GOVERNMENT has uncovered a scum involving some unpaid retirees in Livingstone who are planning to protest during next month’s United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly to be hosted in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
ZANIS reports from Choma that Labour minister Fackson Shamenda disclosed this in Choma yesterday when he called on Southern Province permanent secretary Bernard Namachila.
This follows a fact finding mission undertaken to the tourist capital by the minister and senior officials in the ministry who included permanent secretary Trevor Kunda and labour commissioner Cecilia Mulindeti Kamanga.
Mr. Shamenda said some over 200 aggrieved retirees who have not been paid their dues since 1998 plan to protest against government, warning that if not forestalled this would undermine the successful hosting of the UNWTO activities.
He said during his visit to Livingstone, he had discovered that if labour issues are not handled properly, the country would suffer an embarrassing situation of protests by aggrieved workers.
Mr. Shamenda said there is therefore an urgent need to quickly resolve matters that can trigger industrial unrest during the event that would be attended by international delegates.
The minister is also disturbed to learn that there is no single labour officer in Livingstone following the relocation of the provincial capital to Choma.
Mr. Shamenda said Livingstone is a busy town with a lot of economic activities to be left unmanned.
The minister has since directed his Permanent secretary Trevor Kaunda, and the labour commissioner Cecilia Mulindeti Kamanga to immediately deploy a labour officer in Livingstone.
He said there is no way Choma can have two labour officers when Livingstone has none.
And southern province permanent secretary Bernard Namachila has assured the minister that measures would be taken to forestall the planned disturbances during the upcoming UNWTO general assembly slated for the tourist capital next month.
ZANIS
I know you will sort it out. I have never seen a more well deserved working government in my life than pf. On behalf of all diasporas we are behind you.
Thanks
We all know that you are not Mushota. Please find another blogger-name.
who is paying you for this positing? get a life
What is wrong with them protesting at this event? Definitely nothing wrong with that approach. Recall just a few months or weeks ago, a Zambian who works for Action Aid went to protest at the G8 summit this year and it was not a scheme since it was to benefit Shamende and his govt to have more money to employ more deputies. Leave the retirees to protest or pay them.
How is protesting a scam. The scam is actually the failure by Govt to pay those retirees for this long. Please pay them to put the matter to rest.
Correct:
IF BRAZILIANS CAN PROTEST OVER BUS FARES SURELY WHAT MORE A RETIREES PROTESTING FOR WHAT THEY WORKED FOR ?
THE SCUM IS GOVT FAILURE TO PAY RETIREES NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND.
How do you not pay retirees for 15 years and when they protest you call it a scam? The scam is that Shamenda who was in the union did not push government to pay these poor people earlier. 15 years!!! Awe! Can the government ministers tolerate not being paid for 15 days?
so MMD didnt pay these guys for 13 years. why
All retirees in southern province that have not been paid should start moving towards Livingstone. Let them form a network so that they can embarrass tis tribal government which is only good at appointing retards. instead of paying retirees you enlarge your cabinet. Go ahead retirees you have my blessings.
@3 be real my dear there is nothing wrong but y demostrate during that period? y not now? besides where did they go during LEAVY P, CHILUBA, RB? do wht picture do u want them to potray? politics of talking…….. infact they should be greatful if they ar promised to get they monies next.
Because in the Zambian culture, impressions given to outsiders is very important. Bringing Embarassment to your house/family/husband/country by your actions is one of the worst things you can do.
the point is to get maximum visibility for your cause. They have tried for 15 years and they felt they needed another approach. With the internet and satellite tv, its inevitable that protest methods will become more sophisticated. The scam is the “scum” we have representing us would describe the planned protest as such
Manyanato, you’ve expressed it better than I could.
Even current retirees need their benefits mwebo. Uuwto tamwakaitambe bwino kwena pay the suffering masses.