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Government has increased the minimum wage for protected employees that are engaged in shops and general establishments from K268, 800 to K419, 000 per month effective this month end.
Government has also allocated the retention of housing rate at 30% of the basic pay across the board.
Other allowances such as transport, lunch and subsistence have also been upwardly adjusted from the previous rates of K80,000, K70,000 and K100,000 to K102,400 as well as K120,00 and K195,00 respectively.
Labour Minister Austin Liato announced this when he addressed journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
Mr. Liato noted that the MMD government through his ministry was promoting job creation on the labour market and ensuring that livelihoods of people were improved.
He said the ministry was also committed to ensuring proper management of employment and labour sector in the country in order to effectively reduce poverty among people.
Mr. Liato explained that ensuring proper management of employment and labour sector in the country was important as what happened in the sector impacted on the household, thereby affecting the attainment of basic necessities of life which could not be accessed if parents or guardians were unemployed.
He said the ministry was also aware that decent wages provided in the instruments ought not to be so high that they stifled existing business ventures or scare away new investments that the country needed much to stimulate job creation.
Mr. Liato further observed that domestic workers in the country were the most exploited and abused and his ministry has since developed regulations to administer the determination of wages to cover the domestic service sector.
He said Government was saddened by this state of affairs and would therefore ensure that domestic workers’ welfare was jealously safeguarded through the issuance of a statutory instrument to guarantee protection of their rights.
Mr. Liato said some of the provisions in the statutory instrument include minimum wage of K200, 000 per month, annual leave, separation package and transport allowance.
He said Government through his ministry would continue to ensure that the tenet of Decent Work Programme that was launched in 2007 received maximum attention.
“In addition to the statutory instruments that I have announced today, I wish to inform the nation that the amendments to the Employment Act, Cap 268 of the laws of Zambia are also expected to be passed during the next sitting of Parliament.” Mr. Liato stated.
Mr. Liato noted that his ministry would continue to raise awareness of the Labour market parties with regard to Labour laws in view of the increase in foreign investment in the economy.
Meanwhile, Mr. Liato has dispelled arguments advanced on the labour market that the new minimum wages have been issued this year due to this year being an election period.
“This is not true at all. To the contrary, the delay in publishing the statutory instruments earlier is attributed to the fact that Government had to make a lot of consultations with all key stakeholders to ensure that amicable agreement with employers and employees was reached before releasing the information to the general public.” he said.
FAZ interim Committee secretary General Simataa Simataa
THE Andrew Kamanga executive committee says it will embark on an ambitious plan to revive flagging soccer standards in Zambia if ushered into office at the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) annual general meeting (AGM) in March when a no-confidence vote is passed against the Kalusha Bwalya-led FAZ executive.
General secretary in the Kamanga executive, Simataa Simataa said once allowed by the FAZ Council to run football affairs in Zambia, the committee would strengthen current provincial amateur football associations (PFAs) and make them responsible under the FAZ associations’ sub-committee in superintending soccer affairs in each of the nine provinces.
Simataa said each PFA would then create district football associations (DFAs), which would go on to supervise amateur, women, youth, beach and futsal teams in each of Zambia’s 73 districts.
He said each PFA would be required to pick a senior provincial select side, Under-21, 19, 17, 15, 13 and 11 teams, emphasising on the need to respect age groups by ensuring that players play under the correct age-group.
The Amakumbi Stars proprietor, who as age-group national trainer assembled a talented Zambia Under-17 squad that featured the likes of Rainford Kalaba and Clifford Mulenga, both now professional players outside the country, said ideally all the districts should have similar select sides.
“Inter-provincial tournaments for each age group shall be introduced where national teams for each age level shall be selected – a selector group for Under-11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and select side.
“This will require at least 35 people hopefuly with a scouts’ eye for players. Each selector group member shall only work with the age group they are chosen to. So each selector shall serve only in one age group,” he said.
