recent efforts had shown that the Government knows what was good for Zambia.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Labels: CORRUPTION, INFLATION, ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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Zambian workers are still fragmented, says Mwaba
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Fri 30 Apr. 2010, 03:20 CAT
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba yesterday said the Zambian workers are still fragmented.
Commenting on Labour Day, which falls tomorrow, Mwaba said nothing had changed for the workers from the time the MMD and Frederick Chiluba ascended to power.
He said the policies of the MMD had not changed.
Mwaba said the emphasis of workers was on decent work agenda because the Ministry of Labour and Social Security had adopted the decent work agenda as enshrined in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention.
He said this entailed that Zambian workers were not interested in job creation but decent job creation, which meant signing contracts with conditions of services and the safety and health of workers.
“…we don’t just need jobs, we need decent jobs,” he said.
Mwaba also said the 15 per cent increment that public workers signed with the government showed unity among unions representing workers.
“This is the first time all the eight public service unions came together to have a collective bargaining process to speak as one big voice. This is encouraging because under the MMD and Chiluba’s rule, workers were fragmented; even now the policies of the MMD haven’t changed apart from the leadership. Workers are still fragmented,” he said.
He said if workers were fragmented, this disadvantaged employers, as they had to bargain with 10 different unions.
However, Mwaba said the 15 per cent was not enough as it fell far from cushioning the hardships the public service workers go through.
But he said given the background and the scenario in Zambia in view of the global financial crisis, the 15 per cent was an achievement.
Mwaba said he knew that the workers would not be happy with the increment but asked them to bear with union officials given the current economic situation.
He said labour was for workers and it should be used to reflect how far people have come.
Mwaba said the union was also concerned about the prizes the employers would give workers.
He urged the employers to be cautious when awarding deserving workers.
Mwaba said the day should not be used for quarrelling or a platform to settle differences.
Labels: ILO, JOBS, ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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Economist questions govt’s long-term plans for Indeni
By Fridah Zinyama
Fri 06 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
A LUSAKA consultant John Kasanga has questioned the government’s long-term objectives for Indeni Petroleum Refinery. And Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba advised the government to have a well thought-out plan for managing the country’s fuel reserves to avoid another fuel shortage next year.
The government on Thursday announced that it had acquired the 50 per cent shares in Indeni from Total at the sum of US $5.5 million. This move has sparked debate in the country as stakeholders are concerned about the government’s capability to efficiently run the refinery.
In an interview, Independent Management Consulting Services Limited consultant Kasanga urged the government to clearly state its long-term objectives for the refinery and what it hoped to achieve with its 100 per cent shares.
“There are certain issues which are pending at Indeni Refinery which need to be quickly addressed,” he said. “The issues of Indeni only refining a particular grade of crude oil should be looked at.”
Kasanga explained that Indeni Petroleum Refinery only processed semi-processed crude oil, which meant that other kinds of crude oils could not be processed.
There have been several calls from stakeholders to recapitalise Indeni so that it has up to date machinery which can process any particular grades of crude oil, including the one from Angola.
Kasanga added that measures needed to be put in place to ensure the delivery of crude oil or fuel at an economic cost to the country.
“We need to reduce the landed costs of fuel into the country,” he urged. “A decision should be made that will permanently deal with the issue to supplying the country with fuel at an economic rate.”
Kasanga said the government could permit other stakeholders to put up another plant that would refine crude oil.
“If this is not done, then government should allow oil marketing companies to bring in already processed fuel products into the country,” he said. “But whoever would be given this task should ensure that there was no back handling.”
Kasanga said the issue of the government contracting briefcase companies to import fuel into the country had worsened the fuel situation.
Kasanga said if fuel imports continued at this rate, the country could experience increased production costs that would make Zambian products uncompetitive in the region.
And Mwaba said traders on the black market had taken advantage of the fuel shortage and were selling fuel at exorbitant prices.
