Overzealous Kambwili gives Chinese doctor 7 days to leave Zambia
Minister of Labour Chishimba Kambwili has threatened to terminate the work permit for a Chinese national who is a Chief Medical Officer at Sinozam Friendly Hospital in Kitwe for what Kambwili described as mistreating workers and exhibiting rude behavior to the minister.
Mr. Kambwili paid the hospital a surprise visit after he was tipped that the workers were being mistreated and were getting low salaries.
He has since given the Chinese medical practitioner, Dr. Xisheng Qin 7 days in which to leave the Country.
Mr. Kambwili said he was disturbed by the reports he has received from the hospital that workers were being mistreated and that Nurses were paid salaries as low as K700,000 per month.
He said the PF Government will not tolerate investors who mistreat workers at places of work.
But Sinozam Chief Medical Officer Dr. Xisheng Qin refuted reports that his hospital was mistreating workers and that nurses were getting K700,000 as salaries.
Dr. Qin said the Hospital has already engaged the union to review salaries for the workers and that some of the conditions were already being worked on.
He said if the Government had any problem with his management it should have sent people to come and verify some of the accusation leveled against the hospital management.
And Dr. Qin accused the Labour Minister of been rude to him when he visited his institution.
And speaking earlier at Kagem Mine the Minister directed management at the mine to quickly buy a scanner to screen the miners instead of poking their private parts to ascertain whether or not they were carrying any emeralds when they knock off.
Mr. Kambwili said he was disappointed with such an indecent arrangement where security officers were poking the miners in their private parts.
The Minster further directed the Kagem Mine management to increase the salaries for workers.
He also directed the mine management to reduce the number of expatriate workers in order to allow more Zambians get jobs.
ZANIS
91 Responses to Overzealous Kambwili gives Chinese doctor 7 days to leave Zambia
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Dear Minister of Labor,
May I begin by congratulating you on your recent appointment and your gallant effort in trying to restore normal work conditions in the mining industry.
In light of the recent events at Sinozam Friendly Hospital, I have a few concerns, which I would like to bring to your attention.
It is possible, for anyone to write a letter to you making allegations against their employers. Did, the authors of the letters you received append their names, so you could be able to properly verify these allegations? If they did not indicate their names, which is comprehensible, did you then give the alleged contraveners of Labor law an opportunity to explain themselves? Our Employment Act gives heavy emphasis on the observance of natural Justice when dealing with a person against whom allegations have been made. If you did indeed give the other party an opportunity to be heard was it in a free and fair environment, furthermore, did you actually give them a chance to speak and on your part listen to their explanation?
Sir, you have a great task ahead of you. Being one of the people who were present at the Hospital on the fateful day, I could see that the environment was emotionally charged, and it appears that it was very easy for you to fall for playing to the Gallery. However, as a leader you have to hold your calm and not allow yourself to be influenced by only the emotions of the people, you will have to more importantly ensure that the allegations when made are substantiated.
In the many tasks which lie ahead of you, will you be able to sustain these shouting and literally finger pointing battles with each employer you meet as a means of resolving conflict? What we expect is you sitting down in a calm manner to lay down the complaints of the supposedly aggrieved and not a showdown of you exposing the amount of power you wield and how you are able to have someone deported in 7 days. Under the circumstances, really that was uncalled for!
Sir, kindly investigate further the conditions of employment at Sinozam Friendly Hospital and you may be surprised with your findings.
All the best with you future endeavors
A concerned Zambian Citizen
Samfya Mafia - January 30, 2012
12:53
Go ahead mr kambwili, zambia is now for zambians we were robbed this country buy the so called investors.And u who mentioned the removal of honarable kambwili from foreign affairs to wat many zambians expected wen we took office from the dogs was because there was too much cry by workers country wide as the man who was in charge of this ministry was too passive in handling labour issues.god bless kambwili and the pf gvt for the good job which ur unable to see.
Kalulu - January 30, 2012
04:48
Bacatile mwalecula nomba ninshi
katongo george - January 29, 2012
18:27
People lets be analytical in our comnents, our gvnt is crying for nurses and i cnt see the reason why one could go and work for k700. My answer is these nurses are unqualified or working part time.