Simataa said ultimately, one member of each selector group from a province would serve on the national selector group for each age group.
He said his executive intended to have a national selector group for each age group and each PFA should appoint a selector group of no less than five people for each age group team.
“Each provincial team must have a male and female team for each age category consisting of 30 persons — 23 players (three goal keepers and 20 field players) plus three coaches, plus two medical staff, one welfare (team) manager and one delegation leader. It is important to note that all female team welfare managers shall be female,” he said.
He said DFAs would be formed and affiliated to their respective PFAs, with Division Two restricted to the district or two or three neighbouring districts as the first league at district level would be called Division Two.
Simataa said promotion to provincial Division One league would be through a play-off between district Division Two league leaders in the provinces.
“Reserve leagues can be created under the district structure. PFAs must encourage of youth leagues in each district. PFAs must encourage the creation of futsal leagues in each district. PFAs must encourage the creation of beach football leagues in each district,” he said.
He said FAZ, like FIFA, would superintend over soccer activities across the country and a full-time secretariat would be opened under each PFA, including the Zambia Professional League (ZPL).
He said the 10 secretaries-cum-registrars under the direct supervision of the FAZ general secretary would be attached to each of the PFA and the ZPL, with an ultimate plan to be based in the respective provincial headquarters.
“PFA, like CAF, shall superintend soccer activities across their provinces. This will include Division One clubs and district football associations. You will notice that if the structure of provincial Division One is agreed, the clubs left over will form Division Two.
“Division One and Two clubs, like FAZ, shall be members of the FAZ Council in addition to their respective PFAs. All Super Division clubs shall be superintended by the Zambia Premier League as well as members of the FAZ Council in addition to their respective PFAs,” he said.
File: Mongu Diocese Bishop Paul Duffy and Western province Minister Richard Mwapela cutting the ribbon during the official handover of the painting of the Mongu Central Prison
THE Barotseland Agreement has generated debate in Zambia with various interested parties expressing their views on the matter. Today we reproduce Lusaka lawyer Christopher Mundia’s statement on the agreement.
I wish to state that as one of those that hail from Western Province better known as Barotseland; I am always disgusted to listen to what comes out of Bishop Duffy’s mouth which is akin to a can of worms.
Bishop Duffy and other Catholic clergy cannot speak for the people of Barotseland and Bishop Duffy may not be a Zambian and therefore his allegiance to the Zambian people is minimal.
It is also strange that the Catholic Church with highly educated clergy has chosen to proclaim dooms day language instead of counselling and telling the people the truth.
It has been strange to find that a clergyman who is educated in theology wants to lecture to this world on legal matters.
Bishop Duffy and other members of the clergy who have motives of their own against President Banda’s Administration should not hide behind their so called religious collars because the current record of Catholic clergy world over is that of misery and total disappointment.
The atrocities committed against innocent people by some Catholic clergy in countries such as the United States of America, where the Catholic Church paid over $600 million arising from sexual abuses and scandals of innocent teenagers, the closure of certain institutions in Ireland, in Germany and recently revealed in the United Kingdom during the papal visit to the country clearly shows that the clergy is no longer living by the book for which the priests and bishops were ordained.
Bishop Duffy and the likes in the Catholic Church cannot fool the people of Western Province because in the past six months, I have been to the province three times.
Yes, I agree that Western Province suffered a lot of injustice in UNIP and Chiluba Administration. The province that was the most highly educated province at independence was rendered the least. But since coming into power of the late president Mwanawasa and continued by President Banda, no sensible person can ever say that Western Province is neglected now.
The projects such as Kalabo-Mongu Road, Senanga-Sesheke Road, the forthcoming rail line from North-Western Province via Kaoma, Mongu and Senanga and Sesheke to Namibia and Livingstone, Mulobezi, Sesheke and Namibia are no mean projects.
