03/05/2024
LUFWANYAMA LABOUR DAY CELEBRATIONS 2024.
THEME : Building Resilience; Workers at the heart of economic recovery.
Workers in Lufwanyama both from government and the private sector came out to celebrate this year's May day held on Wednesday 1st of May, 2024 at Lufwanyama Boarding School of Lufwanyama district.
Government departments including Health, Education, Agriculture, Zambia Police and the Town Council graced the occasion while Pridegems Mines Ltd, Grizzly Mining Ltd and Kagem Mining Ltd made up the private sector present for the celebration. Not be left out the ruling UPND was represented by the able Lufwanyama district Chairman Mr Moses Ngwena, district party secretary Mr Eugene Mwaba and other members of the party in the district.
Lufwanyama District Commissioner Mr Justin Mwalikwa who was also the Guest of Honour was accompanied by the Town Council Chairperson Madam Annie Kapandula, the Council secretary, the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) and various Heads of Departments at district level.
In delivering their speeches, A representative from the Health Department in the district said, they are interpretating the theme by making sure that they provide the best possible health services to both the work force and general populous in Lufwanyama with the help of government. He further said, building resilience starts with building a healthy district.
And a representative from the Agricultural Department streesed the need and the importance of the department's commitiment to ensuring the district produces enough food and crop to satisfy the community in Lufwanyama and contribute to the national food busket by ensuring sustainable farming methods are adhered to and also by using alternative maize producation programs such as the winter maize programme.
From the Education department, the message was one of commending the current DEBS for the job being done well and the work culture introduced in the district by him and his office. They also pledged to further increase the quality of education being offered to the learners in the district so as to improve on the pass rate in the district and said they are aiming to be among the top performing districts in the province, education wise.
The Zambia Police's message of building resilience came in form of a play and a dramatic poetry presentation, where they talked about one the cancers affecting the country's economy, which is CORRUPTION. They urged workers and the general public to report any forms of Corruption happening around them.
The Town Council's message was delivered by its Chairperson Madam Annie Kapandula, who called on the working class to put in their highest level of hard work in their various places of work and emulate the hardworking nature of our Republican President, His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema.
"Agree with me or not but this Country was plundered by the previous regime and our hardworking leader President Hakainde Hichilema is working tirelessly and around the clock to put back the country where it is supposed to be and that is someone all of us should follow in the footsteps of." Madam Kapandula said.
And representing government, Guest of Honour and also Lufwanyama District Commissioner Mr Justin Mwalikwa thanked all the employers and employees for turning up in good number to celebrate the May day event in the district. The DC also said that government acknowledges the challenges workers in government and the private sector alike are facing but assured them that government is working with stakeholders to make sure these challenges are addressed. Mr Mwalikwa also thanked Unions for working closely with government in ensuring that workers' voices are heard. He further encouraged and appealed to employers to implement labour reforms and provide a suitable working environment for their employees so as to maximize productivity.
The DC further said government is taking the lead in building resilience by increasing the human resources in departments that are in need of such for example the recent recruitment of Health and Education personnel. He also said government is attaching great importance to skills training for the youth and those interested by providing a platform for training at Trade schools with funding from the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
After delivering his keynote speech, DC Mwalikwa joined in the presentation of Labour day award. Some award recipients walked away with househood appliances such as Stoves, Fridges and TVs, while others walked away with cheques and cash sums amounting from K1,000 to K5,000. The recipients were awarded for services such as Most Hardworking employee, Most dedicated employee, Most reliable employee and most improved employee, among others. While some were awarded for their long service to the various organizations and recipients were drawn from both government and the private sector. The UPND District Chair, Mr Moses Ngwena also awarded the longest serving member of the party in the district, Ba Mayo Bana Maseka with some cash for her work and dedication to the Party.
Written by:
CHAMA CHAMPO
UPND-LUFWANYAMA MEDIA
