THE GUEST OF HONOUR, MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY HONORABLE BRENDA MWIKA
TAMBATAMBA MP;
THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY, MR. ZECHARIAH
LUHANGA;
THE PRESIDENT, ZAMBIA CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS, MR. BLAKE MULALA AND YOUR TEAM;
THE PRESIDENT, FEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS OF ZAMBIA, DR. KABISA;
THE ILO COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR ZAMBIA AND MALAWI AND SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO COMESA
MR.WELLINGTON CHIBEBE;
THE LABOUR COMMISSIONER MR GIVENS MTENGWA AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PRESENT;
MEMBERS OF THE ZFE BOARD;
DISTINGUISHED EMPLOYERS,;
INVITED GUESTS;
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS;
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;
GOOD MORNING
IT IS WITH GREAT HONOUR AND A DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AT THIS
IMPORTANT GATHERING OF THE ZAMBIA FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS. THIS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IS NOT
MERELY A GOVERNANCE OBLIGATION; IT IS A DEFINING PLATFORM FOR REFLECTION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
RENEWED STRATEGIC DIRECTION. IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS OUR PROGRESS, CONFRONT OUR
CHALLENGES, AND CHAT A BOLD AND FORWARD-LOOKING PATH FOR THE FUTURE OF ENTERPRISE IN ZAMBIA.
THIS YEAR’S AGM CARRIES SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE AS IT COINCIDES WITH THE COMMEMORATION OF SIXTY YEARS
OF THE ZAMBIA FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS EXISTENCE. THIS MILESTONE IS NOT SIMPLY A CELEBRATION OF
LONGEVITY IT IS A TESTAMENT TO RESILIENCE, RELEVANCE, AND SUSTAINED IMPACT. FOR SIX DECADES, ZFE HAS
REMAINED THE COLLECTIVE VOICE OF EMPLOYERS, CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATING FOR A CONDUCIVE BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTING SOUND LABOUR RELATIONS, AND CONTRIBUTING MEANINGFULLY TO NATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT. THIS ENDURING LEGACY REFLECTS THE STRENGTH OF OUR INSTITUTION AND THE COMMITMENT
OF ITS MEMBERS.
AS WE CELEBRATE THIS ACHIEVEMENT, WE MUST ALSO RECOGNISE THAT OUR JOURNEY HAS BEEN SHAPED BY
BOTH OPPORTUNITY AND ADVERSITY. THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE
YEARS, INFLUENCED BY ECONOMIC REFORMS, GLOBALISATION, TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, AND SHIFTING
LABOUR DYNAMICS. THROUGH ALL THESE TRANSFORMATIONS, ZFE HAS CONTINUED TO ADAPT AND LEAD,
ENSURING THAT THE VOICE OF EMPLOYERS REMAINS ORGANISED, CREDIBLE, AND INFLUENTIAL.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE MEET AT A TIME WHEN THE GLOBAL AND DOMESTIC ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE IS
UNDERGOING RAPID CHANGE. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, AND SHIFTING.
2
2
GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS ARE REDEFINING HOW BUSINESSES OPERATE AND COMPETE. THESE CHANGES PRESENT
BOTH OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES. FOR EMPLOYERS, THE IMPERATIVE IS CLEAR—WE MUST BE PROACTIVE,
INNOVATIVE, AND RESILIENT. THE FUTURE WILL NOT FAVOUR THOSE WHO WAIT; IT WILL REWARD THOSE WHO
ACT.
AS EMPLOYERS, WE ARE CENTRAL TO ZAMBIA’S ECONOMIC PROGRESS. WE CREATE JOBS, DRIVE INNOVATION,
AND GENERATE THE WEALTH THAT SUSTAINS NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. HOWEVER, THIS ROLE COMES WITH
RESPONSIBILITY. WE MUST ENSURE THAT OUR ENTERPRISES ARE NOT ONLY PROFITABLE BUT ALSO SUSTAINABLE
AND INCLUSIVE. THE GROWTH WE PURSUE MUST TRANSLATE INTO IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS, STRONGER
COMMUNITIES, AND SHARED PROSPERITY.
IN THIS REGARD, ALLOW ME TO COMMEND GOVERNMENT FOR ITS PROGRESSIVE VISION OF PROMOTING A 24-
HOUR ECONOMY. AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WE STRONGLY WELCOME AND SUPPORT THIS STRATEGIC DIRECTION.