If we have to borrow to develop our country, we have to do that. Even in Western countries, big economies such as Greece had to borrow to sustain their economies. Is Bishop Duffy not aware of that?
My plea to all my fellow countrymen and compatriots is that this country is ours individually and severally under our Motto of ‘‘One Zambia One Nation.’’
Foreigners should not be allowed to divide us, as Zambians are one in diversity. We should look back to where we came from and where we are going. At Independence, we allowed Dr Kaunda from Northern Province to rule Zambia for 27 years and United as Zambians we voted for Dr Chiluba into office as the second Republican president. We then voted into power the late president Dr Levy Mwanawasa from Central Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces. Following his untimely death, we elected the current president from Eastern Province.
[pullquote]Yes, I agree that Western Province suffered a lot of injustice in UNIP and Chiluba Administration. The province that was the most highly educated province at independence was rendered the least. But since coming into power of the late president Mwanawasa and continued by President Banda, no sensible person can ever say that Western Province is neglected now.[/pullquote]
Looking at this pattern of presidential elections, it is quite clear that most Zambians would like to have a system of guided democracy where the presidents will be rotating according to regions to avoid certain regions being the masters and the others being the servants.
It was very sad to note that some political parties have been promoting tribal politics and candidates from other regions are not wanted.
For example, the remark attributed to the PF Member of Parliament last year that it was wrong for the people of Luanshya to vote for a Luvale from North-Western Province was highly unfortunate.
It was also unfortunate that last year, we had remarks attributed to the current Member of Parliament for Kasama that a Namwanga could not contest for the Kasama Central Constituency because he was Namwanga!
Those remarks were dangerous to our oneness in diversity.
The likes of Bishop Duffy are saying these things because they want the people of Western Province to feel that they are hated by their brothers, when that was not so.
It is very sad that even Archbishop Mpundu can support the unfortunate statement by Bishop Duffy.
To the people of Western Province, I wish to say and endorse what the Royal Establishment has said, that yes, we can have problems of under-development but they are being tackled by this current administration.
We have a new hospital being built in Shang’ombo Boma, a high school at Kaanja, in Shang’ombo District as well.
We have a new high school at Mwandi. We have a high school in Lukalanya Constituency in Mongu District. We have a new high school in Lukulu to be opened in 2011.
To sum up, I wish to appeal to the people of Western Province not to listen to the prophets of doom because doom begets destruction and misery.
Bishop Duffy and any other Catholic clergy that are loud mouthed have no children to worry about, but we worry for the future of our children as they are the future leaders of our nation.
The Catholic Church was antagonistic against the late president Mwanawasa and today with their political quislings are on the same path of destabilising this country.
It is the same Catholic Church that has opposed and continued to oppose the declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation.
Father Mpundu was in Lukulu and I have information that he is a PF sympathiser just as Archbishop Mpundu is defending the undemocratic party of his brother-in-law which party is run by a purported central committee, which committee has neither centre nor commitment to the Zambian people as they have never been elected but hand picked.
I would therefore urge the Zambians to be united and treat each other with dignity and love.
If we are serious about our oneness in diversity, then President Banda should be given every support because he has done wonders in the shortest possible time he has been President.
After he has completed his second term, Zambians under guided democracy should only vote for a president from any of the three provinces, namely Western, North-Western and Southern provinces.
It is dangerous to ignore other regions of our nation and a a good example of a good and stable nation is that of Tanzania where presidents have come from different regions.
My appeal is that parties with rooted foundation in tribalism should never be voted into power because colonialism cannot be replaced by tribalism.
Those fighting President Banda are either racialist or tribalists.
If they are neither of the two then they are poltitical quislings with their own interest to serve through their well defined megaphones.
What is the justification for these daily attacks on the president when the economy is doing so well and was the second best economy in SADC last year in spite of the worst recession in living memory?
The enemies of this country should be ashamed because they did the same thing to the late president and they contributed to his death as he was insulted on a daily basis as is now happening to President Banda.
