ZAMBIA-TANZANIA RAILWAYLINE WORKERS THREATEN TO STAGE A STRIKE FAILURE BY MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES SUCH LATE SALARY ARREARS

THE WORKERS UNIONS OF TAZARA HAS THREATENED TO STOP WORK IF MANAGEMENT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE VARIOUS ISSUES AFFECTING THE COMPANY AND ITS WORKFORCE.
SPEAKING TO RADIO PHOENIX, WORKERS UNION OF TAZARA GENERAL SECRETARY AFRICA MKANDAWIRE SAID THE UNION HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY TO DISCUSS THE VARIOUS ISSUES AFFECTING THE WORKERS SUCH AS LATE SALARY PAYMENT AND SETTLING OF ARREARS BUT THE PHONE CALLS HAVE GONE UNANSWERED.
MR. MKANDAWIRE HAS STATED THAT THE WORKERS ARE RILED BY THE STYLE OF LEADERSHIP EXHIBITED BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR WHO CAN NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUES THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING ACROSS TO UPLIFT THE STANDARDS OF THE COMPANY.
HE SAYS THE FAILURE TO LISTEN TO MOST OF THE ADVICE GIVEN TO MANAGEMENT FROM THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY HAS LED TO IT GOING DOWN DRASTICALLY, PERFORMING POORLY AND LOSING BUSINESS.
THE GENERAL SECRETARY HAS POINTED OUT THAT THE WORKERS FEEL CHEATED BY MANAGEMENT WHICH CAN NOT BE TRUSTED ANYMORE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO THEIR CRIES.
MR. MKANDAWIRE SAYS THE ONLY SOLUTION REMAINING FOR THE WORKERS IS TO STRIKE SO THAT PRODUCTION GOES DOWN MORE THAN WHAT IT IS CURRENTLY.

HE SAYS THE WORKERS WILL ONLY RETURN TO WORK AFTER THERE HAS BEEN AN AMICABLE SOLUTION TO THEIR PLIGHT.
MEANWHILE UNION PRESIDENT BRIAN MWALE HAS DISCLOSED THAT THE UNION HAS TOLD THE WORKERS TO HALT THEIR PLANNED ACTION BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT MANAGEMENT HAS DECIDED TO MEET THE WORKERS IN KAPIRI MPONSHI WHERE THE MANAGING DIRECTOR WILL ADDRESS THEM OVER THEIR PLIGHT ON FRIDAY THIS WEEK.
MR. MWALE SAYS THE WORKERS WILL ONLY WAIT UP TO FRIDAY AND FAILURE BY MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WHICH HAVE BEEN RAISED WILL RESULT IN THE WORKERS GOING AHEAD WITH WHAT THEY HAVE PLANNED.

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THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT IMPLORES SADC PUBLIC SECURITY SUB-COMMITTEE TO FORM A ROBUST RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BONDED STRONGLY ENOUGH TO STOP INTERNATIONAL CRIME SYNDICATES UNDERMINING THE REGION

THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS IMPLORED THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) PUBLIC SECURITY SUB-COMMITTEE TO FORM A ROBUST RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BONDED STRONGLY ENOUGH TO STOP INTERNATIONAL CRIME SYNDICATES UNDERMINING THE REGION AS THEY PURSUE THEIR NEFARIOUS AND HEINOUS CRIMES.

SPEAKING TODAY WHEN HE OFFICIALLY OPENED THE TWO DAYS SADC PUBLIC SECURITY SUB COMMITTEE MEETING IN LUSAKA, HOME AFFAIRS DEPUTY MINISTER GASTON SICHILIMA SAYS THE CITIZENS OF THE SADC REGION EXPECTS TO BE GIVEN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THIRST FOR WHICH IS PEACE.

MR. SICHILIMA STATED THAT IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE SADC PUBLIC SECURITY COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, WISDOM AND SELFLESSNESS SO THAT IT ASSISTS THE VARIOUS HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE SOUND DECISION THAT WILL BENEFIT THE REGION.

HE NOTED THAT THE PROTOCOL ON PEACE AND SECURITY MANDATES THE SADC PUBLIC SECURITY SUB-COMMITTEE TO THINK THROUGH ISSUES OF SECURITY AND ACCORDINGLY ADVISE THE LEADERSHIP ON THE WAY FORWARD AND CONSEQUENTLY THERE IS NEED TO USE ESTABLISHED STRUCTURES.