A 24-HOUR ECONOMY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO UNLOCK SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC VALUE BY EXTENDING
PRODUCTIVITY BEYOND TRADITIONAL WORKING HOURS AND ENABLING BUSINESSES TO OPERATE
CONTINUOUSLY ACROSS DIFFERENT SHIFTS.
THE BENEFITS OF SUCH A MODEL ARE FAR-REACHING. FIRSTLY, IT HAS THE CAPACITY TO CREATE MORE JOBS,
PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AS BUSINESSES EXPAND OPERATIONS INTO EVENING AND NIGHT SHIFTS.
SECONDLY, IT PROMOTES INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY, ALLOWING INDUSTRIES SUCH AS
MANUFACTURING, LOGISTICS, RETAIL, AND HOSPITALITY TO MAXIMISE OUTPUT AND BETTER UTILISE EXISTING
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIRDLY, A 24-HOUR ECONOMY ENHANCES COMPETITIVENESS, POSITIONING ZAMBIA MORE FAVOURABLY IN
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL MARKETS BY ENSURING THAT OUR BUSINESSES CAN RESPOND IN REAL TIME TO
INTERNATIONAL DEMAND.
FURTHERMORE, THIS APPROACH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO STIMULATE GROWTH IN KEY SECTORS SUCH AS
TRANSPORT, ENERGY, AND DIGITAL SERVICES, WHILE ALSO IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY AND CONVENIENCE
FOR CITIZENS. HOWEVER, FOR THIS VISION TO BE FULLY REALISED, IT MUST BE SUPPORTED BY THE RIGHT
ENABLERS INCLUDING RELIABLE ENERGY SUPPLY, EFFICIENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS, ENHANCED SECURITY, AND
A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK THAT SUPPORTS FLEXIBLE AND FAIR LABOUR PRACTICES.
AS EMPLOYERS, WE STAND READY TO PLAY OUR PART IN DRIVING THIS TRANSFORMATION. WE ARE COMMITTED
TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH GOVERNMENT AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THAT THE TRANSITION
TOWARDS A 24-HOUR ECONOMY IS INCLUSIVE, WELL-COORDINATED, AND SUSTAINABLE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL AREAS REQUIRING OUR CONTINUED ATTENTION IS SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT. THE SUCCESS OF OUR BUSINESSES DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY AND ADAPTABILITY OF OUR
WORKFORCE. AS INDUSTRIES EVOLVE, SO TOO MUST THE SKILLS OF OUR PEOPLE. THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH
AS THE SECTOR SKILLS BODIES,.
WE ARE THEREFORE THANKFUL ON BEHALF OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ZAMBIA TO THE EUROPEAN UNION ( EU )
FOR PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPORT TO ZAMBIA THAT HAVE HELPED US AS A NATION THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FOR INCREASED EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME , THAT WE HAVE
BEEN IMPLEMENTING WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION THAT HAVE
HOUSED THE PROJECT.
3
3
GUEST OF HONOUR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS PLEASING TO NOTE THAT THROUGH THIS PROJECT WE HAVE
AS A COUNTRY FORMED SECTOR SKILLS BODIES IN AGRICULTURE, MINING, TOURISM AND ENERGY WHICH ARE
OUR PRIORITY SECTORS IN THE 8TH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN TRANSFORMING OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY.
IN ADDITION AND THROUGH THE SEDP PROGRAMME WE ARE HAPPY AS ZFE THAT USING THE SECTOR SKILLS
BODIES THERE IS NOW A CRITICAL SKILLS LIST DEVELOPED IN EACH OF THE 4 SECTORS BRINGING OUT THE
CRITICAL SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE GROWTH OF INDUSTRY THAT MUST LEAD TO INCREASED INDUSTRIALISATION
OF THE COUNTRY AND TO REALISE THE INCREASED EMPLOYABILITY ASPECT OF THE PROJECT.
