More than 150 works working on the Mongu- Kalabo Road in the bridge department in Mongu Western province yesterday downed tools demanding for more money and better conditions of service.
The irate workers, who marched from Mandanga area to the District Commissioner’s Office, alleged that their employer AVIC international was not following laid down labor demands in addressing them on many issues.
David Mwiya an electrician who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved group alleged that workers at the bridge department have for a long time being subjected to inhuman treatment, unpaid for overtime hours, no proper working suits among others.
Mwiya also alleged that Chinese instructors are fond of insulting works at any slight disagreement adding that workers were being fired at will on a daily basis.
“We are being treated like foreigners in our own mother land as if we do not have leaders, these Chinese always insult us, they fire us anyhow and they do not even pay us accordingly,” Mwiya complained.
He said the workers who are supposed to earn K800 at the end of the month have in the recent past being paid less the amount for reasons that have not been explained to them.
“We are being paid less the amount of money we work for, instead of getting K800 at the end of the Month we are always getting less the amount.” He added.
Mwiya also said the works are also being denied sick leave saying that if a worker was reported to be sick an amount was deducted from his pay to cover for the day.
“Even when you are reported sick, these people are always removing from our monthly pay to cover for the day,” he said.
AND addressing the irate workers after their compliant, District Commissioner Maurice Litula said he would hold a meeting with AVIC international management in an effort to get to the bottom of the matter.
Litula said government’s desire is to see both employers and employee work in harmony and that exploitation of Zambian citizens in any way will not be tolerated.
He said the Mongu-Kalabo road project is one road project that is at the heart of the Patriotic Front (PF) government but that does not mean that people should be mistreated.
“The PF government is committed to ensure that the Mongu- Kalabo road is completed in good time, but that does not mean that our people should be treated like there are nobodies,” Litula cautioned.
The Mongu-Kalabo Road is at the heart of the PF government. Really? If the PF government had its way, this project would have been gutted. In fact Ex Transport Minister cancelled the project within one week of his appointment labelling it a ‘political project’! Fortunately the funding of the project was ring fenced because former Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane had to make sure that come what may; the road to his village had to be completed!
Mukanga is the Minister who labelled it a ‘political project’.
your thinking can be equated to that of a baboon. what did situmbeko ensure? he was finance minster for three years. why didnt he work on it? think before u yap. give credit where its due. PF has shown leadership on road creation and upgrade. inja!!!!!!
thats good analysis.they would loved it being done in Muchinga province.
@Silozi, why do you have to call someone names? Has the guy insulted you or anyone? The truth has pained you isn’t ? The Mongu-Kalabo road construction started in April 2011. Your PF found it in progress. Mukanga attempted to stop it. Go on and read the related stories below the article. There’s nothing untold that Mwenda Njangula has written. This road has nothing to do with PF. It is true Musokotwane negotiated for the loans…..that’s part of what he did when he was Finance Minister for three years. You can add the Senanga -Sesheke road to that.
The only projects PF has initiated in Western Province are the Stadium, New Districts and University. None of these unfortunately are under construction!
LT kindly take time to edit your stories. In this article you kept on writing “works” when you meant “workers”. compliant when you meant complaint. such writings change the whole meaning altogether.
MMD started the project. Hon. Simasiku was the first one to bring in money from Kuwait for the project but due to faulty design the bridge was washed away. Second time it was again MMD initiative (PF was nowhere to be seen) that initiated the project and awarded to the Chinese. PF in their usual corrupt ways wanted to squeeze the Chinese. They announced and alarmed the nation that the project is cancelled. That forced intervention of the Chinese and paid out $10,000,000 to Sata. They do not care as they bought loyalty of Sata. So workers have to suffer. No amount of complaining will work
Iwe ka small lord osakamba va boza! siuona ati PF is building roads all over Zambia? What is wrong with your kind?
The two roads in Western Province have completely nothing to do with PF. Click on the related articles below this one. They will show you that your PF found these projects in progress. I was at the commissioning of both the Mongu-Kalabo and Senanga-Sesheke roads in early 2011. The liar is you. You want to claim credit over other people’s hard work. If Mukanga had his way the Mongu-Kalabo road wouldn’t have been in existence today! Please shut up if you do not know the history and detail of these two projects!
Surprising how some people can give credit to a government that did virtually nothing for 20 years! Where was MMD all the years before 2011? The truth is RB knew that MMD’s time was up and he tried his best to accelerate ‘Political Projects’ he thought would change MMD’s fortunes. Funny how you don’t give credit to the filth and congestion in towns to MMD. Silozi. Please Don’t insult baboons
Filthy in towns? Wasn’t it a direct from Mr Sata that Vendors should not be moved from towns because they are PF voters? 20 years of MMD ? And where was and who was Mr Sata between 1991 and 2001? My dear stick to the topic. It is about the Mongu-Kalabo road which PF wanted stopped after RB and Musokotwane worked so hard to source for funds. Quite interesting that you are engaged in a debate with a baboon. You must be one also!