AS a non-unionised worker of a company on the Copperbelt that produces wax candles, roofing sheets, tents and distributes edible oils, foods detergents, I have not enjoyed the fruits of the Government.
The Patriotic Front Government (PF) enacted the Minimum Wage law in 2012, which to date this company has vehemently refused to implement.
The company is viable but has willfully decided not to pay its workers the minimum wage.
This company has been breaking the labour laws of Zambia with impunity because some Government officials have shielded the management.
Now with the new President in office, we humbly request His Excellency to give us a complete new broom at the Labour Ministry.
Obed Ng’andwe
Ndola

Chipolopolo early exit bitter!

ZAMBIA’S early exit at the ongoing 30th edition of Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea is indeed a bitter pill to swallow for those of us that love the beautiful game.
For the second straight tournament since becoming champions in 2012, the Chipolopolo failed to make it past the group stage of the AFCON tournament.
As defending champions during the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, our boys were eliminated in the group stage after three consecutive draws.
This time around we bowed out of the tournament after recording two draws and one loss.
Until our loss to Tunisia on January 22, Zambia enjoyed a 12 game unbeaten run in open play at the tournament. We last suffered defeat at the hands of Cameroun on January 17, 2010 in Angola.
It is sad to note that our football standards have been going down ever since we lifted the 2012 AFCON hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
I do not know whether this is a case of our national team responding indirectly to what has been challenging times at Football House.
However, something needs to be done about the falling standards of football in this country or we should expect this mediocrity to continue even at the next AFCON.
Kampa Senkwe
Lusaka

University constructions welcome but..

WHILE I welcome the construction of a public university in each provincial capital, it is my hope that the structures would not be white elephants.
Just as Government has gone full throttle in the construction of these universities,
I am sure there is manpower being trained to man these learning institutions once construction is completed.
In the same vein, it is my hope that Government will introduce a
decentralised system of awarding loans to students who would learn at these institutions.
It boggles my mind that after 50 years of independence, we should still be having a shortage of teachers, medical personnel and other skills.
Spy Okere,
Lusaka

Our boy was murdered

WE are a family in Mumbwa West. We lost our son on January 16, 2015 near Lungobe Rural Clinic and the matter was reported to Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Mumbwa who did their job better.

We thanked them. God bless them.
The boy was buried on January 22, 2015. It is believed that the boy was bashed by a vehicle after a post-mortem but a crew has it strongly that the boy was murdered and the culprits are here.
We need help, we are a poor family and our boy is gone.
Goodson Kapaku,
Mwinilunga

Land too expensive for locals
ZAMBIANS have the right to own land but it is worrying that the price of land has become expensive beyond the reach of the majority of Zambians.
Most Real Estate companies are exploitative.
The majority of Zambians live in poverty; it is therefore uncceptable that land has become so exorbitant.
This has greatly contributed to illegal land acquisitions.
Land acquired from local councils is at reasonable prices but it seem multinational companies are buying and reselling land and houses at abnormal prices.
May the Government ensure that indigenous Zambians benefit from this God given resource?
Wisdom
Kaunda
Kabwe