WE ARE GRATEFUL AS ZFE THAT THE PROJECT HAS ALSO AIDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CURRENT WORK
BASED LEARNING BILL WHICH IS MEANT TO SUPPORT AND GUIDE TRAINING APPROACHES SUCH AS
APPRENTICESHIP AND INTERNSHIPS WHICH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED WITH THE INVOLMENT OF THE PRIVATE
SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES AND WE THANK THE GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY THE MINISTRIES OF TECHNOLOGY
AND SCIENCE AND THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY FOR ENSURING THAT THE PROCESS OF
DEVELOPING THE WORKBASED LEARNING BILL INVOLVED THE PRIVATE SECTOR AMONG OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
ONCE THE BILL IS ENACTED INTO LAW, WE WILL AS ZFE WITH OUR MEMBERS SUPPORT ITS IMPLEMENTATION BY
OPENING OUR COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE IN TAKING UP LEANERS PURSUING WORKBASED TRAINING
PROGRAMMES AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT QUALITY MENTORSHIP IS PROVIDED TO THE LEARNERS. WE CALL ON
THE VARIOUS TRAINING INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY TO ALSO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE ONCE THE BILL
BECOMES LAW AS WE ALSO CALL FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS IN THE
ALIGNMENT OF SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WITH INDUSTRY NEEDS.
GUEST OF HONOUR , LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE MUST INVEST MORE IN TRAINING, INNOVATION, AND IN ANY
FORM OF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THAT OUR WORKFORCE IS EQUIPPED FOR THE DEMANDS
OF A MODERN ECONOMY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROMOTING DECENT WORK. EMPLOYMENT MUST NOT ONLY
BE AVAILABLE IT MUST BE MEANINGFUL, PRODUCTIVE, AND DIGNIFIED. AS EMPLOYERS, WE HAVE A DUTY TO
CREATE WORKPLACES THAT ARE SAFE, INCLUSIVE, AND EQUITABLE. WE MUST CHAMPION GENDER EQUALITY,
SUPPORT YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, AND ENSURE THAT NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.
IT IS OUR CONVICTION THAT ORGANISATIONS THAT PRIORITISE THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT
ONLY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BUT ARE ALSO MORE PRODUCTIVE AND COMPETITIVE.
GUEST OF HONOUR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, TODAY WE ALSO CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE THROUGH THE
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS. THESE AWARDS RECOGNISE ORGANISATIONS THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED
OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, AND COMMITMENT TO THEIR WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITIES. THEY
HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN VISION IS MATCHED WITH ACTION AND WHEN LEADERSHIP IS GUIDED BY
PURPOSE.
TO ALL THE NOMINEES AND WINNERS, I EXTEND MY SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS. YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS SET A
BENCHMARK FOR OTHERS AND INSPIRE US ALL TO STRIVE FOR HIGHER STANDARDS. EXCELLENCE SHOULD NOT
BE THE EXCEPTION IT SHOULD BE THE NORM. LET THESE AWARDS SERVE AS A REMINDER THAT SUCCESS IS BUILT
ON DEDICATION, INTEGRITY, AND A RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF IMPROVEMENT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PROGRESS WE SEEK CANNOT BE ACHIEVED IN ISOLATION. IT REQUIRES STRONG
PARTNERSHIPS. THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS, AND WORKERS’ ORGANISATIONS
REMAINS CRITICAL IN SHAPING A STABLE AND PRODUCTIVE LABOUR MARKET. AS ZFE, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO
CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT, EVIDENCE-BASED ADVOCACY, AND MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE. WE RECOGNISE THE
EFFORTS BEING MADE TO IMPROVE THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND REAFFIRM OUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK
TOGETHER IN ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD.
4
4
AS WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THIS AGM, I WISH TO CALL ON ALL EMPLOYERS IN THE COUNTRY TO UPHOLD
THE PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INTEGRITY IN YOUR DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES. STRONG
INSTITUTIONS ARE BUILT ON THESE FOUNDATIONS, AND THEY ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING THE
CONFIDENCE OF OUR MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
AS I CONCLUDE, ALLOW ME TO EMPHASISE THAT THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR SUCCESS AS EMPLOYERS IS NOT
ONLY IN FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, BUT IN THE IMPACT WE MAKE. IT IS REFLECTED IN THE JOBS WE CREATE, THE
OPPORTUNITIES WE PROVIDE, AND THE LIVES WE TRANSFORM. IT IS REFLECTED IN OUR ABILITY TO INNOVATE,
TO LEAD, AND TO CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE FUTURE OF THE ZAMBIA FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS IS IN OUR HANDS. LET US EMBRACE THIS
RESPONSIBILITY WITH CONFIDENCE AND DETERMINATION. LET US BE BOLD IN OUR THINKING, UNITED IN OUR
PURPOSE, AND COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN ALL THAT WE DO.
TOGETHER, LET US BUILD STRONGER BUSINESSES, EMPOWER OUR WORKFORCE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE
INCLUSIVE AND PROSPEROUS ZAMBIA.
I THANK YOU.