If the Catholic clergy in Zambia was to be placed under miscroscope, many of them would be found to have committted atrocities such as sexual abuses, adultery and the likes.
That is why it is uncommon to find Catholic priests in queues waiting to be given ARVS because they have made themsevles scribes and pharisees.
Some of them have now rejected the biblical calling of peace makers to the detriment of the church.
The threat by Father Msipu is baseless, hollow and unjustified .
The clergy have never been good leaders in political life as the example of Father Aristed in Haiti speaks volumes.
Bishop Duffy, leave us alone and if you are tired of being a peace maker, please pack up your robes and go home.
MORE than 100 Non-Ferrous Mining Company Africa (NFCA) miners braved the rain on Monday night to protest an alleged breach of contract which led to the arrest of 12 for blocking Kitwe-Chingola Road.
The miners decided to have a peaceful demonstration starting Monday night because NFCA management did not inform them about the change of ownership of NFC mining department to a company called JCHX, which was operating within the same premises.
NFC mining department is a subsidiary of NFCA.
The irate miners claimed that management had breached the contract signed with NFCA by not informing and paying them terminal benefits since they would belong to another company.
The contracts entered into were both verbal and written depending on how a particular miner got a job and what sort of job.
The workers found at the entrance of NFCA with heavy presence of State police in full riot gear said on condition of anonymity that they did not know the company they were asked to work for and under which conditions they would operate.
They said none of the 2,000 workers had signed a contract with their new employer.
They alleged that most of them had oral contracts and that those on permanent basis were poorly paid compared with those on casual basis.
They also claimed that some of them had worked for NFCA for five years and had not been given their benefits apart from December salaries.
The protesting miners demanded to be paid their benefits ranging from K35 million to K70 million.
They said as miners they were also no longer allowed to seek medical attention at SINOZAM Hospital where miners had a medical scheme.
They accused National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) of not addressing their plight and yet there was a recognition agreement in place.
But NUMAW general secretary Goodwell Kaluba said management was responsible for the protest because it did not inform the union.
He said NFCA management did not inform the union and the miners about the new development at the mining firm.
Mr Kaluba, however, said the union and management had agreed to dialogue over the matter.
Efforts to get a comment from NFCA management failed as the spokesperson was reportedly in a meeting and journalists were kept waiting for a long time.
Copperbelt police chief Martin Malama said the miners conducted a peaceful demonstration apart from the 12 who were picked for blocking the Kitwe-Chingola highway with logs and stones.
Dr Malama said the 12 miners would be charged with obstruction and would appear in court soon because they had broken the law.
He said the protesting miners caused a traffic jam and inconvenienced people that were using the road.
UPND Cadres
A SENIOR United Party for National Development (UPND) official has said the Patriotic Front (PF) has up to the end of next month to decide whether the pact between the two parties should continue or they pursue separate interests.
UPND policy and research director Cholwe Beyani said in Chipata on Monday that UPND had been persuading the PF to agree on certain issues, among them harmonisation of their manifestos, but that the pact partners had responded negatively.
“We have given them up to the month end of February to decide whether the pact should continue or not,” Dr Beyani said during a meeting with Anti-Voter Apathy Project information officer, Moses Phiri.
He said there were a number of problems in the pact because the two political parties had different opinions, directions and level of education.
He, however, assured the public that the pact would work towards resolving the misunderstandings soon.
And Mr Phiri said Zambians should be told whether the pact was still standing or it had collapsed.
He said that was because people had been asking a lot of questions about the future of the UPND/PF pact.
But when contacted, PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba said Dr Beyani did not know what he was talking about.
He said PF had never received any correspondence from UPND asking them either to continue as a pact or go separate ways.
“He doesn’t know what he is talking about and we have not received any correspondence asking us to decide whether we should continue as a pact or not,” Mr Kabimba said.