“This is a clear case of mismanagement by those who have been entrusted to run the affairs of the energy sector,” he said.
Mwaba said it was sad that fuel supply had continued to be erratic on the market while those entrusted to manage the resources continued to give contradictory statements over the same situation.
“Different sectors of the economy like agriculture will be adversely affected if the fuel crisis continues as farming inputs will not be able to reach them on time,” he said.
Mwaba said the government should realise that the continued fuel shortage would have a spill-over effect in that prices for other commodities would also be affected.
Labels: INDENI, JOHN KASANGA, ROY MWABA
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Nurses ready to work
By ANGELA CHISHIMBA
STRIKING nurses in Lusaka have agreed to go back to work on condition that Government and their union leaders sign a commitment agreement that will indicate the time-frame in which their demands for improved allowances will be addressed.
And Minister of Labour and Social Security Austin Liato has said
Government will get back to the nurses and their unions over their demands for a commitment agreement.
Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) representative Harmond Kapapa, who was speaking at a meeting held at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), said as soon as the commitment agreement is signed, nurses will go back to work.
“We are ready to even return to work today if the agreement is signed,” he said.
He said nurses have taken this stance because of broken promises by Government in the past.
“We are tired of promises, so our condition for going back is after that commitment agreement is signed. We have been given empty promises in the past. Our union leaders are preparing this commitment document and this will be presented to Government,” he said.
Mr Kapapa said contrary to reports that the nurses have rejected the 15 per cent salary increment, what is in contention are the allowances.
He said despite nurses working between 36 to 40 hours per week, they are only given K30,000 as over-time per month whilst night duty allowance is K35,000.
Mr Kapapa wondered why nurses have been denied risk allowance when they operate in a high-risk environment.
And Mr Liato said he had heard the nurses’ demands and promised to get back to them after consultations. He said he would inform President Banda of the nurses’ concerns. He, however, urged the nurses to go back to work and allow Government and the unions to continue negotiating for the allowances.
“You must understand that Government and the unions cannot negotiate while you are on strike so the best thing to do is go back to work and give us chance to negotiate. We cannot negotiate in this atmosphere.
“You are employees of Government and the rules are that Government can’t negotiate if you are not working. We cannot give you answers on the floor, the law doesn’t allow that,” he said.
Mr Liato urged the nurses to understand that he did not arrange to meet them so that he could force them to do anything but that he called for the meeting so that they reason together.
“It is important for us to harmonise our interests. Answers will come because this matter will be given the urgency it deserves. The best thing is for us to get back to work now.
“I am going away with a feeling that tomorrow, you will return to work. As Government, we respect all of you and know how much of service you are to this nation. I am confident that some of you will return to work,” he said.
Mr Liato said the problems the nurses are facing have not been caused by President Banda in the nine months he has been in charge.
Earlier, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba appealed to Government to resolve the problems nurses are facing and warned against intimidation of union members. Mr Hikaumba appealed to workers to remain united so that they achieve their demands.
He also demanded that Ministry of Health should provide transport for workers.
Mr Hikaumba also took a swipe at some opposition political party leaders who he said did little to improve health workers’ welfare.
“We are saying no to those who want to gain cheap political mileage over our problems, we know what is best for us and as workers, we shall fight on our own,” he said.
He also condemned some Parliamentarians who are criticising Government for the strike when they are the ones who approved a budget they knew could only give workers not more than 14 per cent.
Mr Hikaumba disclosed that when the union met with Government officials who included Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao, Government pledged that K25 billion would be released to settle some of the outstanding arrears.
And ZCTU general secretary Roy Mwaba said the nurses’ case is a unique one which needs unique attention.
He proposed that Government is given four weeks in which to resolve the issues, a suggestion which nurses rejected.
Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, NURSES, ROY MWABA, STRIKE
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Take looming strike seriously, ZCTU appeals to Rupiah
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe, Enerst Chanda and Isaac Zulu
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 3:42:28 PM
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba has appealed to President Rupiah Banda to take the issue of the looming strike of various workers seriously before it turns into a national strike.
