The United Party for National Development (UPND) has vowed not to support the PF government’s proposal to increase the retirement age from 55 to 65 years.
UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says the proposal once implemented will deny the young people especially graduates an opportunity to be employed.
He observes that narrowing employment opportunities for the young people will result in brain drain as most of the graduates will resort to looking for employment in the diaspora.
Speaking to QFM News, Mr. Mweetwa says the statement by the immediate past labour Minister Fackson Shamenda that the issue is non-negotiable is unacceptable and has urged the labour movement not to dance to the tune of government.
He adds that the move to increase the retirement age is a political gimmick which PF is trying to use to avoid paying retirement packages and shift the burden to future governments.
QFM
This man is handsome just like HH but problem is he is a zambian man
He is a Zambian man dirty and drunk
Why is the PF running away from paying retirees? Running away from your promises yet again.
YES PLEASE OPPOSE IT. PF HAS DONE SOME GOOD THINGS, BUT ON THIS ONE THEY ARE BEING ILL ADVISED. YOUNG PEOPLE NEED JOBS AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT RETIRE BY DYING ON DUTY!
What good things has PF done? They have only talked so far. Zero action.
Cornelius Mweetwa IS THAT A CAMPAIGN GIMMICK? WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BRAIN DRAIN AND LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT IN DIASPORA? DOES NOT WORKING ABROAD GIVE PEOPLE SOME HOPE TO LIVE?
IF THAT IS THE THE RESULTANT OF THE INCREASE IN RETIREMENT AGE, THEN I SUGGEST THAT THEY LEAVE IT LIKE THAT AS IT WILL NOT BE US AS YOUTH TO PAY BUT THE GOVT.
ARGUE WITH CREDIBLE FACTS. IMBECILE PARTY!!
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, THOUGH OUT OF LINE, ELDERS 65 AND UP HAVE BEEN PUT ON SALARIES. GRANDMA JUST GOT HERS ON 7TH THIS MONTH WHEN SHE HAS NEVER EVEN WORKED.
Instead of just opposition for the sake of opposing because it coming from your rivals, PF, I advise you to debate this within your party or else you will be disappointed to find out that some of your MPs are in support of the same. You under 5s!!!
By the way, you have little influence in parliament, PF would have been worried if this is coming from Kunda the big RAT
Zedian are you one of them dirty lazy zambian men?I can tell from your pathetic comments
good move, infact a reduction to 50 would make sense for now
…….By the way, you have little influence in parliament, PF would have been worried if this is coming from Kunda the big RAT
But still guys, 55 years is just too early, in zambian situation, especially in Gvt, people get their Masters degree/PHd between 40 to 50 yrs, and most are left with only less than 5yrs to use the knowledge.
Besides, the balies are still looking fresh at 55 (unless nga walibwesha imwaka)
Maybe we can bring it to 58 or 60. I also think 65 is too much, many would not reach their.
I strongly believe UPND is getting on the wrong side of history here. Posterity will judge this government well, and in no doubt favoring these actions. 55 is too early an age to be retired, retire at 55 and then do what? Most developed and many developing countries have upped their retirement age, 60-65 seems to be about right. I urge UPND members of parliament to stand up and be counted for a good cause so they too, can be on the right side of history
PEOPLE “65 years is the retirement age and 55 years is the pensionable age meaning tht you can get your pension and retire or continue working. So what is your problem?”
Hon Mweetwa, has missed the point. You are not speaking on behalf of progressive zambians. Who told yu raising retirement age from 55 to 65 will deny chance of young pipo from getting employed? I thought i could be with upnd but if that is the position of the party then the best is to subtract my vote which would be in favour of upnd in future elections . I hope this is not the official position of the party. By the way where is Charles kakoma? HH and UPND should check Mweetwa’s careless statements it will cost the party
No 13 my problem on this issue is to make people with half baked info like you understand the full contents of the issue at hand before commenting.
This is now opposing for the sake of opposing using his behind and not his head. The argument Mweetwa is advancing is so simplistic and alarmist even a grade 7 night schooler would not agree with it.
Extending pensionable age will not deny anyone a job because the issue is qualification, not mere weight of numbers. There are many civil service positions that are not filed in government because there are not enough qualified people.
Paying people contracts and gratuity when they can be paying into a pension is less costly for government.
It is not surprising that with this type of reasoning, UPND are going nowhere.
The grade 7 night schooler proposed it, why would he oppose his own suggestion.
We will support you on this one…. its very important that this govt start thinking about the youth.Really 55 is just fine……. 60/65 mmmmmmmmmm not for a country with youth unemployment of more than 70% and life span 37%.
I must say i am loving the force with which UPND is coming. Keep on the “heaters” sure its getting a little bit too warm in state house.
The solution to the issue of youth unemployment is not maintaining the retirement age at 55, the solution is creating more jobs. So i see no sense in UPND’s argument here. Is UPND telling us that if they were in power they would maintain the age at 55 to get rid of people early so that the youth can have a chance to work? Let PF increase the retirement age then push them on job creation because now they will be forced to create jobs for the youth, rather than opposing for the sake of just because your HH is not in government. We need a progressive party in power and above all, a progressive opposition force for development to happen in our Zambian not parties that just oppose due to hatred of the guy at plot one. We this kind of thinking, thank God UPND is not in power!
POINT….
increase of retirement age is not right. Retire early so that you contiue in your business while you are energetic. Is PF trying to justify the madalas since govt is composed of them?
Wht do you expect from a nkote president.. favouring fellow nkete..youth (exept bemba youths) will continue languishing in poverty. Just look at chikwanda? can he even remember mathematics of algebra?
Well the suggestions may sound good, and would support that retirement stays at 55yrs. BUT COMING FROM UPND?? Something you can never trust, worse of it all, they just want to oppose for nothing. It’s the maturity you show when you suggest something. UPND have become a winging party unfortunately. USELESS LEADERSHIP UNDER HH.
Sheikh: what leadership has Sata shown in job creation, money in your pocket, Barotse agreement, education, upholding of the constitution, employment of non cadres as civil servants, inclusiveness, use of good language towards citizens, the list is endless.
Anyway pf is full of old fool’s next the wil b talkn of extending retirement age 2 85.sata is old nd when pepo grow old they loose sum sense’s.
Cornelius Mwetwa,, for how long are you going to oppose the gvt. You will die opposing evrythng evry day.Starting from unza years back you were opposing up to day, I cant be suprised that evn in your home you are opposition.. If you look in Zambia how many old people are suffering they cant sponsor their children to school becoz of the so call retirement. Politics aside the move by gvt to increase the retirement age is well come,, very much. This will help parents to work and look after the sibblings. If you look at the current age groups in our country three quarters are old people young ones are dead or dont want to work. Discuss such issues with yo party and then come out to tolk like that.
Cornelius Mwetwa, waba impumi kwati lufyono… lwa nsofu
Totally agree with UPND, how many active employed Zambians (800,000) will reach 65 years,that is a very cardinal point,i for one would rather get my pension at 55years and decide what investment to do,that gives me another 10 years to grow the money,then wait for 65years and another maybe 2years chasing that very money
That is very good PF is becoming a problem where will the younth go as jobs mostly at given by GOVT.
We are by nature required to work in order to survive economical hardship but jobs like mining are so physical that going past 60yrs means total body deterioration hence reducing one s life span.55 is okey 65 should be optional
No.8 @Mushota’s Rat
So how pathetic was that comment? Dont just support something cause its by PF. Try to analyse and debate issues not individuals. Or is it something you are incapable of doing?