FQM kasanshi offers 22percent salary increment to workers

First Quantum’s Kansanshi Mining has offered a minimum 22 percent initial  increase to both unionized and non-unionized  workers, disputing claims by unions that the mining company had offered their members a mere 6.5 percent annual salary increase.

According to a statement made available to radio phoenix, FQM Kansanshi management says the initial wage increase will also be complemented by additional increases based on results of individual performance assessments to be concluded by May 2012, and backdated to 01 January 2012.

Management says the offer to both unionized and non-unionized workers is 13 percent minimum, a 13^th cheque which equates to 9 percent, bringing the overall offer to 22 percent minimum increase for all employees in basic pay.

First Quantum holds 80 percent stake in Kansanshi Mine while the remaining 20 percent is owned by the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through ZCCM-IH.

According to the statement, the offer by KMP management is for a two-year period with the increases applied immediately to basic pay and all allowances as from 01 January 2012 for all workers.

The company stressed that Unionized and non-unionized workers are all entitled to the same increases adding that Kansanshi Mine does not discriminate against employees based on their union membership.

Kansanshi mine Management says Before May 2012 a performance assessment will be conducted on all workers and an outcome of that may be additional increases applying to those employees who would have moved up a notch within their salary band

Furthermore, KMP management committed to harmonious industrial relations with unions as key partners to create a relationship built on trust for greater productivity, a pre-requisite that allows all stakeholders get an equitable return or benefits.

The Allowances for all employees include Education allowance increased to 3.5 million kwacha per year up from 3million kwacha per year increase of 16 percent paid to employees regardless of whether they have school aged children or not.

It also includes Leave passage increase to 1.8 million per year up from 1 million per year increase of 80 percent and Shift differential increased by minimum of 13 percent per month based on enhanced basic pay.

The company allowances will also include the 13^th cheque equivalent to a month’s salary of enhanced basic pay and this equates to 9 percent per annum.

KPM management says these increases will be effective 01 January 2013 and will increase allowances tied to basic pay

UN systems in Zambia advises Zambia to utilize the visit of its secretary general ban-ki-moon

The United Nations (UN) systems in Zambia has advise Zambia to utilize the visit of its secretary general ban-ki-moon by show casing major achievement it has made in achieving economic strides in various sectors such tourism, millennium development goals (MDG’s), and good governance.

United nations resident coordinator in Zambia kani wignaraja has observed that Zambia is taking meaningful steps towards improving the lives of its people, including maintaining high economic growth, holding peaceful elections and making significant progress on achieving some of the MDG’s.

Mrs. wignaraja says the visit by Mr. ban is an opportunity for Zambia to take pride in these achievements and accelerating efforts at poverty reduction, addressing gender inequalities and the country’s response to climate change and its preparation for rio+20 and show case them on a global scale

The UN country resident coordinator says the un is committed to supporting the government and its people in their efforts to realize the goals of the national development plan and vision 2030.

She says in 2011, the un disbursed over $110million in grant assistance to Zambia adding that the un in Zambia works together in five key areas to promote Zambia’s development such as HIV/AIDS, sustainable livelihoods, human development, climate change, environment and disaster risk reduction and governance and gender equality.

Mrs. wignaraja said this, this morning during a media briefing in Lusaka on Mr. ban’s visit to Zambia.

The un secretary general is expected to arrive in the country at about 14:50hours at the Kenneth Kaunda international airport and is expected to address a special parliamentary session at about 17hours tomorrow.

While in Zambia Mr. Ban will dialogue with human rights clubs hosted by schools in Livingstone and take part in “a tourism for development event”, before visiting the Victoria Falls Park.

He will visit a UN supported initiative that uses life skills and sports to reach and inspire vulnerable children, including children who live and work on the streets.

Mr. Ban with Jacques rogge the president of the international Olympic committee (IOC) will also visit the Olympic youth development centre, a pilot project of the IOC committee within its sports for hope programme

Britain and TIZ welcomes decision by gov't to draw up a cabinet memo to register the london high court judgement

The British government and transparency international Zambia have welcomed the decision by government to draw up a cabinet memorandum upon which a decision will be made whether government should register the London high court judgement of former president Dr Fredrick chiluba and others in the Lusaka high court.

New British high commissioner to Zambia James Thornton says registration of the London high court judgement in the Lusaka high court will be a great milestone in the fight against corruption.

Mr. Thornton says Britain will continue to priorities its budget support towards Zambia’s fight against corruption stating that the scourge is depriving citizens of the much needed social needs such as health, good education amongst others.

Mr. Thornton said this during the launch of the anti-corruption commission (ACC) and civil society networking programme aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption.

And Mr. Thornton has urged all civil society organizations in the country to exercise high level of integrity by ensuring transparency and accountability in the manner in which they handle resources given to them.

he says there is need for the civil society organizations to provoke debate on corruption adding that Zambia is a fertile ground for the fight against corruption.

