Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has resolved to go ahead with demonstrations over the two-year wage freeze imposed on the public service.
The labour movement had put on hold its planned countrywide demonstrations following the death of President Michael Sata.
ZCTU Secretary General Roy Mwaba says the congress holds the position that government still has an opportunity to lift the wage freeze imposed on the civil service and avoid the costly disruption of office operations if the demonstrations go ahead.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Mwaba has suggested that government starts by harmonizing salaries in the civil service so that the salary distortions can be dealt with before any talk on salary increments.
He says owing to the fact that the motion to lift the wage freeze flopped in Parliament; the Congress will this time around petition the acting President through Cabinet office.
And Mr. Mwaba says the ZCTU feels vindicated over its demand for the country to have a people driven constitution which can stand the test of time, by the confusion over who should take over who should act as President following the death of President Sata.
He says once the country elects a new President in January next year, the people expect the new President to immediately begin working on the enactment of a new constitution to be enacted before the 2016 general elections.
The ZCTU Secretary General states that the congress and other stakeholders demand a people and tested constitution to avoid a recurrence of the political circus the country has been subjected to following the death of President Sata.
He notes that some of the nasty situations that have been seen over the past few days would not have occurred if the country had a strong constitution in place.
Meanwhile Mr. Mwaba says the ZCTU expects mature and issue based campaigns, stating that peace, stability and tranquility in any country are more important to citizens than any political party.