Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja has warned civil servants of disciplinary action should they decide to stay from work tomorrow, September 3.
Dr. Kanganja maintains that September 3, the date on which President Levy Mwanawasa was buried is not a public holiday because government has not gazetted it.
The Secretary to the Cabinet says he expects a 100 percent turn-out tomorrow for both public and civil servants.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that workers should not be misled by calendars showing that September 3 is a public holiday.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha last night announced that September 3 is not a public holiday because government has not gazetted it.
He said civil servants should know that the General Orders regulates them therefore they should adhere and abide to it.
Dr. Kanganja warned that  Labour Commissioners from the Ministry of Labour and Social Services will go round to monitor the private sector companies who will defy government’s directive by giving their employees leave tomorrow.
“I want to reiterate the sentiments of the Chief Government Spokesperson who yesterday announced that September 3 is not a public holiday. I expect a 100% turn-up tomorrow because government has not yet gazetted it as a holiday. It is a normal working day,” he said.
He explained that if government had gazetted September 3 a public holiday, he could have issued a circular from his Office.
“I could have issued a circular from my Office to announce to members of the general public that September 3 is a public holiday but it is a normal working day,” he said.
ZANIS
No need for threats, Mr. Kanganja. I’m sure that most Zambians have a positive attitude towards work and will therefore turn up.
For the first time , discipline at work n Zed…..
I thought they were going on strike kanshi ni holiday bakana!
Please go and work hard so that the economy can improve.
Ba L.T. why publicise an article with a no comment statement?? keep the issue until verified before airing…. i.e the Shikapwasha comment on FTJ’s acquital issue…. be precise for once…
The person charged with the responsibility of carrying a census of primates at State House should report for work tomorrow without fail. We want him to confirm that a baboon has gone missing.
Yashani abena Kanganja, i had even booked a room to entertain umwaice lady Daisy.
Awe kwena it could have been something else holiday pali mwanawasa ?
PLEASE DON’T GAZETTE IT, ITS WORTHLESS!! HOW MANY HOLIDAYS DO YOU WANT US TO HAVE KANSHI?….THESE ARE MUCH NEEDED PRODUCTION HOURS! BESIDES, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CALL THIS SAME AMADIMBIKILO HOLIDAY? “CABBAGE’S DAY”? THEN YOU CAN AS WELL AMALGAMATE IT WITH ‘FARMER’S DAY’ CHIPWILEMO!
HOW CAN YOU EXPECT 100% TURNOUT IWE MUDALA?…MEANING NO SICKOFF? WHAT ABOUT TETA?
No need to declare sept 3third as mwanawasa holliday, there are more issues to deal with pa zed so lets go and work. and push the economy.
i do not support the idea of declaring 3rd Sept a holiday, but decisions made out have emotions by these a*s*ses in public offices should not go withou comment.
Y cant these guys fo once deliver there promises, do they really think we dont listen to there speaches or maybe zambian are too docile to challenge authorities…….
Our political system is really annoying and embaracing to associate yoselves to zambia.
how else are we gonna be proud zambians with such approach to national issues, nowonder prostitute like Mushota suffer from stereotype problems..
Making September 3rd a remembrance day is far much better than declaring it a public holiday unless the govt wants Zambia to have 100 public holidays in a year.
which day is likely to be mwanawasa day then? the actual day he died (as per BBC & they haven’t apologized about it to date), or the day they announced his death (after putting ‘everything’ in order & in place) or the day he was buried? what a joke!!….taking Zambians for docile fools huh!!
No need of threats!!!!!! Pipo already had the memorial for Levy.
Had Dr. Kanganja been working like this, Kapoko would not have stolen.
Please ba Zed go to work. Bafuna holiday so that bamwe moba..
Kanganja is being turned into a political minion ,any person worth their salt can not insist that it becomes a holiday,there is absolutely no need for Kanganja’s tantrums.However,if its gazetted it would be welcome,after all LPM meant well for Zed not the Titus Mpundu jacob et al and Kanitundila
Dr. JK it would have made sense if a public announcement was made to this effect much earlier that 3rd September was declared a public holiday last year to facilitate the burial and allow many pipo a chance to watch the funeral proceedings from their homes. This year 3rd Sep is not public holiday. This is the same confusion that has sorrounded African Public Service day not being decalred a public holiday.
but they indicated last year that they’ll declare 3rd Sept a holiday in honour of Levinho, I guess they were just emotions
why talk to older pipo as if you are talking to kids, this just shows the luck of respect by our so called leaders, Awe twa sebana, Shame on him.
So why do the Calenders show that is is a public holiday, it like saying Wkend on the calender is actually not wkend,Govt, please sort your selves out and stop being silly.
Well, fellow country men and women, as much as I would have loved to have September 3 gazetted as a public holiday on our calendar, one should equally consider that we’ve work 2 b done and sitting idle will not help us get anywhere. We’re already not anywhere close to achieving anything. We’ve a lot to do, lot of unaccomplished missions ahead of us and so every day counts. We just recently had a memorial (19-08-09) in honour of our late brother (Levy Patrick Mwanawasa – MHSRIP) at which the unveiling of the tombstones was done and no doubt that was enough to pay respects and once again relive the emotions Zambia experienced a year ago. May we continue working hard for the better of our country and never focus our energies on issues that will not add value to our lives and the country!
this si funny, supposed a private company had planned the production susch that on this day no inputs were bought for production and the company decides to ask the employees to stay home… but this government think they are ruling chickes which dont think