FIRST Republican president Kenneth Kaunda has called on the people agitating for the separation of Western Province from the rest of Zambia to immediately stop their activities because their calls do not have a place in Zambia.
Dr Kaunda, the man who appended his signature with the Litunga Mwanawina Lewanika to give birth to Zambia described the activities of the Barotseland secession advocates as wrong and hoped they could stop the actions.
He said he was impressed with the position taken by the Litunga, through the spokesperson of the Baroste Royal Establishment (BRE) Oliver Saasa, to reject such activities and stop further confusion in the province.
In an interview at his office in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Kaunda said he was optimistic that the people behind the confusion would come to their senses and withdraw their intentions to concentrate on building unity anchored on the ideals of ‘One Zambia One Nation’.
Dr Kaunda said steps should be summoned to ensure that the confusion was stopped with utmost speed because Zambia had been built over a long time on the principles of love and unity.
“I am very sure they will get out of that feeling very soon and follow the advice of the Litunga who has spoken through Professor Oliver Saasa. He is a key member of the Barotse Royal Establishment, so they must just follow his advice,” Dr Kaunda said.
Dr Kaunda said Zambia should continue enjoying peace and the fruits of a unitary State which helped fight colonial oppression even across borders to demonstrate how peaceful Zambia was.
He said he was available to offer advice, counsel and direction to anyone including the people of Western Province for them to understand how Zambia was born and the need to continue protecting its existence.
The former president said even though the Government had not approached him for such advice, he was certain there was capacity in the Government to handle the matter and rest it.
He said when he was released from jail on January 7, 1960, he selected a white piece of cloth as a symbol of peace for himself and the entire nation, which was the reason he would never abandon it.
Secessionists in Western Province have lately involved themselves in covert meetings and other activities to press for the separation of the region from the rest of Zambia.
Police quelled a meeting called for January 14 this year and violent confusion ensued in which two people died and 131 were arrested and brought to Lusaka for further instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The BRE has said no statement would be issued on the recent fracas over the 1964 Barotseland Agreement in Mongu, but would do so at an appropriate time.
Induna Namuyamba said in a telephone interview from Mongu that at the moment, the Kuta (royal council) was not ready to issue any statement.
“We shall not issue a statement today but at an appropriate time when we are ready,” he said.
The Ngambela (prime minister) refused to comment on the matter, referring all queries to Induna Namuyamba who he said was the chairperson of the sub-committee on what was happening in the province.
Inspector-General of Police Francis Kabonde on Tuesday evening said the police would charge those arrested after consent had been sought from the DPP.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Zesco United and Nchanga Rangers look set for some high profile build-up matches ahead of their respective Caf club cup competitions next week.
Orange Caf Champions League representatives Zesco are set to face the Sudan CHAN team in Lusaka.
Rangers, who be playing in the Orange Caf Confederation Cup, are heading to South Africa shortly where they have reportedly secured training games against three Gauteng giants.
Zesco are set to face Sudan on Saturday at Nkoloma Stadium.
The 2011CHAN host who are expected in the country on Thursday for a five-day training camp and are also scheduled to face the Zambia Under-23 team and a Midlands select side at the start of next week in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, Rangers are said to have secured training games against Orlando Pirates and archrivals Kaizer Chiefs including Mamelodi Sundowns for their pre-season training camp in South Africa.
Zesco take on Liga Muculmana of Mozambique in the Champions League at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe on January 29 while Rangers face Lupopo of DR Congo in the first round away on March 20.
A Government Officer in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has disclosed that plans are underway for the Zambian government to import improved goat breeds from South Africa to restock the newly built goat breeding centre in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province.
Principal Livestock Production Research Officer for Southern Province Dr Chibwe Kaoma disclosed in an interview with ZANIS in Sinazongwe that about 400 improved goats and sheep would be imported to improve the local goat and sheep breeds.
[pullquote]“I commend Government for taking up the decision as employment will be created and further reduce poverty,” Dr Kaoma said.