THE DEPUTY HOME AFFAIRS FURTHER NOTED THAT THE SUB COMMITTEE IS ENTRUSTED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE REGION AND ITS TASK IS THEREFORE A MAMMOTH ONE THAT REQUIRES IT TO CONFRONT VARIOUS ISSUES THAT EITHER ANTAGONIZE OR FRUSTRATE THE REGIONS DESIRES.

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ZAMBIA'S ENERGY REGULATORY BODY ENDORSES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE $230MILLION INVESTMENT OF ITEZHI-TEZHI HYDRO-POWER CORPORATION LIMITED

THE ENERGY REGULATION BOARD (ERB) HAS ENDORSED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE  $230MILLION INVESTMENT OF ITEZHI-TEZHI HYDRO-POWER CORPORATION LIMITED WHICH WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN ABOUT 41MONTHS STARTING THIS YEAR.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS BRIEFING TODAY, ERB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BUTLER SITALI SAYS THE ITEZHI-TEZHI POWER CORPORATION WILL DEVELOP, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A 120MEGA WATTS POWER GENERATION PLANT AND ZESCO LIMITED WILL BE THE SOLE OFF-TAKER OF THE POWER TO BE GENERATED.

MR. SITALI HAS STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO MAJOR DEVELOPMENT OF GENERATION FACILITIES IN THE REGION FOR OVER 30YEARS HENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW GENERATION POWER PLANT WILL HELP MITIGATE THE CURRENT SHORTFALL OF ELECTRICITY.

HE SAYS APART FROM THE $230MILLION ITEZHI-TEZHI POWER PROJECT, THERE ARE OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS LINED UP FOR GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY, OWING TO GROWING DEMAND AND A CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR INVESTMENT AND ITEZHI-TEZHI POWER IS JUST BUT ONE OF SUCH NEW INVESTMENT.

HE DISCLOSED THAT OTHER PROJECTS TO BE IMPLEMENTED ARE KARIBA NORTH BANK EXTENSION, NDOLA ENERGY COMPANY, KALUNGWISHI HYDROPOWER, KAFUE GEORGE LOWER AND KABOMPO HYDROPOWER STATIONS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECTS ATTESTS TO THE GOOD REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT PROVIDED BY THE ERB.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REITERATED THAT THE NEW INVESTMENT IN THE COUNTRY FITS VERY WELL WITH THE VISION WHICH IS A ZAMBIA WITH UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO RELIABLE, SAFE AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AMBASSADOR TO ZAMBIA MARK STORELLA SAYS THERE IS NEED FOR A ROBUST IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANTI-GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AMBASSADOR TO ZAMBIA MARK STORELLA SAYS THERE IS NEED FOR A ROBUST IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANTI-GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FUND AND A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN THAT ADDRESSES PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ABUSE.

ACCORDING TO A PRESS STATEMENT MADE AVAILABLE TODAY TO RADIO PHOENIX AMBASSADOR STORELLA SAYS THE ANTI-GBV SHOULD ALSO FORMULATE THE ANTI-GENDER BASED VIOLENCE COMMITTEE ABUSE ADDING THAT THE GBV LEGISLATION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A POWERFUL FORCE IN THE WORK PLACE.

HE SAYS THE LEGISLATION WILL ELEVATE THE PROVISION OF CARE FOR VICTIMS OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE HENCE THE PASSAGE OF THE LAW MARKS YEARS OF ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION BY COURAGEOUS AND VISIONARY ACTIVISTS COMMITTED TO RIDDING ZAMBIA OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE.

AMBASSADOR STORELLA HAS REITERATED US SECRETARY OF STATE HILARY CLINTON’S SENTIMENTS THAT THERE NEED FOR EVERYONE TO BE COMMITTED IN EVERY COUNTRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO END THE ATROCITIES AND HOLD THOSE WHO COMMIT SUCH ACTS ACCOUNTABLE AND SUPPORT THE SURVIVORS.

HE HAS IN THE SAME VEIN CONGRATULATED ZAMBIA FOR PASSING THE GBV INTO LAW ADDING THAT NO WOMAN OR GIRL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD SHOULD HAVE TO WALK IN HEAR OR LIVE UNDER THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE.

