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What is this facility?
By SILUMESI MALUMO
THE Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has complained to Government and asked for intervention in the termination of contracts for two contractors by Lubambe Copper Mines, resulting in more than 400 job losses.
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MUZ complained yesterday that about 425 jobs have been lost following the decision by the Chililabombwe-based mine terminating contracts for two contractors.
MUZ president Joseph Chewe said the mine had terminated one contractor with 100 workers because the contract had come to an end while the other contractor with 325 workers termination was based on commercial, and performance.
Mr Chewe said it was disheartening on how mining firms were terminating contracts thereby sending many workers in destitution.
He said in an interview yesterday, there was need for the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development to look into the matter so that the situation was stopped.
It is important that Government take keen interest in this matter so that all these happenings end, Mr Chewe said.
It disheartening, he said, that mining firms could just wake up and terminate contracts without thinking of the plight of the workers.
Workers were being subjected to abject poverty due to the selfish decision being exhibited by the mines, Mr Chewe said.
He said the situation was a source of concern which must be resolved by Government to protect the interest of Zambians. "We engaged Lubambe but nothing tangible is coming out. We want to ensure that the job losses are averted because we are talking about 425 people being thrown on the street.
Government must take keen interest on this matter so that jobs are secured.
The manner contracts are being terminated is worrying, Mr Chewe said.
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UPND panics
By OLIVER SAMBOKO
FEARING looming deregistration for failure to uphold intra-party democracy, the UPND has instructed its structures to hold elections at all levels.
The move has been seen as a reaction to an application to the Constitutional Court to deregister political parties which have never held elections as demanded by the constitution.
UPND Secretary-General Steven Katuka has applied to be joined to the case indicating that he was an interested party acting on behalf of the party.
The party has already appointed electoral commissioners to foresee the elections in all the 10 provinces.
According to a memo by the party’s national chairperson for election and campaigns, Gary Nkombo addressed to all provincial, district, constituency and ward chairpersons, elections are expected to be held between this month and end of June, 2020. n“As you are aware, the party is now in the process of holding elections at all levels starting with wards in line with party and Republican constitution,” read part of the memo which was also copied to UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, Mr Katuta and the national chairperson, Mutale Nalumango.
And irate UPND youths from Western Province have accused Mr Nkombo of being tribal and asked him to stop targeting Lozis.
The youth said Mr Nkombo seemed to be silently executing a cleansing exercise to get rid of Lozis in the party and ensure an all Tonga executive is in place.
They said he had been agitating fellow leaders from the province to sideline them and replace them with Tongas in the executive council.
“We therefore would like to state that as youths in the province our raw force will be felt soon. We delivered Sesheke and can so deliver it to any party we choose,” they said.In the last few weeks, the UPND has lost 10 councillors in Western Province in defections to the ruling Patriotic Front.
The defections have also caused squabbles with the secretariat dissolving the provincial executive committee.
And in in a statement signed by UPND youths from Senanga, Nalolo, Kaoma led by their leader Micheal Ikachana of Mongu districts, youths in the province also expressed disappointment with the poor leadership of Mr Hakainde Hichilema who they said has not been to the region to provide leadership following the continued resignation of councillors.
They also stated that the people in the province were injured by the continued insults on UPND Nalikwanda Member of Parliament Geoffrey Lungwangwa by the Mazabuka law maker Gary Nkombo.
PF still pro-poor, says Mwanza By OLIVER SAMBOKO
THE PF Government will remain pro-poor and is working hard to ensure the lives of all Zambians are transformed through investing in key social-economic sectors of the country, says the party’s deputy national media director Antonia Mwanza.
Featuring on a live programme on UNZA Radio, Mr Mwanza also said the announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that Covid-19 is here to stay has vindicated President Edgar Lungu's decision not to lockdown the country.
He said there was need for all Zambians to embrace the new normal by changing their life styles.
Mr Mwanza said through pro-poor policies, the PF Government under President Lungu has transformed the education and health sectors by investing in the construction of hospitals and schools.
The PF, he said, was currently reviewing its 2016 manifesto and party constitution to bring it in tandem with the current political and social- economic situation in the country.
