The opposition UPND has charged that President Edgar Lungu has not effected the lifting of the wage freeze.
UPND Chairman for Labour and Industrial Relations Percy Chanda observed that President Lungu has simply lifted the “no negotiation” position that was effected 2 years ago by the Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda.
Mr Chanda said there will be any new salaries in 2015 for civil servants.
He was reacting to President Lungu’s Labour Day announcement that he was directing Mr Chikwanda to lift the wage freeze.
President Lungu further directed Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda to conclude negotiations with trade unions by December 2015.
Mr Chanda said the change did not need to be done on an occasion like Labour Day.
‘First we are happy that the wage freeze debate is over. It was expected that Lungu wanted to play a political card on this. We all know that Chikwanda’s freeze was for two years,’ Mr Chanda said.
He added, ‘We fought this since 2013. As we celebrate that little victory we are immediately dismayed by the timelines. Edgar Lungu has set December 2015 as the deadline for collective bargaining. At that time the Appropriations Act that authorises Government spending for 2016 would have already been passed by Parliament.
So what will they be negotiating with Government when the budget would have already been completed?’
‘Secondly, President Lungu and his spokesperson are on record stating that they will have 2.3 billion Kwacha less revenue this year than budgeted. They will defer some of the projects. Defer to when? 2016.’
He continued, ‘ And they want us to believe that the door will be open to add a wage bill that might go up by over 20% since the civil servants would not have had an increase in two years.’
Mr Chanda said under a UPND-led Government there would have been no wage freeze to start with.
‘Why freeze wages to accommodate the wasted revenues spent on a bloated cabinet, expensive by-election after by-election and sending large delegations on international trips on an almost weekly basis and growing debt payments?’
He added that there is need to improve tax revenue collection saying this is a point PF will never address because they are used to the easy way out which is borrowing.
Mr Chanda said the UPND will improve workers welfare by expanding the economy and creating a supportive environment for Zambian businesses to grow the tax base will increase along with Government revenues.
‘Together these steps would not lead our civil servants to such inhuman treatment as wage freezes, particularly in the face of the rising cost of living,’ he said.
UPND the way to GO.
Ka Edgar ka ba dealing’a ba ngwele ba UPND. Of course we know as civil servants that the lifting is for next year. He did it to paralyse the already week UPND. Palya mule waya waya. One-zero. Poboooo!
I am at times left with no choice but to admire the way some UPND chaps analyze issues. Indeed the two year employment freeze imposed under PF expires this December. One Labor Minister in the name of Shamenda is instructed to start negotiations with Labour Unions and we all know how protracted these negotiations tend to be. The 2016 national budget will be concluded in October 2015 while negotiations will still be ongoing. Unless government has already clandestinely agreed with Chikwanda on the percentage to be awarded to workers which will be included in next years budget, all the negotiations will be doing is prolonging the exercise like a woman who knows when precisely to fake orgasm! Govt. is already holding the winning trump card in its hand, there is nothing really to be happy about.
Tell me at least two economic policies of the UPND? Let me guess, you have nothing!!!
Mwanya you will rot in opposition!!your friends are making millions in power while you hope your tribal UPND to win one day but God wont allow it bcoz satan1sts cant rule a Christian nation-Zambia!!!keep on making noise while ECL works!!!lawyers make very good presidents!!ECL is very liked by mass zambians now than before 2015 election!!!SO ECL WILL 100% RETAIN POWER IN 2016!!!
@eddy you wrote: “your friends are making millions in power while you hope your tribal UPND to win one day”. So you know those in power are stealing and you are cheering! In most industrialized countries, politics is about service to country. People leave their high paying jobs to join politics for much less pay. They do it to serve their country (as well as advance their political philosophy). Until we stop looking at politics as the roadway from rugs to riches, we will never develop.
Ba Percy, do you expect negotiations to start on May 2??? Ebushilu ubo….EL has just undone a labor injustice and you want to pour cold water on it….how and where they get money for higher wages is government’s business and am pretty sure they worked it out before making the announcement, but then UPND will never govern and such a nuance of governance is beyond them. Learn to give praise where its due tefyonse ifyakupishamo pencil. I am certain the unions are happy and gearing to start negotiations so your words – as usual – are falling on deaf ears….seleni abanenu babombeko
Cold water or reality check?
Have you already forgotten “Book of Dreams in 90 days”?
If there has ever been “consistency” in PF policy, that “consistency” has a name, “lying”!!!
It looks that PF faithful measure “success” of their party by the amount of broken promises.
Reality of “achievements” in the last three and half years cannot be measured by the number of houses purchased in South Africa or bank accounts in Hong Kong.
Reality of deceit, incompetence, nepotism, corruption and lack of basic democratic principles is here in Zambia and can be seen if you chose to open your eyes.
Only simpletons can believe in “embroidery” of “achievements”!!!
