The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it is unfair to label all Chinese investors as exploitative.
ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba said in an interview that some Chinese investors have proved to be good investors.
Mr. Hikaumba further noted that exploitation of workers was not exclusive to some Chinese investors as other employers were equally guilty of mistreatment of workers.
He said it is therefore not fair for the people to look at Chinese investors as the only employers that exploit workers in the country.
Mr. Hikaumba has however appealed to NFCA, the Chinese investor that has taken over Luanshya Mine, to abide by the labour laws.
He urged the Chinese investor to have respect for Human Rights and offer decent conditions of service.
Mr. Hikaumba said the investor should also seek to ensure Mine safety standards are upheld.
He said the Labour Movement would be vigilant in ensuring that labour laws are strictly adhered.
Today, Mr Hikaumba and other senior leaders from the labour movement are expected to meet President Rupiah Banda at Hippo lodge in Kafue National Park where Mr Banda has gone on a seven day working retreat.
Mr Hikaumba said the meeting with President Banda was aimed at discussing the various issues that had beseeched the labour movement in the recent past.
Mr Hikaumba said President Banda has given ZCTU a good opportunity to enable them highlight the various critical issues affecting the industry that may need presidential intervention.
” This will give us an opportunity to discuss a lot of pending planned issues that require the attention of the president,” he said.
Mr Hikaumba said the labour movement in Zambia was currently facing a lot of challenges, especially with the high number of job losses due to retrenchments arising from the effects of the global economic crisis.
The ZCTU president, who did not want to comment much on the matter, said most of the issues to be discussed at the meeting with President Banda would call for quick action and implementation.
Mr Banda is on a one week long working retreat during which he is expected to hold meetings with various stakeholders including the business sector on national issues.
And the Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) has commended government for securing an investor to run Luanshya Mine.
FODEP President Stanly Mhango said the Mines Workers’ Union of Zambia (MWUZ) should engage the Chinese investor to orient them on the working conditions and the labour laws of the country.
Mr. Mhango appealed to Government and MWUZ take up the challenge of ensuring that workers at the Mine are not exploited by the Chinese.
ZANIS
Next we will hear you are depty minister for Labour and Social shani uko ngekoyaba.
ba hika fimo fimo, we trusted you on that one. Dnt let red lips blind you. fight for our rights twapapata.
3RqU and eagles eye,
How are you today? The rest how are you? Iam good the Lord has been so gracious with me of late though I keep on disappointing Him by failing Tests in class.Ha ha ha ha!!! Iwe Hikaumba don’t let these corrupt pipo ruin your reputation. Lobe tukakubwelamo.
Problem with UNIONs they want more members so that they (Union) will have money from a large contribution base regardless of the contributors working conditions. Money beautiful money can make an honest man into a Judas Iscariot
Bwana Hikaumba thats Sense. I wish U luck as U meet RB.
Sometimes i wonder why the unions exist because they are not very good at negotiating. My mother is still a dedicated low paid teacher.
Hikaumba give examples of good chineese investiment. I have not heard of one here in Zambia. I understant the UNION has been hit hard this year and I know what you are fighting for. Please enlighted me. I appreciate the fact that chineese investers have not run away from Zambia despite the economical down-turn except for one in chambish.
Weekend in pictures or pictures in weekend.
HOPE HIKAUMBA HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN A BROWN ENVELOPE.. COZ HE NEVER USED TO TOLARENT NOSENCE
TRUE TO THAT
For amachochiz, make them adhere to safety standards also,miners should be given proper working gear. amaguys aba work without ifimpompo na ma sandals mu coal mine
hope he doesnt grease ya palms
Goodmorning bloggers.
Matworld nice to see you man…it’s been long. You look happy; healthy & strong.
Back to the lecture at hand: it is not easy to seperate the good from the bad nowadays. One bad apple will easily spoil the whole bounty of fruits.