Antonho - January 29, 2012
11:32
please mr minister you visit camps and lodges to address the wages
people are still getting the sem salaries 419.the lodge owners are even loughing at
workers that were is your money in the pockets. go to lower zambezi and
mfuwe.
prince - January 29, 2012
08:55
In fact Kagem and Grizzly should do more than just paying workers well. The road to the two mines is horrible. Where is their pride? Good work Kambwili but reduce on talking and act. Go physical if possible.
Chitumbo - January 29, 2012
08:39
Mr kambwili sir you should also visit GRIZZLY MINING in kitwe, because what you find at Kagem Mines concerning the poking of workers in there private parts is nothing compared to what is happening at GRIZZLY MINING. K.C.M Nchanga OPEN PITS also has a contractor at the OPEN PITS called TYRE TECHNOCRATS you will find INDIAN expatriates working on mending tires half the times these people are just busy smoking kuba but at the end of the day go home with over K20 million kwacha per month, Mr. kambwili, the GOVERNMENT please.
syna - January 29, 2012
08:01
Gud job minista kambwili aluta continua ths is our country n no one shud mistreat our own period viva pf
barbedwire - January 29, 2012
06:52
The minister has good intentions but he must learn to exert his energy in a better than kaponya style approach. He is a leader for God’s sake! As minister of labour he can deport someone? Anarchy!
Gwandu - January 29, 2012
04:11
Labour minister overdo it. Once it makes a bad impression among the investors. None of them will invest in Zambia any more. When that happens,it will be horrible. Change a way to manage and try to communicate with the investors in a tender way.they will accept the advise. Also,accept what it was and recreate what is new.it is a principle
for economic and political reform.
mulenga - January 28, 2012
19:08
Hell no! Hon Kambwili is right. Zambia is for Zambians period. let us @ times emulate Tswanas who will never tolerate a mokwerekwere to treat their own like shit. Whats wrong with us Zedians? If one stays in bondage for a long time chilabelela ka! 20 yrs of being dribled is a long time. Other quacks are even saying the investors are going to go. Ngaba mwenye echo tabaila chinshi?
ziman - January 28, 2012
18:50
If Kambwili’s government is paying well and creating jobs, what are those doing at that hospital where they are being paid low salaries? That is very, very funny!
Headman Kagoli - January 28, 2012
17:53
Who has forced those “nurses” to work for K700, 000? Why have they not joined the government? What is honourable about Kambwili?
Czar - January 28, 2012
16:30
WE need more kambwili’s in the cabinet. if we had more than five of the same in the cabinet then mistreatment in Co. could have ended within 90 days.
i did not like PF but i have to comfirm the team is working lets support them
Kabompo Business man.
chew - January 28, 2012
16:23
It is correct that a nurses get K700, 000 at Sino Chinese clinic. which nurse can work for that Chinese clinic when government health institutions salary is at K2million before the 100% increment. Nurses jobs are on demand in public institutions, so those nurses working for a 700 are not qualified. All mining hospitals are paying well above K3million. The local media verify your stories before publishing. Kambwili could told that but you have the duty to verify before misleading the nation. nurses from govt institutions have actually sent hundreds of applications to Sinozam.let verify!!!
Kabwe - January 28, 2012
15:51
i dont like pf but kambwili is the best labour minister,courtesy or not he is doing the best for the zambian employees.these chinese are exploiters and it’s true.i have worked for chinese firms before and the little devils simply have no heart.kambwili does not need courtesy with the chinese.they treat locals like shit believe me.they might be the biggest economy in our times but they need to respect our people and treat them with respect.let them go if they can’t change.viva kambwili!!
laky - January 28, 2012
15:18
Courtesy is very important for Kambwili.Kambwili little brains need to know that,firstly, salaries are not imposed on Zambians,they enter into a contract to which Zambians agree to.Secondly,the Chinese Dr has the option to increase the salary to please Kambwili but will reduce his workforce who will find themselves on the street.Thirdly,the Dr can terminate the contracts and advertise for new employees to who he will dictate what he can afford to pay.The medical center is not subsidised by government to receive threats and the Dr is in business to make profit,period.
Roughrider - January 28, 2012
14:42
AAL THOSE OPPOSING THE MINISTER HAVE NEVER WORKED FOR A CHINESE CAMPANY.BRAVO MR KAMBWILI
fisherman - January 28, 2012
14:29
Viv Kambwili, thi wat we want not begging these foolish pipo mitreating our pipo. . . .