[/pullquote]
Dr. Kaoma explained that Sinazongwe district was ideal for livestock production because it experienced few livestock diseases.
He said the goat breeding centre, which was situated in Senior Chief Mweemba’s area, would be upgraded into a cattle breeding centre and Government would send officers to run it.
He said Livestock Officers would conduct demonstrations on improved technology in livestock, improved nutrition, management of livestock, and research input within the centre.
Dr. Kaoma thanked Government for funding the goat breeding project even without donor funds that were supposed to be used initially.
“I commend Government for taking up the decision as employment will be created and further reduce poverty,” Dr Kaoma said.
About K300 million was used to build the first phase of the goat breeding centre.
A 38- year old Livingstone resident yesterday died after shooting himself with a shotgun following a domestic dispute with his wife.
Emmanuel Ngobola of house number 3000, Dambwa North Extension, died around 22:00 hours after shooting himself through the neck.
Southern Province Police Commanding Officer, Lemmy Kajoba, confirmed the death of Ngobola to ZANIS in Livingstone today.
Mr. Kajoba said investigations had been instituted to ascertain circumstances that prompted Ngobola to shoot himself.
However, sources close to the deceased alleged that a few days ago, Ngobola underwent an HIV test and results were positive.
The sources claimed that Ngobola was in denial over his HIV status and picked a quarrel with his wife when she advised him to start taking Anti Retroviral Drugs (ARVs).
Ngobola’s body is currently lying in Batoka Hospital mortuary.
The Leadership in Development (LID) and the Association of Zambian Small-Scale Farmers Network (AZSSFN) has expressed disappointment with Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata’s ingratitude over Government’s evacuation of his wife to South Africa for specialist treatment.
And LID has also castigated Mr Sata for attacking Vice-President George Kunda during his public rally in Lusaka’s Matero Township on Sunday.
LID executive director Moses Kalonde said it was becoming Mr Sata’s habit to politicise Government’s good intentions to him and his family.
“This is not the first time Mr Sata has shown the ingratitude of this magnitude . You will recall that Mr Sata was reportedly saying that his evacuation by the late president Levy Mwanawasa to South Africa was a public relations gimmick by Government.
“And again instead of just appreciating what the Government did for his wife he is busy politicking on the issue,” he said.
Mr Kalonde said the PF leader was once minister of Health but that there was nothing he did to improve the sector.
He said contrary to Mr Sata’s attacks on President Rupiah Banda and the Government, the current Head of State was working to improve healthcare delivery in Zambia.
“Like President Banda has said, Mr Sata was once Health minister and what does he have to show for it? We have seen what the current Government of President Banda is doing, we have seen a number of new hospitals and clinics being built across the country,” he said.
He said his organisation was disappointed with Mr Sata’s level of ingratitude.
AZSSFN president Boyd Lyambai said President Banda’s Government had improved health delivery in Zambia and it was unfair for the PF leader to attack it.
“We think that President Banda showed leadership and statesmanship to have evacuated Mrs Sata to South Africa and it is unfortunate that he is now politicising the issue,” he said.
Mr Lyambai said the Government had built a number of hospitals and health centres across Zambia to provide quality healthcare.
Public Health Partnerships Forum spokesperson Isaac Kaputula said the Government had undertaken a number of initiatives to improve healthcare in Zambia.
“It is unfair for anyone to criticise the Government, we have seen what they have done in improving healthcare delivery in Zambia,” he said.
Namwala's Maala traditional culture group
Namwala District Commissioner, Wilson Siadunka, has urged private companies operating in the district to employ more women to empower them economically.
Mr. Siadunka observed that the two big private companies in Namwala, Starbeef and Zambeef, had no women employees, a situation he described as retrogressive in the achievement of gender balance and equality.
ZANIS reports that he made this observation when he toured the two abattoirs yesterday.