Thats true Mr Hikaumba! We shall also be happy to hear that ‘NOT ALL UNION LEADERS ARE GENUINE AND PRUDENT.’ You are going to Hippo Lodge??? You come back with fat pockets, eh? Remember you were on o very contraversial trip to China with your entire family all costs paid for by GRZ under the late LPM. I met you at the Embassy where you were paid the $s by the Accountant there Mr Sakutaha James, remember? Hikaumba is not a very genuine leader lately. Anyesela manje. The pockets are too heavy for him. lol
Hikaumba please stand your ground and fight for the pipo. Don’t allow these pipo to dilute your mind. I am just worried with such statements “NOT ALL CHINESE INVESTORS ARE EXPLOITATIVE”.
“Not all chinese investors are exploitative”. Am not sure about that, but one thing am certain about is the fact that human labour in china is cheap. These investors are not told in advance that they expect expensive human labour as they think of investing in Zambia.
Tu “choncholi”
Bro Matworld, How are you and the studies? Hikaumba anadya kudala. Thats why he has stopped wearing black duku when meeting Politicians. He is no longer the Hika we knew.
He’s now toothless.
Hikaumba should not be seen to be the spokesperson for the Chinese investors. Let them defend themselves if they feel comments against them are unfair. We all know that the economy is bad but you should not try to endear yourself to these chaps just for your benefit. Union members should also look at amending the Unions’ constitutions so as to limit the terms or number of years Union NEC officials can save. Some Union presidents and chairpersons have held on for too long hence no new ideas.
Bakudyesamo zingati, Hicks? Lelo sure ati, not all the Chinese are shani? I can imagine the sundowni ku Hippo fimo fimo kwamene muyenda! My prediction: Special Assistant for Labour affairs in the Presidents Office.
Morning all. Nine Chale mulishani uko ku Gerlemani? Nice climate here in Poland.
Back to the written word!! Mr Hikaumba has he right to says what he feels like. Infact he is right, but he should have been more general. He should have said not all investors are bad.
Why the only bad thing is the conditions they are offered from the Zambian government. The conditions makes them get away easily when things fall apart. It is the Policy maker who is to blame and not the investor. Some of these investors are attracted by the high expectations and when reality takes over, they have no other option but to leave.
Civil sevants or Sorry Thieves i mean accoutants in civil service, Hikaumba is not going to Hippo lodge to represent anyone, this man is a huge let down to the labour movement. He is going there for his own pocket. He has missed the lavish life Levy accorded him, he want to dubiuosly establish one with RB.
Another reteat for RB and another dollar for Hikaumba,come on we dont need a atired president if he is not out of the country then the man is on reteat pls grand pa if u are tired its time to step down and hikaumba u have started following the brown envelopes too tizakuona
Ba Hikaumba, corruption has finally caught up with you. Your carrer has been ruined. Instead of speeking for the people, you are now defending the government’s wrong doings. Ni Lesa twafweni nomba.
Yes Jamaco, kuli shani uko ku Poland? The weather here is miserable…rainy & grey.
Umposhyesheko ba mulamu na ka niece kandi.
And don’t forget to check all your belongings before you roll back to Gelemani (joke!)
Is Hikaumba the PRO for the Chinese Embassy?
the Tonga man has to replace Cattle that have died due to ‘denkete’ this is what is causing the CARELESS talks from that once ROBUST and VIBRANT Trade Union Leader. Im disappointed as a worker. MMD Chief Bootlicker, What your comment? Are you the one giving out money at Hippo Lodge?
Matworld..awe ..Whats up..is school that stressful?.. you never online buta!.. hola
hope chishinka mudala!!!
Ba Hikaumba is representing Cattle not wokers………….
matworld ulishani mudala wandi?
Matworld shani man. Kukosa mudala. I am good thanks and nice to see you again. Posako amano ndeisa mukutamba impila next year. At the moment I am busy learning hw to duck bullets and how not to be lynched by those South Africans. As if we didn`t help them bless them! lol!
J @shani man.
Hikaumba has greatly changed. That picture tells it all!
NOT ALL BUT MOST…
matworld long time. am doing good. Just dessapointed a bit with the 5% hika negotiated for me and my fellow Gvt workers. Now he is trying to dive in2 the chinise bank accounts since GVT is not giving him enough. I miss seeing him in that Duku. Hope to get a copy of his bank statment after the hippo lodge meeting.
#34 Its true. See the picture of Hikaumba in 2006. He extremely slim and tall, today’s picture He is extremely big. The head is resting on the shoulders as if he has lost some vertebrae in the spine bone connections. Bahina mwandi be Hikaumba, kwati bali pama ARVs sure!! Awee mwe!!