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CTPD HAS NOTES THAT THE PUBLIC DISCONTENT WITH THE MINING TAX REGIME WILL ONLY BE ALLEVIATED IF THE CULTURE OF SECRECY AROUND MINING GIVES WAY TO GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN ZAMBIA

CENTRE FOR TRADE POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT (CTPD) HAS NOTED THAT THE PUBLIC DISCONTENT WITH THE MINING TAX REGIME WILL ONLY BE ALLEVIATED IF THE CULTURE OF SECRECY AROUND MINING GIVES WAY TO GREATER TRANSPARENCY.

ACCORDING TO ITS RECOMMENDATION TITLED “A FOOLS PARADISE, ZAMBIA’S MINING TAX REGIME” CTPD SAYS CURRENT THE COUNTRY IS NOT GETTING WHAT IT IS SUPPOSE TO GET IN TERMS OF TAXES HENCE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT COMMUNITIES WHO BEAR THE BRUNT OF MINING’S SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS GET A FAIRER DISTRIBUTION OF MINERAL ROYALTIES.

IT HAS STATED THAT MINING TAX REGIME NEEDS TO BE TIGHTENED IN OTHER WAYS ESPECIALLY BY NO LONGER ALLOWING MINING COMPANIES TO OFFSET HEDGING TRANSACTIONS AGAINST INCOME.

CTPD HAS NOTED THAT GOVERNMENT ALLOWED HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF KWACHA IN TAX REVENUE TO BE FOREGONE BY REPEALING THE WINDFALL TAX IN 2009, ADDING THAT A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE REVENUE BASED WINDFALL-BASED TAX SHOULD BE RE-INTRODUCED.

IT SAYS IT IS HIGH TIME THE GOVERNMENT RAISED MORE MINING TAX REVENUE AND INVESTED IT IN ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT ZAMBIANS CAN START TO TRULY AND SUSTAINABLY BENEFIT FROM THEIR COUNTRY’S RESOURCE WEALTH.

CTPD HAS RECOMMENDED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD FURTHER INVEST IN DEVELOPING THE ZAMBIA REVENUE AUTHORITY CAPACITY TO COLLECT TAXES AND MONITOR AND AUDIT MINING COMPANIES.

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SHARING OF WARDS BY BOTH MEN AND WOMEN AT ZAMBIA'S UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL DISAPPOINTS WOMEN FOR CHANGE

WOMEN FOR CHANGE ARE DISAPPOINTMENT AND APPALLED AT THE SITUATION OF THE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL FILTER CLINIC WHERE FEMALE AND MALE PATIENTS ARE SHARING THE DAME WARD.

WOMEN FOR CHANGE ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LUMBA SIYANGA SAYS THIS SITUATION OF POOR ACCESS TO HEALTH FACILITIES AND SERVICES IS NOT ONLY OBTAINING AT UTH, LUANSHYA AND ROAN HOSPITAL WERE RECENTLY REPORTED TO HAVE BED LINEN, PREGNANT WOMEN IN RURAL AREAS ARE SUBJECTED TO WALKING LONG DISTANCES AND SOME END UP GIVING BIRTH ALONG THE WAY.

MRS. SIYANGA HAS STRESSED THAT AS MUCH AS THE WOMEN MOVEMENT APPRECIATES WHAT GOVERNMENT IS DOING IN TERM OF CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CLINICS AND HOSPITALS, THERE IS NEED TO HASTEN THEIR PACE IN IMPROVING THE EXISTING HEALTH SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF MORE CLINICS AND HOSPITALS.

SHE SAYS IMPROVING THE EXISTING HEALTH SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY IS IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA BECAUSE LACK OF ACCESS TO GOOD HEALTH FACILITIES AND SERVICES IS A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO LIFE AS ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

MRS. SIYANGA HAS STATED THE INCLUSION OF THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC RIGHTS IN THE CONSTITUTION WOULD ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA ENJOY ALL THEIR RIGHTS INCLUDING THE RIGHTS TO ACCESS TO GOOD HEALTH SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT WOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE OVER THE HEALTH OF THE CITIZENS.

MEANWHILE THE WOMEN MOVEMENT HAS REGRETTED THAT A LOT OF RESOURCES HAVE BEEN WASTED ON THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS WITH NO REGARD TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA ON OPENING UP THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND ENSURING THAT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS ARE ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

IT HAS FURTHER ADVISED PROFESSIONALS LIKE UTH ACTING DIRECTOR DR LACKSON KASONKA NOT TO JOIN IN POLITICS OF DECEPTION, BUT CONCENTRATE ON SAVING LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA.

