SPEECH BY ZUFIAW GENERAL SECRETARY AT ABSA BANK ZAMBIA PLC SIGNING CEREMONY, 14TH MARCH 2022.

THE MANAGING DIRECTOR,

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

ZUFIAW PRESIDENT AND OTHER NEC MEMBERS

BANKERS UNION OF ZAMBIA REPRESENTATIVES

BRANCH LEADERS AND MEMBERS

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

IT IS MY SINGULAR HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE ZAMBIA UNION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND ALLIED WORKERS (ZUFIAW).

MAY I START BY CONGRATULATING MS MELU ON HER ELECTION AS CHAIRPERSON OF BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA. WE WISH YOU WELL IN THIS NEW ROLE AND WE ARE CONFIDENT AS ZUFIAW THAT YOU SHALL SURELY EXCEL AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF THE ASSOCIATION.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IN OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BOTH FOR THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE. THE COST OF LIVING HAS BEEN INCREASING AND THE ACTUAL VALUE OF WAGES HAS EFFECTIVELY BEEN ERODED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS DUE TO VARIOUS FACTORS SUCH AS INFLATION, COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES, DEPRECIATION OF THE KWACHA AND OTHER RELATED FACTORS. IT IS, THEREFORE, COMMENDABLE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CONCLUDE AT K1,950 SALARY ADJUSTMENT IN JUST FOUR SITTINGS. HOWEVER, AS A UNION WE STILL BELIEVE THAT GIVEN THE CURRENT CHALLENGES OUR MEMBERS ARE FACING AND THE ADJUSTMENT GIVEN LAST YEAR, WE COULD HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT TO AWARD MORE OR MAINTAIN THE K2, 500. BY AND LARGE, MAY I SAY WELL DONE TO THE BARGAINING TEAM AND PLEASE KEEP COMMUNICATION CHANNELS OPEN ESPECIALLY IN YOUR QUARTERLY CONSULTATIVE MEETINGS.

MD, HARD WORK IS ONE OF OUR KEY VALUES AS A UNION HENCE MAY I REITERATE ZUFIAW’S COMMITMENT TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BANK AND WE SHALL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE OUR MEMBERS TO WORK EXTRA HARD AND HELP MEET SHAREHOLDERS’ EXPECTATIONS.

MD, FOLLOWING THE JUST ENDED ZUFIAW CONFERENCE AND THE NEW LEADERSHIP IN PLACE, ALLOW ME ON BEHALF OF THE ZUFIAW NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO REASSURE YOU AND THE TEAM OF THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE WE ATTACH TO OUR PARTNERSHIP AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO HAVING HEALTHY INTERACTIONS GOING FORWARD. MAY I COMMEND OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE BANKERS UNION OF ZAMBIA FOR THE CORDIAL AND MATURE MANNER IN WHICH THEY HAVE BEING OPERATING SINCE THEY JOINED THIS PARTNERSHIP. WE REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT GOING FORWARD, THE CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED SHALL CONTINUE BUT MORE SO HELP US IN OUR EFFORTS TO BETTER THE CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR OUR MEMBERS.

FINALLY, TO THE BRANCH LEADERSHIP, MAY I EXTOL YOU FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM, MATURITY AND PATIENCE DURING THE PERIOD OF NEGOTIATIONS, THIS ALLOWED THE PROCESS TO BE HANDLED AND CONCLUDED SMOOTHLY. MAY I ALSO AFFIRM MY AND THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL’S FULL SUPPORT AS YOU CARRY OUT YOUR DUTIES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND GOD BLESS YOU.

KASAPO SUNDREA KABENDE

ZUFIAW GENERAL SECRETARY

WATCH THE CEREMONY ON THIS LINK https://fb.watch/bKXRXjOd8h/