Commenting on the looming strike by teachers and health workers in some parts of the country, Mwaba said the stance taken by the government in dragging its feet in the process of bargaining was not healthy for the nation.
He said the country was going through a financial recession and it was important that every productive sector was working to combat the financial crisis.
“Every manpower lost contributes to worsening the situation. If you look at the demands of the workers, it is all salary related. The government should hasten the negotiations. It is cheaper to prevent a national strike than deal with the aftermath,” he said.
Mwaba said the government was going to lose a lot of resources if the strike went national.
He said it was important that President Banda intervened in the matter because the situation was now above permanent secretaries.
“Every time we want to bargain, the permanent secretaries say that they have to consult the principle and the Ministry of Finance. They have to come in and ensure that they prevent a national strike,” said Mwaba.
Meanwhile, former Chilanga UPND member of parliament Captain Cosmas Moono has fully supported striking civil servants in Livingstone.
Capt Moono said the civil servants’ action to go on strike last week was justified by government’s decision to turn a deaf ear to their plight.
Capt Moono also accused Southern Province permanent secretary Darius Hakayobe of ignoring problems in the province and concentrating on politicking.
“Just recently, we had cholera in Southern Province in the dry season. And that is the province which Hakayobe and [provincial minister Daniel Munkombwe] preside over. This is an indication that the two gentlemen have failed…,” said Capt Moono.
Last week, some civil servants in Livingstone resolved to go on strike demanding payment of their rural hardship allowances, salary increments and improved conditions of service.
And teachers in Kapiri Mposhi have also gone on an indefinite strike, joining their counterparts in other districts.
During their meeting held at Lukanda Basic School on Friday, the three teachers unions unanimously resolved to go on strike, demanding payment of their rural hardship allowances and not less than 25 per cent salary increment from the government.
In a statement issued by Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT), Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ)and Secondary Education Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) , teachers in the district were also demanding payment of fixed band allowances and outstanding housing allowances.
Labels: ROY MWABA, RUPIAH BANDA, STRIKE, ZCTU
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ZCTU calls for transparency in sale of public institutions
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 2:30:49 PM
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) general secretary Roy Mwaba has called for transparency in the privatisation of strategic institutions in the country such as Zamtel.
Briefing the press in Kitwe on Wednesday, Mwaba called for caution when handling important institutions such as Zamtel and Zesco because of their strategic nature.
"Government should exercise maximum caution when dealing with such issues as the privatisation of strategic companies like Zamtel and Zesco," he said. "There should be professionalism and transparency applied when handling sensitive institutions as opposed to exerting political influence."
Mwaba also said owing to the global economic crisis, companies including the government were reluctant in proceeding with negotiations over workers' improved conditions of service this year.
He said ZCTU was ready to offer technical expertise to its affiliate unions, which were having difficulties in negotiating with employers in the wake of the economic crisis.
He said there was no meaningful progress between the government and public service workers' unions since the negotiations began three weeks ago.
Recently, Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) general secretary Oswell Munyenyembe stated that owing to the uncertainties relating to the future of Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), talks on improving miners' conditions of service between management and the two mine workers' unions had been suspended until July to review the situation.
However, Mwaba said efforts needed to be made to ensure the protection of workers.
"Efforts should be made by stakeholders to ensure that investors and other employers do not resort to measures that will disadvantage workers such as company closures, retrenchments, violation of workers rights and other informal forms of production in order to cut on production costs," he said. "The state should move hastily in developing interventions in companies where jobs and company assets are under threat. Such interventions should aim at protecting jobs for Zambians and company assets."
He urged the government to urgently introduce measures and economic strategies that would mitigate the negative effects of the recession particularly on the vulnerable groups in society.
Mwaba also demanded that the new constitution should be in place before the 2011 tripartite elections.
Labels: ROY MWABA, ZCTU
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