This is the legacy all union leaders have. Be nice at first then slowly turn into a politician, pamper yourself and finally contest the highest Post in the land. Dudes FTJ, Morgan, Zuma etc etc are examples. There is no country in world where you will hear a UNION leader talk like Hikaumba. I smell something Somba. Indeed he has changed lately. Bwana Hikas remember how you lashed out at an MMD cadre in public at a labour day celebration during LPM’s rule. Now thats the Hikas I know. Put off those clothes you’re wearing. Put on the Union face and Be smart.
Hikaumba is diving nose down at very high acceleration plus the gravitational force. Uhhhh, wait a minute; THE IMPACT WILL BE ENORMOUS AND NO SURVIVORS IN THE END INCLUDING HIMSELF. We are in REAL DANDER with Corrupt PRO for the Chinese mission in Zambia ZCTU President Chikaumba
Not all chinese investors are but……..he is right..what he is saying is that he has seen evil chinese investors exploiting zambians…so what is wrong with his tok?????come on guyz
Is there a way of getting a transfer from Tonga to Bemba? You seem to have been transfered with immediate effect from Hikaumba to Chikaumba. This is what MMD PURE 1 seems to be suggesting. Shameful
He has been bought
Matworld Welcome back ! Jamaco @shani ?!
Mr. Hikaumba no longer represents the interest of the poor wokers
The chinese are pulling lots of strings. Is there some discovery of more precious metals that we don’t know about? The question is, how much did he get paid for saying this publicly?
Kelly chinook #7, asks to be shown a genuine chinese investor. When the west refused to build TAZARA and TAZAMA pipeline because it was a project perceived as non viable, Kaunda and Late Mwalimu, turned to China. Beijing sent thousand of workers and along with their Zambian and Tanzania comrades, the chinese workers worked side by side, without any complaint and completed one of the greatest rail lines on earth, in record time. Thatcher and Reagan refused to support the liberation struggle, China agreed, today you have south africa.United States borrows Billions of Dollars from China.China is the fastest growing economy in the world. The Chinese have been there for Africa, through and through, when the west regarded us as the scum of the earth. They are good people regardless.
#45 He is getting paid at Hippo Lodge this week. Never mind the amount, its somewhere around Mumbi’s amount from ECZ
He is Tonga and most Tongas i know despite their education they a dum cowards. That is the more reason HH will never be presido of Zambia.
Bo Mundia #48, Show me a brave Lozi! Aka? Inonge? Mulyata? Sakwiba? Sikatana?Amusa? They are all eating crumbs from the master’s table. Be objective and stop stereotyping without any basis really.
Thanks for the response Mwanawasa (#47)
Musanaga (#48) Clarifying what you said. United States does not go asking to be lent money. The United States has a well functioning treasury bills/bonds market. By well functioning, I mean, the investors are free to enter and exit,the treasury bond market, at will. The chinese willingly invest in the treasury bills, just like what the Japanese used to do, to keep their currency at low levels relative to the US, which is their primary export market. This enables them to continue exporting cheap goods.
So chinese are willingly lending to the USA to to keep their exports going.
I find this very unfair. They are effectively manipulating their currency to their benefit. It does hurt other nations, including Zambia. Its hard to trust the chinese.
Hikaumba is a useless character. when is the term of office coming to an end before he defiles the union?
I hear if you lay down the law for the Chinese, they work well. If you ask them to manufacture for example a chigayo, give them the correct standards and they will do just that. However if you let them do their own thing, you are asking for trouble! Baza ku gonga bad! As for Luanshya, for the love of my people i hope theyemploy Zambians, not efo bachitile ba mwenye ku kafue bafi…..a
Thanks St Raphael-Maramba #50, for an elaborate and well informed reply. What is striking though about your comments is at least you confrim that the Chinese are doing business with the Americans.Why should sata and his likes choose for us who to trade with? Let any body with money be allowed in, as long as he plays within the rules. I think that is what Hikaumba is trying to say.
Hi Bloggers, LT, how about getting a response from some Chinese investors to balance the story…..?
