Keep-off labour matters, Hikaumba tells Sata

Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has told Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata to keep-off labour matters. Mr Hikaumba said Zambian workers were suffering low wages and conditions of service because of the behaviour and policy measures that were put in place by the Government in which Mr Sata served after 1991. Reacting to accusations by Sata that Zambian workers were suffering because Mr Hikaumba had taken a back seat after joining the National Constitutional Conference, the ZCTU leader said the congress did not bargain for workers because it was the role of sector unions. He said ZCTU only came to join when a deadlock had been declared in cases where the sector unions had decided so.

"Mr Sata should keep quiet instead of speaking anyhow. The workers are suffering because of the decision made by Mr Sata when they took over Government in 1991," Mr Hikaumba said. (Times of Zambia)