Political activist Mbita Chitala has observed that it is bad politics for the Patriotic Front (PF) government to decide to freeze wages and employment as it has prescribed in its 2014 national budget.
The freezing of wages and employment by the government in the civil service for a period 2 years has already caused agitation amongst workers in the civil service who have already announced plans to conduct a countrywide protest against government’s move.
The government has on the other hand called for a consultative meeting with the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the ten public service unions tomorrow on Monday October 28.
Dr. Chitala has however observed that freezing of wages and employment by the government is an unnecessary provocation to which workers in the civil service have the right to protest against.
Dr. Chitala says the purpose of presiding over people like a government does is to ensure that wages are sustained and people continue being employed.
He has told Qfm in a telephone interview that going forward it is hoped that the meeting that government and the unions are expected to hold on Monday tomorrow will resolve the misunderstanding that the government has created.
Chitala, may be the word Freeze is wrong. What PF is doing is that no new positions will be created but natural wastage will be replaced. That is not job freeze. Existing workforce efficiency is being worked on and development is coming for all to appreciate and feel.
when did Derrick mbita chitala become a political activist??
gec, even when one is paid to fight a fight he/she does not understand reasoning must be present. Your thinking is so wrong it is even difficult to comprehend with your bias support. Anyways, chances are that you have a job and you do not care, just like your govt about those looking for employment.
Couldn’t agree more, Mr. Chitala. On top of that, it is bad politics to be giving thousands upon thousands of free fuel and tones upon tones of free maize to neighboring countries while your own people languish.
HH will make the best Zambian economy ever. Let the Zambian people through the power of the ballot retire all the retired politians and asher a new and fresh generation of politians to build our fallen economy.
@ Nyati: Privatization story in Zambia is pathetic and ba HH was deeply involved, how can we trust him to make Zambia have the best economy?
Get real. HH has no people skills neither has he any charisma. Just as well he never rule Zambia.
@monk police
Sata was part of that privatization for 10 straight years!!! why didnt he open his month at the time!!!
@One tonga
Zambia is in desperate need of good clued up leadership,, it may not be HH.. But there is desperate need to show the PF the door!!
Nyati, did you follow the privatisation that HH was leading? Man had no thought for the worker. His interest was how much his firm was going to gain, period. How can he be trusted with 13 million lives? He does not care about the poor. Have you ever heard of HH attending a Charity function? Charity involves giving and that does not exist in his vocabulary.
BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR A NEW PARTY. I THOUGHT CHITALA WAS A FRIEND OF THE PF.
How many political parties are you going to have in Zambia? HH is the man!
Downsizing the civil service has been talked about for years without any resolute action. Maybe this time round freeze on recruitment into the civil service will do the trick. However with the creation of new districts and provinces this may be self defeating.
Kwena sure Iam going to ask my dad who was working in 1964 to tell me whether such a thing has ever happened before.
This is about fiscal discipline and fight against inflation. In all fairness, how do you expect government to continue paying high wages without economic growth and labor discipline? It is wrong to incite working people when bread basket is taking shape. It is better to be enterprising and to lead by example in businees or public service.
In UK wage freeze is here whilst the cost of living is rising and no one goes on the streets to strike or demonstrate . Zambians are too lazy, unproductive and always good at talking not learning to better Zambia for their children and that of the children of their children. Ronald Reggan once said ask your self what you will do to your country and not what the country will do for you. The current salary increment is more than even the develop world can offer May be the private sectors.