MMC Chilebabes` - January 28, 2012
14:05
GOOD WORK KAMBWILI BUT STOP POINTING A FINGER COMMUNICATING TO A FELLOW ELDER. IT SHOWS BIG HAEDEDNESS
CECILIA MWABA - January 28, 2012
14:01
Why call the minister overzelous.
I have always said that the only thing that will liberate as from economoic exploitation is calling a spde a spade.
What the minister is doing is not overzealous. Guys let us ensure Zambia gets in order. This Chief medical Officer is denying that nurses don’t get as low as K700,000 and yet he is saying it has enganged the union to negotiate the encrease of salaries.
Sinozam has been operating for over 10 years now, why didn’t they improve the conditon of services and have decided to do so after PF has come into power. These investors have enough money to pay well. Unless they are pushed they will keep externalising our resources at the expense of Zambian people.
The move to improve health workers conditions will do. Let all doctors and other health personel in the diaspora and those in local private practice join the government. Reposses some of these private under performing hospitals so that our “Brains”, when they come back, they will have somewhere to work from.
Help the government to speed up development.
I rest my case.
The champ - January 28, 2012
13:37
The article has a lot of errors which leaves one to doubt whether the editor for this publication exist or not. VIVA KAMBWILI, VIVA PF, THAT’S THE WAY TO GO!
Chikala - January 28, 2012
13:17
zambians, we are too naive, too tolerant, cowards and very ignorant. i appreciate the freedom of speech being misused by many of us like on hon kambwili. the issue sorrounding sinozam leaves much to be desired and hon kambwili is absolutely right. we have so many expartriate zambian doctor in the diaspora rendering specialist services whilst here at home we are being served by fake expartriates who knows nothing but mistreating our brothers and sister with acache mgt and poor conditions of service. wake up zambians. nobody will develop zambia but ourselves. the so called expartriates and investor are here for profits which they send back home to develop themselves and invest in secure securities and economies. we need people like kambwili to instill a sense of realisation that zambia belong to zambians with all its human, economic, and natural resources and that we must be respected by those who travel all the way from their distant lands to benefit from what is rightfully ours. hon kambwili is a key driver to this vital change in our filthy labour industry which is a starting point towards making zambia a properous nation with a happy and motivated labour force, which is the countrys number one human resource.
The patriot - January 28, 2012
13:04
Kambwili is simply MAD. This ugly chap needs to be re-examined at Chainama Hills Hospital.His mouth is full of stinking feaces.What an embarasment to his supporters.
Victor - January 28, 2012
12:51
Resign if your conditions of service are bad!!!
Chishimba Lombe - January 28, 2012
12:21
Some of you who are condenming honourable Kabwili are not reasonable enough coz the man is doing his level best for the people. This man called “BETTERS” does not think properly coz it does not mean that if the honourable is speaking on behalf of the people then he is aspiring for the position of the presidency, NO! It is the duty of the minister to speak on behaalf of the people because that is what he promised them. Infact the PF govt is simply fulfilling its promises. Let us acknowlege the devel’s due.
epe - January 28, 2012
12:03
most of you who are complaining against the minister dont know what it feels like to be mistreated by yo employees
you are comfortable n laid back burgers wo think as it is wit u so is wit others.
others r eatin mud o in the name of being employed
this should be a wake up call to all labour officers yo boss is doing yo work you should be the ones visiting these companies to see facts wit yo own eyes n ears
thumbs up to you honourable
shame on you all useless critics
apbl ©2012 - January 28, 2012
11:45
Kabwili u a a man continuon with your gud haert, workers are suffering with these wat u cal invester, they dot care about us
Uncle B - January 28, 2012
11:44
Kambwili is doing a fantastic job….in other countries, these chinese do not have it easy, so why should they be treated with kid grooves in Zambai?? I support Kambwili 100%.
metalik - January 28, 2012
11:37
Keep up with the good work Honourable, Shame on UPND and MMD. They don’t know what we Zambians want, Shame on them Shame!