Zambians need to stop their knee jerk anti chinese attitude. We have to wake up to the fact that they are now a super power. They are the ones who are lending money to the Americans. The fact is you are not likely to get any investment in the near future from the west simply because they have no money. What we have to do is make sure that they adhere to the laws that we have in place to ensure that people are not exploited. Being anti chinese is not in our longterm interest.
I am fine mwe bantu. Ba Dr Maureen and 3RqU ine ndi kuno ku Poland kabili. Utubwalwa natuwama sana.
I have not seen a chinese today in Poland. How do they look like? Anyone hear about the Chinese govt response to the earthquake? I head they built schools on sand and that is why most of the infrastructure which was badly affected involves school buildings.
Make sure that when come to Zambia to build they also use proper materials.
What Zambia needs is money for investment and the Chinese have that money. So why the fuss?
Hey Musanaga (#52), Hikaumba might be trying to say that, but why mention chinese investors. There is other investors in Zambia as well. Some of which are exploitative. Hikaumba is trying to protect the chinese. Why?
Mwana wa pa ngoma (#54),
I agree with you, being anti china is not in our long term interest. They have to abide by our laws. Importantly, we should not start treating china as a super power, we should not start favoring super powers, cause they will abuse us in the end, and we will lose support of our other allies. It is politically and economically wrong to come out and support a particular group of investors.
Give her some blo-jobs,let her taste the salt-liquid and then dump her.
I think the general consesus is that the Chinese are bad pipo.I propose that we also stop them building our stadium in Ndola.Wait a minute, they built the Tuta bridge, eh? The Mwanawasa bridge,eh? The TAZARA, eh?. give me a break you ID[OTS. Viva Chinese investment viva,viVAAAAA. Abash Kambwili and AntiChinese abash, Abash
#60 ur an imbecile.sikanka pakunya and pse dont use the name of Mwanawasa fo.olish boy.
Each day these leaders of our step on the platform, they seem to be making depressing and outrageous statements.
BaHi who si going to advocate for more industries to be made by own Zambians
Just coz ur in China it doesnt mean that u should be pro-China i.diot. U must think before u blog makandi yobe.
#60 iwe ch.ikala i work for a Chinese mining firm as a mining Engineer.These infesters have brought in artisans from china who are supervising us. The guys they have brought in cant even constract any single English sentence.
Mwanawasa (#60),
Non of what you said came for free. We eventually paid and will pay for it.
This Tonga man Hikaumba has been bought by Nyama soya and thats why he is hehaving like this.This chap has failed to run ZCTU.Look at the way madam Joyce Nonde articulates issues.That lady is strong not this good-for-nothing Tonga bull called .Hikaumba
Dear bloggers this guy #60 has really annoyed me.Sorry for the bad language but am really emotional.
We have to be strategic. Us Africans can be our own worst enemy. The Chinese need our resources not just in Zambia but all over Africa. If we negotiated with them as a strong block then some of the things we are talking about would not be happening. For example why cant we have contracts that insist that they train a certain percentage of local people or employ local people in positions of authority. Zambia as one country is poor and not very powerful, it would be in all our interests as Africans to bargain collectively and then taylor that to suit local needs. China needs our resources very badly, they can truly become a super power without Africa. It is about time we realise the power we have to shape the world’s future but I dont think we can do it as individual countries.
Some blogger can be so petty. what has the meeting Hikaumba is having with RB have to do with being Tonga. He could have been any tribe and still could have met RB. it looks like if you meet a laper you become a laper. if you meet a ‘corrupt’ president you become corrupt. we may not all like RB but he is still our president and Hikaumba is meeting him in his capacity as ZCTU president or in any other capacity for that matter, he should not be demonised. there is nothing wrong with his statement, am sure if he had said NOT CHINSES INVESTORS ARE GOOD, most blogger would have found that statement more paratable and yet them are just the same. if yoou dont like the man, you dont like his tribe etc. there are better ways of saying it unlike being so tribal and petty and short sighted.
#64 English is not a basis for anything and it shouldn`t be a measure. I am not supporting the Chinese in any way but really that is off the mark and stop “swearing”. A French Engineer who has not bothered to learn a word of english will look lost working in Zambia let alone UK or America. This does not mean he is not an engineer. The same applies for a person from Germany. I hate people thinking just because they can speak english then they are better. I do have respect for the chinese. Yes chances are they send us crap but can you blame them?