Mr. Siadunka urged the two companies to complement Government’s efforts in empowering women through access to employment opportunities to accelerate efforts aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on gender equality by 2015.
The District Commissioner also urged the two companies to consider improving the conditions of service of their workers.
The maximum wages for Starbeef workers is K500,000 per month while that of Zambeef is K600, 000 per month.
Meanwhile, Namwala Police have been challenged to cultivate a cordial working relationship with neigbourhood watch groups if criminal activities were to be curbed in the district.
Muchila neigbourhood watch group Chairman Galloon Mweemba said the increase in criminal cases in the district required a good working relationship among the police, neigbourhood watch groups and the general public.
“There is need for the Zambia Police to cultivate good working relationships with the community through meetings as this is the only way we can combat crime and improve security in the district,” said Mr. Mweemba, who is also Namwala District Chairperson for the Traditional Healers, Practitioners of Association of Zambia (THPAZ).
One of the common crimes in Namwala is cattle theft.
03rd January 2011
His Excellency Mr Rupiah B Banda
President of the Republic of Zambia
State of House
Independence Avenue
Lusaka
Dear Sir,
RE: DR CHRISTINE KASEBA’S TREATMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
We returned home from South Africa on Friday 31″ December 2010 after my wife’s medical review on 30th December 2010.
My wife and I would like to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to you Your Excellency and the Government including the staff at the Zambian High Commission in South Africa for the consideration, compassion and care extended to my wife during the period of her illness and stay at Milpark Hospital. I am indeed pleased to see that my wife’s life was saved due to the government’s prompt action to evacuate her.
However, I would like to re-state my long held view about access to specialist treatment abroad. I said it after my return from South Africa in April 2008 following my heart condition that our Government must invest in this area both in terms of human capital and equipment so that access to such specialist treatment does not continue to be a preserve of the privileged few in our country.
It is, therefore, my considered view Your Excellency that health care must become a human right by law for our people and not a privilege after 46 years of independence.
Your Excellency, as we enter 2011 which is the year of our presidential and general elections we all must commit ourselves to creating an environment of social justice, peace and reconciliation in order to facilitate a free and fair election process.
As Head of State and Government, I implore you to assure our people that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and other related government institutions shall not be allowed to pay lip-service to the principles of democracy and transparency but shall endeavour to win the confidence of all stakeholders and other participants in the 2011 presidential and general elections.
In this respect I wish to bring to your attention the following areas of concern going by the experience of the past elections:
(i) the delay in the printing and verification of the voters’ roll by the ECZ,
(ii) the lack of transparency in the process related to the printing of ballot papers, the tender process and the award thereof,
(iii) the use of suspicious Government institutions or agencies in the transportation of ballot papers to and from some constituencies or districts,
(iv) the lack of constant flow of information from the ECZ to the stakeholders or lack of consultation on issues of common interest,
(v) the short notice given by ECZ for meetings on some crucial matters which require consensus with stakeholders,
(vi) the SECRECY surrounding the announcement of the election date with the intention of catching political parties and other stakeholders unawares,
(vii) the unexplained delay or withholding of results from some constituencies by the ECZ during the process of the announcement of results and,
(viii) the complete disregard of the electoral code of conduct by Government officers and ministers during the elections.
It is my hope and prayer that your Government shall cultivate the spirit and environment in the nation of a democratic and free and fair elections. I wish you and your family God’s blessings.
Yours faithfully,
C. Sata PARTY PRESIDENT
============Rupiah Banda’s Response=====
SECRET 14th January,2011
Mr. Michael Sata
President Patriotic Front
P. O. Box 33965
LUSAKA
Dear Mr. Sata,
DR. CHRISTINE KASEBA’S TREATMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
I acknowledge, with thanks, your letter dated 3rd January, 2011.
I am grateful for the words of profound gratitude that you expressed in your letter. It is my belief that the good values of humanity should rise above political belief and persuasion when we are faced with matters of human life.