Emmy - January 28, 2012
11:35
Kabwili is right.
me - January 28, 2012
11:30
I will not be surprised if kambwili has intentions of standing as PRESIDENT, FOR PF AMD ZAMBIA. To me it seems like he is compagning
BETTERS - January 28, 2012
11:15
Point number one Nkana Mine Hospital (Sinozam) should never have been sold to Chinese in the first place. The management and Drs led by the then Chief Medical Officer Dr Simukonde wanted a management buy out which Chiluba and Kaunda Lembalemba blocked likely because they got a kick back from the Chinese. The hospital was sold to the Chinese without tender procedure. It is sad to hear the hospital has been run down. CT scanner is brocken down now. This is the only hospital which had a CT scan in Zambia for a long time before UTH acquired CT scan in recent past. Despite that CT scan at UTH has not been in good condition for a long time. All the highly qualified Zambian Drs and nurses have since left and left the country. This is sad.
It’s only in Zambia where Drs walk in from China and India without being properly locally certified. Zambia Medical Council must be properly certifying foreign Drs like South Africa does. We should have Zambian Medical Health Stands Council that ensure that priavte hospitals meet minimum stands, and the labour office to look at the management aspects. Nothing wrong with the minister making improptu checks, but we must be a country of laws, if someone is found wanting the law must take it’s course, not the minister taking law in his hands. This is good for the minister and the country’s image.
The Doctor - January 28, 2012
10:57
Zambians lets give credit were it is due…the minister is doing a good job…we have lived like slaves in our own country for so long…its high time we were respected…we work hard for our country …
zambia - January 28, 2012
10:57
When things are not good at all ,surbodinates have totally failled to deliver and their under performance is now affecting the overall organisation, Managers normally go for direct suppervision or turn themselves to operatives eg when all enginers fail to bring up the Kariba main generator you would then see ZESCO MD in overalls and spanners. This is done to save the organisation ( next time dont be suprised to see Dr Martins phisically chasing after the Horrific MAILONI brothers). Im trying to figure out what is wrong with Nononsese Kambwili taking up the role of an operative to save the Zambian Workers. We all know labour officers are easy to corrupt and are actally corrupt, we all know how imposible it is for any employer to bribe Kambwili. We all know Lenard hikaumba is a compromised unionist, we also know Roy Mwaba is a ‘kandile’ pro MMD unionist. What then is wrong with Kambwili doing a direct suppervision?
We know everyone against Kambwili’s works is either UPND or MMD and would oppose anything that is coming from Government even if for the good of his own relative or party member
KEN - January 28, 2012
10:49
kambwili is doing a great job! The UPND are just bitter because they thought PF would not make it without the PACT. Kambwili is really helping as.some of us are university Graduates whose jobs have been taken by the foreigner.
VAVA Kambwili
kalibe - January 28, 2012
10:36
I strongly agree wit kafupi tht this so cod THE “SAINT” is nt only an idiot but also a conjulistic fool who requires mental screening. Honorable we are behind u kip up the same spirit.
patson - January 28, 2012
10:11
Kambili’s intetions are good and i support those intentions. However i do not support the method because at the end of the day, we shall get back to the same old way of doing things. The Ministry of Labour has a some inspectory department with highly qualified personnel. So my advise is restructure this department, give it the support it requires,give the officers authourity and independence to operate proffesionally, Capitalise it and then let it operate on full throtle. At the moment, the department is underfunded. When you do this Bwana Kambwili yours will be to expect positive results from these officers. I remember my friend working for the Kitwe council as health inspector and could close filthy bars, butcheries etc. All this should e done within the law and if it requires changing the law then that is your duty bwana minister to take bills to parliament and not fighting with every Jim and Jack or is it Mulenga and Jelita. Come up with good and objective laws and ensure they are implemented and everyone Zambian or foreign be enlightened about these laws for them to apply them whenever there is some violation. As for now it is a “Rat race”. How are you going to challenge a compay that is paying twice the gvt minimum wage according to the law? Bwana Kambwili cool down and do things diplomatically. Your method is sending a wrong signal to the world with regards to investing in Zambia (take note am not saying we should accept being mistreated by investors just coz we need investment NO NO NO. Even local investors like Mwamoneni Engineering should not mistreat workers.) Cry the beloved Country.
ZIONEKE - January 28, 2012
10:03
why not start your own company,employ them and pay them well,these people were loafers and if the investor goes they will be lofers again.that is why we still see some teachers and nurses still selling tomaotes at soweto.we must have foresight.
blackbulls - January 28, 2012
09:53
if these investors go,you will not have even that small salary you are complaining about.
blackbulls - January 28, 2012
09:47
Thanks Kambwili, Way to go indeed. We need such Ministers. I hope MCS will give u the full support u need.
Mike - January 28, 2012
09:43