And acc director general rosemary wandi has urged the civil society organizations not to only criticize government but provide alternative solutions and suggestions on how corruption can be fought vigorously.

Mrs. Wandi has noted that there is no single player in fight against corruption but all stakeholders must be involved at all levels.

The acc director general says corruption statistics on the ground are not reflecting the reality and levels of corruption hence it is important to partner together so that people have one voice.

She has warned that the commission will not tolerate any civil society organization that will be found to have abused the resources which will be released under the networking programme by stating that the law will follow them.

And speaking on behalf of the civil society organizations Fredrick chinsala urged his fellow civil society organizations to help the acc by explaining to Zambians that the commission is the only authorized body to deal with corruption and what its effects are to the economy and their lives.

Meanwhile speaking in an interview with journalists transparency international Zambia executive director goodwell lungu also welcomed government’s move to register the London high court judgement in the Lusaka high court by stating that this as been long time coming.

Yesterday justice minister Sebastian Zulu disclosed that government is drawing up a cabinet memorandum upon which a decision will be reached on whether it should register the London judgement of Dr Chiluba and other in the Lusaka high court.

And on the appointment of Mr. Alexander museba as deputy acc director, Mr. Lungu has expressed disappointment with the appointment even though the man has been removed and taken to another important government office

BOZ advises schools trainning bankers to design educational and trainning programes which will respond to the needs of banking and financial services in zambia

bank of zambia (boz) deputy governor dr bwalya n’gandu has implored schools that train bankers such as the zambia institute of banking and financial services to design educational and training programmes that will respond to the needs of banking and financial services industry in zambia.
dr n’gandu says the continued relevance of institutes to banking and financial institutions will largely depend on whether its training is demand driven.
dr n’gandu says this is more so that there is competition for skilled personnel within the sector as the number of banks continues to grow and they are all seeking to draw staff from the same pool of professionals.
he has observed that there is competitition for highly qualified staff in the banking sector.
he says it is also important to note that this is due to the fact that during the last two decades, the banks and other financial service providers have reduced on their commitment to training.
the central bank deputy governor recalls that in the past, the major banks had well developed and dedicated training facilities from which they provided continuous skills development at various levels.
dr n’gandu says the fact that this is not the case means the industry has not developed a pool of qualified professionals to match the pace of development of the sector and consequently there is currently shortage of qualified financial service professionals in the country.

he has since pledged the central banks support to efforts by the institute directed towards upgrading and developing skills in the financial services industries.
the central bank deputy governor said this when he officiated at the graduation ceremony of the 20^th anniversary for zambia institute of banking and financial service in lusaka were 400 students have graduated

brazil advises zambia government to hasten sports infrastructure development

the brazilian government has advised the zambian government to hasten the process of engaging the private sector in sports infrastructure development so that more talent can be identified.
in its congratulatory message to the chipolopolo boys for winning the africa cup of nation’s tournament, the brazilian government says the zambian government needs to engage the private sector in a public private partnership and offer them incentives which will boost their businesses.
embassy of brazil deputy head of mission secretary jackson lima says even though zambia has shown the world that its not about having infrastructure to achieve anything in football, it is cardinal that it begins to prepare for the future now.
mr. lima has pointed out that brazil is ready to help zambia raise its football standards adding that it is also looking forward to have zambia at the 2014 world cup in brazil.
and on a positive note, sports and youth minister chishimba kambwili earlier this week indicated that his ministry is in the process of engaging the private sector players such as the mines to start sponsoring football especially for teams on the copperbelt.
mr. kambwili said government will also continue to improve the sports infrastructure in the country

GERMANY GOVERNMENT WARNS FOREIGN INVESTORS TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGING IN BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS TO AVOID SITUATIONS LIKE THE CASE OF ZAMTEL

the germany government has warned foreign investors to be more cautious when they are engaging in business transactions to avoid situations like the case of zamtel where the government has repossessed the company.
germany ambassador to zambia frank meyke says foreign investors must pick up lessons from the zamtel saga by ensuring that they engage themselves in business deals which will not be questioned in future.
ambassador meyke says the stance which the current government has taken to fight corruption is sending positive signals to the outside world of how zambia is willing to fight corruption and put things in order.
he says the momentum and speed of fighting corruption must be kept running so that investor confidence levels are raised adding that investors will be more comfortable to invest in a country which is corrupt free.
the zambian government under the new leadership of president michael sata has nationalized zamtel after the commission of inquiry set up to investigate the sale of the company discovered that the 75 percent shares were fraudulently sold to lapgreen networks of libya.
and the new pf government has however indicated that it is not in a hurry to finding any equity partner after nationalizing the company but will do so when need arises as the company at the moment is stable