I have noted that you have raised the issue of the state of our health care system in Zambia. In the first place, I must say I have found it rather disappointing that you have decided to mix the issue of gratitude and the shortfalls of our health care system in Zambia.
In my view the issue surrounding the evacuation of your wife to South Africa was an emergency which should ordinarily not be confused with the issue of the poor state of our health system in Zambia.
In my entire political career, I have not had the privilege which you had of serving as Minister of Health. The question is what did you and many others that have held that portfolio done to improve health care provision in Zambia? My record of what I have done and what I will continue to do for the improvement of healthcare in Zambia is there for every objective citizen of Zambia to see and appreciate.
Let me assure you that as long as I continue to have the mandate of the Zambian people, I shall continue to improve on the successes that I have achieved in this short period that I have been in office.
I have noted the various issues that you have raised regarding this year’s presidential and general elections. All the eight issues that you have raised are matters that fall under the exclusive mandate and jurisdiction of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). The ECZ is an independent body created by the Constitution and regulated by the provisions of the Electoral Act, Chapter 13 of the Laws of Zambia and the respective regulations made there under.
I therefore exercise no control on the operations of the ECZ, as such I cannot comment on the issues that you have raised. However, I would implore you to take up the matters with the Chairperson of the ECZ as they are the correct constitutional body that is charged with the responsibility of dealing with electoral matters.
Yours sincerely,
Rupiah Bwezani Banda
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
c. c. His Honour Mr. George Kunda, SC, MP
Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia and Minister of Justice
Cabinet Office
LUSAKA
c. c. Dr. Joshua L. Kanganja Secretary to the Cabinet Cabinet Office
LUSAKA
c. c. Honourable Madam Justice F. N. Mumba Chairperson
Electoral Commission of Zambia
LUSAKA
c. c. Dr. Peter Mwaba Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health LUSAKA
Defence Lawyers have appealed against the revocation of the bail for two Chinese Nationals who shot at miners at Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district, in October last year.
The Choma Magistrate Court had last week revoked bail for the two and committed their case to the High Court.
The two Chinese nationals were recently reported to have failed to turn up for their trial as they allegedly bolted.
However they were last week taken to Choma Magistrate Court by their defence lawyers Elijah Chisanga and Remmy Mainza.
The two allegedly shot at 11 Collum Coal miners in October last year who were airing their grievances of poor working conditions by the Chinese Management .
The miners including one on-looker sustained injuries.
Meanwhile defence Lawyer Remmy Mainza has confirmed that the two Chinese nationals’ working sureties have been released, after they each paid 50 million Kwacha.
The two were last week detained along with the two Chinese nationals, following the revocation of bail for the later.
There is nothing unusual over the meeting held with some stakeholders in Mongu over the recent demonstrations in the district, Community Development Minister, Michael Kaingu has said.
Mr Kaingu is the Cabinet Minister who had a meeting which has been reported by a public Newspaper to have been clandestine.
But he has told ZNBC news today, Monday, that his meeting was in good faith.
He said the meeting was aimed at convincing people to give chance to dialogue that is currently going on between government and the Barotse Royal Establishment-BRE.
Mr Kaingu said he decided to remain behind after ministers from Western Province were called by the Litunga, to engage into dialogue with some stakeholders and encourage them to desist from violence.
Mr. Kaingu has appealed to every Lozi to always engage in dialogue as opposed to taking the law into their own hands.
He said the use of force is not a sustainable way of resolving issues.
The Zambia Daily Mail on Monday 17th January 2011 carried a story saying a cabinet minister had been named in an alleged covert mission to frustrate dialogue between Government and the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) over the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
The Paper indicated that Clandestine activities have enraged the BRE which had questioned the motive of the named minister accused of holding a postmortem meeting of the activities of the Linyungandambo, Barotse Patriotic Front (BPF) and Barotseland Freedom Movement (BFM).