Lover boy, this is a blog, dont take it personal, at the end of the day it will be between you and your God…To my understanding…Mwanawasa hasnt really said anything bad..he just expressed his opinion and he didnt even direct it at you… Calm down….emotions are there to be controlled…have a great evening and be careful while you being a loverboy..
Thats advice from a senior citizen
3RqU…You the man!..
Wise one from #71
Pali language yoipa pali lover boy. pilizi, mwebantu simuyopa mulungu?
Mr Hikaumba,We understand mulefwaya ka bribe kaye tikama.
#72 Cheers senior citizen. The other option is to leave the country if he can otherwise akalabafye hurt ififine.
#70 3RqU and #71 Senior citizen, Well said and I salute you both.
You need to see what and how these chinese people are constructing for you appreciate their capability. I have see it all and I know what am talking about. Stereotyping will not help us at all as Zambians. Let us give credit where it is due. And am not saying they are perfect, they are humans afterall.
Mwana wapa Ngoma# 68 is about the best blogger today followed by St Raphael Malamba #65. There is a lot of substance in their views. Others are worse than the Somali pirates plying the blue waters of the indian ocean. Mwana wapa Ngoma, Africans can never forge a united front on the issue of the Chinese. Its the best approach, but its not in our nature. Our pre-occupation is to cite this one or that one as being a Tonga Kalubale,Luo, Zulu, Kalenjin, Mandingo,Yoruba etc.Just look at some of these pirate bloggers, their opinion on Hikaumba is that he is Tonga, not that he is ZCTU chairman. Africans need to be seriose, especially Zambians.How long will it take to realize that?
While “ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba said in an interview that some Chinese investors have proved to be good investors” is phrased quiet well and has an equivalent phrrase like what has been put up as a title to this news, I find the title of this thread as not appropriate in terms of the way it has been worded. Otherwise, great stuff from presdent Hikaumba.
___
Taking LT blogging to another advanced level.
Miss Daisy,How are you. Welcome back.
Musanga I agree with you. Our main problem is that we are not united. I am also surprised as to why Hikaumba is Tonga is an issue here. I myself try not to be myopic and shortsighted especially when it comes to the development of our continent. I saw an interview in which Dambisa Moyo was quoting somebody who had travelled from North Africa to Southern Africa by road. The traveller who was from the West, was surprised to see that most roads were paved. These roads were built by the Chinese. Also we need to educate ourselves. How many people know that it was the Chinese who invented paper money or explosives thousands of years ago? Also, the Chinese were considered to be a poor country not many years ago. We should be asking ourselves whether we can learn from their model of development.
That is not to say that the Chinese do not need to meet us half way. Their way of working leaves a lot to be desired. The number of mining accidents that happen every year in China itself is attrocious. To me this shows that they tend to replicate the working methods they have in China to places like Zambia. It can be argued that Western companies are worse – for example the oil companies working in the Niger delta in Nigeria would never pollute their home countries in the same manner that they do in that region which to me is a form of overt racism. As regards China, we need to stop seeing ourselves as victims but see ourselves as partners. This will mean that we will negotiate better deals with them. It would be to our advantage if more of us spoke Mandarin.
#48 Mundia you are cheap tribalist. You are a f#ck##### useless swine.
m****** mwe ba engineer, you can’t even design a needle ati ba engineer bunda bwakulanda ichisungu.go to china and see the three gorges dam and ask yourselves if the engineers who designed it applied any english.on this blogg all you luckies are just good at being critical without substance you are all wapped that’s why utwina chibamba kanyama tulamimwenano.development is like a ladder.for you poor africans zambians in particular to be where the western countriesyou envy are today.you have to pass where china and india are today so in short you should be learning from them noti ifyo ifyamumatako muleibepa
What do we expect after the invitation at the Hippo Feast
Hikaumba is talking more like a minister of trade and industry than a trade unionist. It is the first time I read of a trade union leader speaking on behalf of employers.This is very disappointing. It is high time the Zambian labour movement parted company with this turncoat.
Lover boy is looking for a fight. Maybe you must change your name to De La Hoya.