Opposition UPND Chairperson for Labour Percy Chanda has called on Zambians to speak strongly and be heard by the Patriotic Front government which he says is stubborn.
In a statement to Zambian Eye ahead of the Labour Day celebrations on May 1, Chanda who is also former PF Member of Parliament says Labour Day cannot be business as usual.
“As Zambians we must make ourselves heard by this stubborn Government during the Workers Day to be celebrated on the 1st of May,” Chanda says. “This day cannot be business as usual; rather this is a day when workers should air their grievances, make their demands to Government and send a powerful sign that change is needed.”
Chanda notes that the PF Government is on record as having borrowed heavily, both locally and internationally.
“Much of this money has been carelessly spent and it seems clear that a good chunk of it has ended up in the pockets of the few,” he charges. ” How else can the Government explain why if the economy is supposedly growing and the Government is borrowing large amounts of money, our workers face wage and employment freezes, and the cost of living is beyond the imagination of most Zambians.”
The former Lawmaker states that the result of the careless borrowing and misuse of funds by the PF Government is an insult to the Zambian people who work hard day after day only to have the Government waste money and build up huge debts.
“Our workers, and those who are struggling to even find a job, deserve serious answers from Government on this matter,” says Chanda. “As UPND we urge all workers to boycott this year’s Labour Day celebrations and instead deliver the message to Government that change is needed.”
He says by boycotting this year’s Labour Day celebration you will be sending a very strong message that you are not happy about the wage freeze, the employment freeze and the continual reversal of position regarding the retirement age.
“As UPND we are committed to strengthening the labour laws to protect the Zambian worker from exploitation,” he says. “You have heard us talk about setting up the Tripartite Consultative Council that has now been created but implemented in the most chaotic fashion and without the proper political commitment.”
Chanda adds that when the UPND is elected into Government it will drive the Council forward until it becomes a cornerstone for good industrial relations, boosting the economy and GDP, and helping the party to break away from careless borrowing and the sale of the future.
What then after boycotting
A Chanda it’s not right to order people to fast when you are fasting
You hate pf but must know to say Zambia is bigger than pf and many Zambians still trust them than you that is why
We had HH a brilliant economist losing to someone you call a visionless drunkard
Humility efintu ba mudala
Mwebantu,chachine i think as workers we have nothing to be happy about.Esp mu kcm,now even ama union(numaw)are now mu forefront of taking people for granted.Imagine promising its members(kcm)loans and its a month with nothing,its all about numbers now even in the unions.So my fellow workers,boycott for your own interests not for political or union purposes.
Common, people. Its not always boycott this and that. Let the people celebrate. Im sorry but I cant support hooliganism. Most people know that HH is a brilliant and preferable presidential candidate. However, his supports are not really helping him.
Please start campaigning for 2016 elections so that UPND can win and save the country from foolishness. We are tired of negative news all the time. Stop inciting lawlessness.
Mwebantu every year the opposition asks workers to boycott Mayday celebrations but they still turn up. Any thinking party should decide to change its strategy. You cant keep on harping on the same thing forever especially if it changes nothing!
Haaa! bachanda, think big mudala. do you know what will happen during and after boycotting. in RSA it started with a small community, but look now. when things are like this in our africa, we as zambias lets do thungs which can not bring noise.because it is happening in RSA, it can happen here it is in everyones mind. so post the massage how people must behave on labour day celebration and let that day pass and you continue fight for pipo in a good manner.
It cant be busness as usual,workers must boycott labour day celebration-UPND. Chanda, if people will boycott this event UPND will win in 2016. but know this Chanda, those who will not boycott will be beaten by those who will boycott xenophobia continues. is not only zambians who are working.do you know how much the investors has put in place torwads labour day celebration? enjoy peace and love for every citizen not onlY for UPND.