Chali Mulenga

In a bold move, Mr. Brian Mwila, Deputy General Secretary for Mobilization and Recruitment, and seven other teacher unions united on November 24, 2023. Their joint statement demanded urgent talks with the government over a proposed K550 salary boost for Public Service Workers, including teachers, in 2024. The proposal also eyed a 5% rise in transport allowance, leaping from 15% to 20%. Yet, twists in the plot emerged as unions publicly declared allegiance, potentially rendering the talks futile. In response, Mr. Mwila asserts that the Professional Teachers Union of Zambia is compelled to sign and avoid needless delays. He stresses the urgency for the Ministry of Education to tackle issues like salary upgrades and promotions. Mr. Mwila warns that failing to boost teachers' pay and promotions in 2024 would be disastrous. This could dent teacher morale, impacting their ability to deliver quality education and overall productivity in the sector. In a rallying cry, Mr. Mwila calls on un...

 CHALI MULENGA Livingstone.      Zambia Congress of Trade Unions President, Blake Mulala has applauded the government's decisive action in promoting food security and providing workers with passive income through an agriculture loan facility. Mr Mulala expressed his approval, emphasizing that the initiative, facilitated through the Ministry of Agriculture, would play a crucial role in controlling the cost of living by ensuring access to the staple food, mealie meal. "The program would ensure that people have some form of passive income which, in turn, contributes to household food security through agricultural practices," Mulala remarked, highlighting the potential for workers to engage in farming during their leave periods. He in an interview stressed the positive impact on reducing the demand for mealie meal, ultimately leading to a potential decrease in its cost. Mr Mulala argued that engaging workers in agriculture was a more sustainable solution compared to the ...

 Zambia Congress of Trade Unions President, Blake Mulala, expressed deep concern about the widespread casualization of workers in the tourism sector. He highlighted the detrimental impact of labor consultants providing misguided advice to players in the industry. Mr Mulala emphasized the need for collaboration with the ministry to rectify the situation. Stressing the importance of addressing casualization, he mentioned plans to engage the ministry of labor for the implementation of statutory instruments. Mr Mulala lamented the prevalence of casual employment in Livingstone, particularly in lodges, guest houses, and hotels, where individuals were often hired as casual workers under the pretext of being interns. He strongly advocated for an end to the abuse of workers through inappropriate intern classifications and revealed efforts to counteract employers who prevented their staff, especially those in establishments with fewer than 25 employees, from joining unions. Mr Mulala outlin...

Mother Eve School's executive director, Simuyemba Kutemwa, highlighted the school's commitment by offering substantial support to vulnerable students. Twenty percent of its enrollment receives a 100 percent school bursary, while others benefit from a 50 percent bursary in Livingstone this year. Reverand Kutemwa also urged other private schools to follow suit in providing bursaries to children in their communities. "It's crucial to extend a helping hand, particularly to those in vulnerable situations. We call upon other private institutions to join this cause and ensure that children in need are not deprived of quality education," he stated. The school's mission, rooted in the church's ethos, heavily emphasizes providing education to vulnerable communities. Reverand Kutemwa highlighted the school's founding principle, which emerged from a realization of the crucial need for education among the people. In a compelling speech, Reverand Kutemwa fervently a...

Sinazongwe Member of Parliament, Gift Sialubalo, made a compelling appeal for urgent relief food for his constituency as an anthrax outbreak ravages the area, affecting the lives and livelihoods of its 101,617 residents. In his impassioned speech, Sialubalo highlighted the critical need for immediate aid due to the devastating impact of the disease on the region. Addressing the press, Sialubalo shed light on the grim situation within the Gwembe Valley, emphasizing that the entire area has been severely impacted by the outbreak of anthrax. The disease has taken a toll on the local populace, primarily dependent on cattle trading as a means of livelihood in this low rainfall region. Reflecting on the recent farming season's failure, Sialubalo stressed that the community is already grappling with food insecurity. He highlighted the dependence of the people on their livestock and lamented the risk of imminent starvation if aid doesn't reach them promptly. The Sinazongwe MP revealed ...

The Ministry of Education has initiated the commissioning of twenty newly constructed school health rooms in Livingstone District. The aim of these health rooms is to significantly contribute to improved health service delivery in schools. They provide a dedicated space where learners can share personal health information and recover if they fall sick while on the premises, effectively reducing absenteeism and enhancing student performance. Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima expressed the importance of these health rooms, stating that they epitomize the government's commitment to creating an enabling environment for quality education and health services. He emphasized the pivotal role of these spaces in enhancing the health and well-being of students in the area. The collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and the technical and financial support from Healthy Learners reflects the government's dedication to ensuring that all Zambian child...

A 43-year-old Southern Province Principal Land Officer has informed the Livingstone Magistrate's Court that plot number 3099 was cancelled in 1998 by the Surveyor General's office because it was encroaching on another plot, a situation which led it to being renumbered and resized. This is a case in which Israel Mushoke, Shah Chihanganlal, and Lata Shah are charged with fraud  and criminal trespass. Mushoke, aged 54, and Chihanganlal, aged 65, are charged with procuring the execution of documents by false pretences. The alleged offence took place between January 1, and June 30, last year. The trio are alleged to have used false pretences and fraudulent representations to induce George Sindila, the Acting Lands Officer, to sign a document known as lease number Lt-37146 concerning Stand No. 3099 in Livingstone.  And Mushoke and Chihanganlal are accused of unlawfully entering the property of Vasanti Chikhalya at Stand No. 2056 and the property of Patel Umashabhai at Stan...