Leaks on Minister Shamenda DIZ saga

Minister Shamenda

As the Shamenda corruption saga continues to unravel, information made available by an impeccable government source has revealed that the overzealous Zambian Labour Minister clearly overstepped his bounderies when he recently directed Dangote Industries Zambia (DIZ) to declare null and void the recruitment of Engineers and Technicians.

DIZ ignored the ultimatum to cancel the contracts of Zambians selected in the job interviews, and this reportedly infuriated the Minister who vowed to deal with management by deporting expatriate staff. 

This and many other incidences are what may have led to the much publicized bribery claims made by the Minister against a junior member of DIZ management and the reasons of the fall out with the institution. 

At one of his impromptu visits to the plant in what sources describe as his crusade to harass management there, Shamenda declared that whatever interviews were conducted was null and void and that DIZ would have to redraft the advertisements but only in consultation with him and readvertise the jobs. The minister did not give any reasons for his directive. 

According to the government source who was in attendance, Shamenda warned that he would be back in two weeks to check if his many directives were adhered to and if not, he would cancel the over $400 million dollar cement plant investment. 

Another matter that infuriated the Labour Minister was that during a recent visit to Zambia, Nigerian born owner of DIZ apparently left out from his itinerary any meetings with Shamenda and opted instead to meet among other very important people (VIPs) chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo of the Soli speaking people. 

It is very clear that specifically, the Zambian laws or in fact international labour laws in general do not regulate the process of selection of employees by an employer as such selection remains largely an area for managerial discretion. 

“The Minister cannot dictate who to employ as this is clearly within the powers of the company, we have advised him but he does not listen, sooner or later, he will be dragged to the courts of law, he is being too overzealous and abusing his position,” the source lamented. 

The source added that Shamenda could however and justifiably so raise concerns if there was any semblance of sex discrimination and equal pay, racial discrimination or discrimination relating to disability or that which relates to a trade union. 

According to the source, the interference of the Minister in the employment process, and if by any chance his illegal order was effected would sent DIZ into serious legal battles as the technicians and engineers already have in their possession valid contracts of employment. 

And on his directive to have a junior human resource practitioner, Jennifer Mutembo to be elevated to the position of director human resource, the source said the minister was again out of line to push his weight like that saying that if he felt very strongly about her, he could merely have appealed to management rather than try to impose. 

“DIZ is running a business and not a charitable organization thus only management decides who gets in what position, the Minister cannot dictate that an unqualified person in a position she cannot handle to the detriment of the firm. 

“The suggestion to management of DIZ by Mr. Shamenda that Ms Mutembo attends a human resource seminar in Livingstone to improve her skills to her fit in is not mandatory or backed by law.

 “We also advised the Minister that these huge companies usually follow the law to the letter to avoid unnecessary glitches which can cost them thousands of kwacha in litigation, we brought to his attention chapter 147 of The Laws of Zambia which is the Zambia Institute of Human Resources Management Act, it clearly disqualifies her for now,” he said. 

Ms Mutembo who is currently an administrative officer has a bachelor’s degree in human resource management, but does not have a Masters degree, she is also not yet a member of the Institute of Human Resource Management. 

The Minister has been on the case of DIZ visiting the firm numerous times unannounced before they even produce a single pocket of cement.

Recently Shamenda hit the headlines claiming that he was offered a bribe by a junior member of staff of DIZ which he refused to take. However, the revelation raised more questions than answers on the authenticity of the claim opening a can of worms on the dealings of the Labour Minister. 

DIZ has invested over $400 million dollars in a cement plant in Ndola which will be launched in a few months offering hundreds of jobs to Zambians.