I am back in the country after a succefull graduation I am Dr .I will not comment much on the lifting of wage freeze because its sheer waste of time. Its just another don’t kubeba because its well known fact that the pronouncement by the president is just a way to escape criticism while maintaining the current status core which ends in December any way. They know 2016 is an election year so they will dangle a carrot to fools to vote them. I will also join politics because Zambians are easy to fool around and get rich in a twinkling of the eye while they clapping. It really pains me to see useless we are Zambians.What caused wage freeze is because of Sata(PF) care less borrowing and over expenditure pretending to build roads ,when in fact they filling their pockets.
This is mature criticism and alternative leadership.Excellent! Lets now wait for Sunday Chanda’s feedback, as usual.
Sometimes I feel UPND is a bunch of slow learners or slow thinkers. We need smart critics. Inspire us. Maybe silence will inspire us.
The only slow leaner is you. Understand what the man is saying before commenting. You are part of the dummies that voted for this kaponya president who can easily cheat you. At the end of the day, the whole nation suffers because of people like you.
There will never be change as anticipated.even hakainde will come and speak the same.
The problem with Zambia is not with the leadership but those being led. They are too dull to even notice that their leaders are either wrong hence require correction or right so that they can get praises for what they have done.
All they know is efintu ni …while others can only shout when we come into power. Grow up you are such an embarrassment to those of us with humble education.
Can you start debating issues so that our leaders can get ideas from you. No wonder the late president appointed people from the museum of ancient human bones because young people are more than useless.
Njalamimba you’re spot on I guess thats why some of us are where we are for I don’t see us really fitting in to reason with the status quo back home.
Instead of constructive criticism and/or holding the leadership accountable all there is, is blind loyalty and exaltation of the leadership to levels beyond imagination while heaping insults on each other and enjoying the filth in the environment! The young people are indeed more useless as they have failed to step up and acknowledge it is their time to bring change for better to their unfortunate relatives who those from the museum denied them that they failed to attain informed levels in a changing world.
The young educated people think they can’t beat the system thus search elsewhere where xenophobia awaits!
Understand what politics means and how addictive it is.you must be a jok if you wait for liberation.no one will redeem you
“First we are happy that the wage freeze debate is over”, said Percy Chanda. Well the debate was ended by Edgar wasn’t it? Now is that not the same as Edagr ending or lifting the wage freeze, whatever words you choose to use?
Come UPND, take some English lessons.
How about you understanding statement in English instead of Zamglish?
Read again slowly and you may see the light.
No he didnt. What he wanted was just to gain political capital out of that. Otherwise the wage freeze still stands. Mr. President just know that u are now winding up yo term in office.
The president is extremely desperate, he is really feeling the heat from HH and UPND. Wait for 2016, Mr. President, you will shade tears but than heaven, Rupiah a professional crying baby will help u since he has vast experience in that.
HH’s party is a bunch of losers. Wage freeze is now a closed case. The real president has announced. Next, the constitution you ve been making senseless noises about, most of the things pipo wanted will be included after june. Farmers will be paid in time by FRA this season. Ubunga, EL has told you the way forward – the Chinese are coming to show you how to gaya. Roads are being worked on. Hospitals, Clinics, schools, Colleges, all of them are being built by PF. Places that never saw electricity 50 yrs after independence r being connected. SO WHAT IS HH & HIS CHICKEN-HEADS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT? YO TRIBAL PARTY WIL WILT INTO OBLIVION.
Of course tomorrow, as per custom, Edwin Lifwekelo will disown the statement and claim that it is not the official UPND position but a personal opinion by Percy Chanda. Iyo ni agony mu parte.
And then it will be replied either by Chanda or Kambwili. The two leading lights of PF intelligentsia whose supporters are convinced that IQ relates to the size of shoes!
Oh it’s that scruffy illiterate @ 10 again.
You’re feeling the heat from a lady. Steopit.
Ba hilda malama which heat is president lungu feeling.Hakainde has been loosing elections since 2006 and again he lost to the first attempt from a presidential candidate of pf edgar lungu with all his loosing experience that he has.so ba hilder you don’t know how to calculate political mathematics.your hopeful candidate hakainde wil never make it into state house.This time around the margin{difference} wil be mor,e than 500 votes.
I WONDER WHY PEOPLE WASTE TIME TALKING ABOUT HH. CHITOMBWA MAY WIN A FEW ERE CTIONS BUT NEVER CAN HE WIN ELECTION IN ZAMBIA. PEOPLE KNOW HIM TOO WELL IN ZAMBIA. AND ALL HIS ACTIONS ARE JUST DESPERATION. THE LATE DESCRIBED HIM VERY WELL AS UNDER 5 AND HE WILL REMAIN UNDER 5 IN POLITICS.
@ peter,
If HH wasn’t giving you sleepless nights, you wouldn’t have been running away from your own shadows at every corner, talking about him in every article even those that have completely nothing to do with him.
On the other hand, you are doing a great job at campaigning for him unknowingly and please keep it up.