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ACTION AID ZAMBIA HAS CHALLENGED SABMILLER TO BE SPECIFIC IN ITS CRITIQUE TO THEIR REPORT WHICH POINTS OUT VERY SPECIFIC CRITICAL ISSUES IN SABMILLER’S TAX PAYING PRACTICES

ACTION AID ZAMBIA HAS CHALLENGED SABMILLER TO BE SPECIFIC IN ITS CRITIQUE TO THEIR REPORT WHICH POINTS OUT VERY SPECIFIC CRITICAL ISSUES IN SABMILLER’S TAX PAYING PRACTICES BY STATING THAT THE COMPANY HAS DISMISSED THE REPORT WITHOUT GIVING DETAILED AND FACTUAL INFORMATION THAT PROVES THE REPORT WRONG.

ACCORDING TO A COMMUNIQUÉ MADE AVAILABLE TO RADIO PHOENIX YESTERDAY ACTION AID ZAMBIA COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE PAMELA CHISANGA SAYS THE REPORT IS VERY CLEAR ON THE FACT THAT SABMILLER IS DODGING TAXES AND NOT EVADING TAXES BY STRATEGICALLY EXPLOITING WEAKNESSES IN THE ZAMBIAN TAX SYSTEM TO ITS ADVANTAGE.

MRS. CHISANGA HAS STATED THAT SABMILLER CLAIMS IT IS NOT INVOLVED IN AGGRESSIVE TAX PLANNING HOWEVER IT USES 65SUBSIDIERIES TO DIVERT FUNDS FROM ONE SUBSIDIARY TO ANOTHER LIKE THE CASE OF THE ZAMBIAN SUBSIDIARIES’ HAVE TO PAY MANAGEMENT FEES AND ROYALTIES TO THE COMPANY’ SUBSIDIARIES IN NETHERLANDS.

SHE HAS TAKEN TO TASK SABMILLER TO EXPLAIN THOROUGHLY WHETHER IT IS NOT AGGRESSIVE TAX FOR THE ZAMBIAN BREWERIES TO PAY ROYALTIES ON THE SALES OF CASTLE LAGER, EAGLE AND CARLING BLACK LABEL, TWO COMPANIES WHICH ARE PURE AFRICAN BRANDS.

MRS. CHISANGA HAS EXPLAINED THAT ACTION AID SHARED THE FINDINGS FROM SABMILLER’S TAX PRACTICE IN GHANA WITH OFFICIALS AT THE GHANA REVENUE AUTHORITY AND ITS COMMISSIONER GENERAL, SAID THE RESEARCH FINDINGS SEEM TO BE BORNE OUT BY THE EXPERIENCE THAT IS A KNOW PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY.

SHE SAYS THE ACTION AID RESEARCH WAS ALSO PEER-REVIEWED BY SENIOR OFFICIAL AT HER MAJESTY’S REVENUE AND CUSTOMS IN THE UK, WHO CONFIRMED THE FINDINGS AND THE GROUP’S EFFECTIVE TAX RATE FELL IN 2010, WHICH ITS ANNUAL REPORT ATTRIBUTES, AMONG OTHER THINGS TO ONGOING TAX EFFICIENCY MEASURES.

MRS. CHISANGA HAS STATED ACTION AID ZAMBIA IS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE COMPANY USING INFLATED FIGURES TO MASK THE IMPACT OF ITS TAX DODGING.

MEANWHILE SABMILLER SAYS THE COMPANY’S TOTAL TAX DIRECTLY PAID TO GOVERNMENTS AMOUNTED TO JUST UNDER $7BILLION IN 2009 OF WHICH 77PERCENT WAS PAID IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES BUT IN 2009 TO 2010 THE COMPANY INVESTED OVER $500MILLION IN AFRICA ALONE.

BUT ACTION AID ZAMBIA SAYS LESS THAN ONE TENTH OF THE $7BILLION TOTAL TAX CONTRIBUTION THAT THE COMPANY QUOTES WAS ACTUALLY TAXES INCURRED BY SABMILLER ITSELF OF WHICH THE BULK OF IT WAS EXERCISE DUTIES, WHICH ARE PAID BY CONSUMERS AND NOT BY THE COMPANY.

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