Power struggle in PF worry Labour Movement

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:01:33 +0000

THE LABOUR Movement in Zambia has expressed worry over the continued power struggle by some cabinet ministers in the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.

And Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union (CSAWU) President Davy Chiyobe said that Zambians have lost confidence in the public service.

Speaking on Tuesday night during the CSAWU’s 5th Biennial Conference at Fairmount Hotel in Livingstone, Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) Secretary General Roy Mwaba said that the continued squabbles in the PF Government required President Michael Sata’s interventions.

Mr. Mwaba said cabinet ministers should not wash their dirty linen in public.

Mr. Mwaba also urged the opposition political parties to do their laundry at their respective secretariats adding that the labor movement was disappointed with opposition MPs who are defecting to the ruling PF.

He said that those defecting were doing it at the expense of the majority poor Zambians adding that such acts if left unchecked will lead the country into a one party state because there won’t be a strong opposition.

Mr. Mwaba further noted that there are some ministers and permanent secretaries who have failed to perform but were busy attacking civil servants and calling them names because of their failures.

He said that 2013 would be a crucial year because the labor movement will not allow any government official to attack and call civil servants names.

Mr. Mwaba has also stressed the need to revise the Public Order Act which he said is only favoring those in power.

He said that during the 2011 general election campaign, President Sata promised to revise the Public Order Act within 90 days but wondered why the Head of State has suddenly kept quiet on the matter.

The ZCTU SG warned the PF government against taking the people of Zambia for granted saying that changing the Public Order Act and giving Zambians the best constitution will be the only way people will trust PF.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Security Rayford Mbulu has observed that it is impossible for President Michael Sata to negotiate with opposition parties on the appointment of its Members of Parliament.

Mr. Mbulu said that President Sata can only negotiate with the concerned individuals and not their party leaders.