Minister of Labour and Social Security Joyce Simukoko has dismissed claims alleging that government is abusing the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) by getting from it colossal sums of money.

Ms. Simukoko said she was not aware of government abusing NAPSA funds and appealed to anyone with evidence to bring it forward for further consideration.

The Minister was speaking in Parliament this morning when responding to Katombola Member of Parliament, Derrick Livune who alleged that government was abusing NAPSA funds and called on her to intervene.

“The issue of government abusing lump sum funds from NAPSA, I’m not aware of government abusing NAPSA funds but if the person speaking has evidence I would rather have it so that we see the way forward. I mean I’m in government as well. We will look at it but otherwise I’m not aware of it,” she said.

And Ms. Simukoko added that Napsa is well protected by clauses and of which one of them is clause 4 that it makes it almost impossible for anyone to abuse its funds.

“So unless the person who is saying it has proof they can come to my office and we can look at it,” The Minister echoed.

Meanwhile, Ms Simukoko has urged all Zambian workers to be proactive and report all injustices from their work places.

Ms. Simukoko stated that the Ministry conducts surprise visits to institutions to check on compliance levels by the employers but emphasised that workers themselves must also be reporting any injustices.

The Minister made these remarks in response to Kafue Member of Parliament Mirriam Chonya who appealed to her to look into the wellbeing of workers by addressing the many challenges they are faced with.

“The issue of visiting institutions, we do make surprise visits just to see compliance and know what is going on but I would like to appeal to the workers in this that they have an obligation to report any injustice where there are no unions but where they are trade unions that’s their responsibility because that is why unions where formed, to protect workers interests,” Ms. Simukoko noted.

“We even have a tool line now where people can call in and tell us what institution or whatever injustices are there. We normally go there and bring employers together and counsel them. So the obligation to report, lies in the workers as well,”

The Minister further stated that despite not having adequate officers, government has made efforts to ensure that there is an inspector in almost each district.

“I’m number one inspector. Definitely we don’t have enough officers in that category but government has done a lot in that area. I think in almost every district we now have an inspector,” she said.

“And as a Ministry we have also gone ahead to bring on board NAPSA and Workers Compensation. We have made a group of people not only from the Ministry of Labour to go round and make abrupt inspections,”

Ms. Simukoko further indicated that the Ministry of Labour does not make laws for workers alone but that it is a collective responsibility with trade unions and employers.

“All the laws that are made for workers are not done by the Ministry of Labour alone, but it is a tripartite arrangement, a composition of trade unions, employers and government come together to make laws for the workers so it is highly participatory,” the Minister said.

THE Constitution Amendment Bill 2019, also known as Bill no.10, has failed to garner the support of two-thirds of Members of Parliament and has fallen away.

The bill required 111 votes to pass but only managed to get 105 yes votes.

In conceding defeat, Minister of Justice, Given Lubinda said Zambians had won as the proposed constitutional amendments received wide consultation.

Bill 10, which was supported by the ruling party, become an emotive issue with some sections of society advocating for its withdrawal.

The bill, which has been referred to the (parliamentary select) committee with sittings to deliberate on the provisions expected to commence on September 2, 2019, has received opposition from some stakeholders who claim the process abrogates the Constitution.

One of those opposed to the bill is the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), which has petitioned in the Constitutional Court to challenge the decisions of President Edgar Lungu, the Attorney General and the National Assembly in relation to the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill no. 10 of 2019, pursuant to article 128 (3) (b) of the Constitution of Zambia, chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia.

LAZ contends that Parliament must not hold proceedings on the Constitution Amendment Bill no. 10, which passed first reading in Parliament, saying that was in contravention of the current Constitution.

Besides LAZ, Chapter One Foundation Limited, a non-governmental organisation which seeks to promote human rights and constitutionalism, has petitioned the Constitutional Court to declare that the Constitution Amendment Bill 10 of 2019 violates national values and principles in the Constitution. The foundation wants the court to order Justice Minister Given Lubinda to withdraw the Amendment Bill from the National

Vice President Inonge Wina has called for enhanced efforts towards eradicating vices that infringe on children’s rights such as violence against children.

Mrs. Wina has observed that violence against children is injustice that has reached global levels resulting in the United Nations agencies to take keen interest in the welfare of children at country level.

 “I wish to stress that government needs the partnerships to support efforts towards eliminating violence against children and securing the best interests and rights of children across the country,” she noted.

She said this is why government has put in place a number of policy measures and administration to address the plight of children and respond to the global agenda of protection of children.

The Vice President was speaking in Lusaka today, during the inter-ministerial dialogue on violence against children in Zambia.

Mrs. Wina said government has also resolved to show commitment to the subject matter through the vow to the UN Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC) which is supposed to be domesticated through the Children’s Code bill.

She however, wondered why the Children’s Code bill has taken long to be tabled before parliament, further directing the Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development to ensure that the bill be presented before parliament, adding that it will help in protecting the rights of children.

“The efforts to domesticate this instrument through the Children’s Code bill has taken long. As Vice President of the Republic of Zambia and leaders of government business in parliament I am directing the Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development to ensure that the bill comes to parliament without any further delay,” she stressed.

The Vice President added that despite Zambia’s ability to benchmark the efforts and interventions at national, regional and global levels a lot still needs to be done due to the escalating cases of child abuse that are taking place in various parts of the country resulting in among other cases teen pregnancies.

Mrs. Wina stated that this is why there is need for stakeholders to work together towards increasing child protection actions by enhancing coordination, efficiency and effectiveness of interventions in order to sustain the delivery of child development programmes.

World Health Organisation Country Representative Nathan Bakyaita has praised Zambia for the strides made in eliminating all forms of abuse against children.

Dr. Bakyaita said violence against children worldwide does not just affect the welfare of children but economic activities as well.

“Violence against children has continued to be a challenge around, but it is worth noting that any form of child abuse does not affect the child alone but it affects the economy and income generating activities for nations,” he said.

He added that this is why there is need for countries to step up their efforts in addressing issues affecting children if they are also to achieve the set targets on Sustainable Development Goals.

The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (GPEVAC) has encouraged Zambia to continue on the strong path of demonstrating political will towards ending violence against children and ensuring that children’s rights are upheld and respected.

GPEVAC Executive Director Tim Howard explained that this is evidenced by Zambia’s active participation and involvement in finding solutions to matters that affect the plight of children.