I join those saying UPND should keep quiet and probably start support the government when it is right. Data used to keep quite especially when he loses elections. If there is a govt that has helped civil servants it’s PF. When data increased salaries UPND said the govt will not have money.Has govt failed to pay? Lets vote for people who have worked in government because they understand how government operats
How can you get a chance to “…support government when is right…?
Please give me one instance of the “right” decision which needs support?
UPND is right, the wage freeze has not been lifted yet, only negotiations are taking place and will only come to head by December, campaign gimmick for PF.
Ifintu kuchenjela. Akanenu ka Edgar kalebomba. By 2016 he will pre-empt the UPND and they will have very little to talk about. Edgar is not dull. Just watch him!
Firstly, what surprises me is that every political party in Zambia attempts to swerve towards the left than others to make a marketing platform. But frankly, leftist policies are the reason why this country is experiencing a high cost of living and a falling currency. Frankly, the UPND and PF seem to have more similarities now more than ever because they offer the same policies. The truth is that a wage freeze only affects government workers and not private sector workers. The true view is that in a normal country, the private sector must be more attractive than the public sector. Unfortunately, there is a desire by Zambians to work in the public sector and be lazy, hang their jackets on their chairs and borrow cheaply. Guys we cannot develop the country by expecting favors from government
You have hit the nail right on the head my man! HH should also be telling us how long the wage freeze has been in place at his companies because we know that his workers get as little as K250 which is far lower than the minimum wage set by government. If he is failing his workers in the private sector how does he hope to pull a miracle when in government?
The guy is just plain selfish and HE WANTS TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN HE WILL EVER GET even if it means sweet talking the masses with promises of things that he is failing to do for his workers.
Capitalists are motivated by ‘profit’ not service, beware friends!!!!
Sorry I am digressing from the topic above, but I am concerned on whatever could have happened to the Oxford English Dictionary usage. It seems English is losing its grip in sentence construction and word spelling! I acknowledge two distinct forms of the English language; British and American, without extreme differences in word spellings but reading through posted comments by bloggers a lot leaves much to be desired! What one encounters is like:
“……It sims English is loosing its grip in sentence constration and werd speling……….bat ridding thru……….a lot lives match to be desired….”
Is it due to erosion in our education standards? It may not be the mother language but if we have adopted it as official let us give it some usage respect! Journalists are the worst at…
Zambians are not serious. How can you praise a govt which imposed the wage freeze in the first place. I cry for mother Zambia. Are we a people who think? What PF did is like a man who takes your wife and then after using her brings her back to you and you praise him for returning your used wife.
fake reasoning @20 rather example.
Now this under5 party wants increment for civil servants to be effected when in the first place they objected to the doubled salaries sata gave civil servants. What a useless party is UPND-HH. Who can listen to you. Shame on you guys.
And they are 100% right. The purchasing power of 1,000,000 Kwacha in 2011 is higher than purchasing power of to-day 1,000 Kwacha. What has been achieved?
Trying to get “more money in your pocket” with less goods in a shopping trolley?
Traxid gossen xionom kepling sourness
Another Ar.se has gone mad – Westminister what’s gone wrong with you?
You better stop taking Drugs or smoking that stuff because you have now started hallucinating and writing things which nobody else understands but you!! Is dementia already??
It’s true, the period sata, said to end the wage freeze, naipwa, what is new which Chagwa is saying, he looks dull, and old already. He looks worn out.
Upnd really embarrassing themselves by talking too much about anything. Their main problem is trying to see negativity in any proposal made by Government. It would be beneficial to the public if they proposed improvements to policies being implemented by government. Try to get positive for once
Some people’s reasoning beats me. When someone steals, he becomes a hero to them. I don’t understand. Is it honour among thieves!!!!!
Civil servants in UK have had their salary increments frozen since the Tory and liberal democrats took over. Nurses , teachers and doctors have just been given 1% for those with low pay.
It’s not strange to have wage freeze therefore UPND must spend their energy and time on going to Northern, Luapula, muchinga , Eastern and urban areas to convince undecided or delusioned voters to for for them in 2016
@Pafwenamwine:
What a huge jaundiced Ar.sewhore you are! You simply dont know what you are talking about – no fault of yours because you are a clever cleaner pretending to be a Mr know it all!
I am a senior Civil Servant and I know that we have always received our pay increases every year – everything else you are saying is not true and is a lie! There is NO PAY FREEZE IN UK!!
There are 2 aspects to the annual payrise – 1. Annual Award i.e. progression pay increases within our pay scales and 2. The Cost of Living Allowance i.e. to counter the effect of inflation.
We Civil Servants including Nurses, The Police, etc have always received our Annual Award. The current UK inflation rate is 0% so there is no need for a cost of living adjustment!!
THERE IS UK PAY FREEZE!!!!
wage increase must tally with devaluation of Kwacha. You dont just increase wages just to get votes. That is the problem with UPND. Economics obeys certain rules only, opportunity cost.