ZCTU happy with new Cabinet

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lungu lubinda
lungu lubinda

THE Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has expressed happiness with the new Cabinet composed of the old and new entrants and has urged appointed ministers to quickly get to work by addressing all burning issues affecting the masses.

ZCTU president Nkole Chishimba said time was not on the side of the newly-appointed ministers who should quickly settle down and deliver to the expectations of many Zambians.
Mr Chishimba, who was giving his views on President Edgar Lungu’s Cabinet, said he was happy with the balance in the  composition having on board a fair number of women and youth representation as well as
opposition members.
He said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that from his point of view, it was the prerogative of the President to select ministers as much as it was his duty to appoint Cabinet.
Based on that, President Lungu should be supported on the decision of his Cabinet because a lot of factors were taken into consideration when coming up with the appointees.
“The overriding benefits to Zambians are that the appointed ministers are expected to deliver as Government,” Mr Chishimba said.
“There has been some criticism over certain appointments, but what is important is that the affected appointees have an opportunity to work on their weaknesses, especially that they are being judged on previous performance.”
On the appointment of opposition members to Cabinet, Mr Chishimba said whether these had been made for political expedience or not was not important because the overriding factor was fostering development and that the nation should derive value in the appointments.
He advised the ministers and other leaders with the opportunity to serve in President Lungu’s Government not to be defensive all the time when being criticised.
Mr Chishimba emphasised the need for ministers to be responsive to the needs of the electorate, especially that the nation was just coming from an election which had slowed down implementation of a number of things.
It was Mr Chishimba’s expectation that Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda, who has retained his portfolio, would deal with issues of the minimum wage decisively.
With Cabinet now in place, it was Mr Chishimba’s desire that the union and Government would pick up from where they ended in terms of dialogue on important national matters.
“The first stop after ZCTU elections was a meeting with the minister of Labour where a number of issues were tabled and, going forward, we expect to continue engaging the Government but with focus that this should bring about change in the lives of the people,” Mr Chishimba said.

 

Times of Zambia

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