THE MANAGING DIRECTOR,

SENIOR MANAGEMENT,

UNION PRESIDENT

DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY FIN AND INV

BRANCH LEADERSHIP,

ALL UNIONIZED MEMBERS,

MAY I SIMPLY SAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I AM EXTREMELY HUMBLED TO BE HERE TODAY AND GIVE MY REMARKS AT THIS VERY IMPORTANT OCCASION, WHICH SYMBOLIZES THE STRONG INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS WHICH EXISTS BETWEEN THE BANK AND THE UNION, AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANT PROCESS OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WHICH ENABLES US TO NEGOTIATE AND DETERMINE THE CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR WORKERS.

MD, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION, THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS WERE CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY AT K1,750 PLUS PERFORMANCE-RELATED PAY RANGING FROM K600 TO K900. THIS IS A POSITIVE INDICATION THAT THE PARTIES UNDERSTOOD EACH OTHER’S POSITIONS AND THE INTERESTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PRINCIPLES. AS A UNION, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE PRODUCTIVITY ASPIRATIONS OF THE BANK AND AS SUCH, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, IN ORDER TO PROMOTE FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR BOTH PRODUCTIVITY AND THE PROFITABILITY OF THE BANK.

MD, ALLOW ME TO CONGRATULATE YOUR TEAM AND THE BOARD FOR RECORDING STEADY GROWTH IN THE RECENT PAST, DESPITE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WE NOTE THAT THE BANK’ S REVENUE IN 2021 INCREASED TO K3. 9 BILLION FROM K2. 4 BILLION IN 2020, LARGELY DUE TO INCREASED INTEREST INCOME IN LOANS, OVERDRAFTS AND INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES, THIS IS INDEED A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT WHICH NEEDS TO BE CELEBRATED BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS. THE BANK’S K1 BILLION PROFIT AFTER TAX (PAT) IN 2021 GOES TO SHOW THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THE MEMBERS OF STAFF AND THE BUSINESS ACUMEN OF THE BOARD AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. ZUFIAW IS PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS HISTORY, GIVEN THAT THIS WAS THE HIGHEST PROFIT EVER ACHIEVED BY ANY COMMERCIAL BANK IN ZAMBIA.

AS YOUR PARTNERS, ZUFIAW SHALL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE HARD WORK AND DISCIPLINE AMONGST ITS MEMBERS, AS WELL AS PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL HARMONY WITHIN THE BANK. MD, THE POSTED PROFITS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS INDICATES THE GOOD PERFORMANCE OF THE EMPLOYEES IN THE INSTITUTION DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROFITS HENCE THE DEMANDS WE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE IN AN EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE RECOGNITION GIVEN TO COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE.  MAY I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CAUTION THAT THERE IS A NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING HARD AND NOT TO RELAX, AS THE MARKET STILL REMAINS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.

MD, MAY I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR MEMBERS FACE IN UP-COUNTRY BRANCHES. THESE MEMBERS ARE DEPRIVED OF THE NECESSARY FACILITIES AS WELL AS SERVICES FOR A DECENT LIFE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND AS SUCH, MANAGEMENTS GESTURE TO AWARD A 10% RURAL HARDSHIP ALLOWANCE IS WELL APPRECIATED. THIS ALLOWANCE SHALL NOT ONLY ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THEY CONTINUE TO FACE ON A DAILY BASIS BUT IMPORTANTLY INCREASE THEIR MOTIVATION LEVELS. WE CALL UPON OTHER EMPLOYERS TO EMULATE ZANACO.

THE UNION IS GLAD TO NOTE THAT MANAGEMENT DOES GIVE BONUSES TO MEMBERS OF STAFF, ESPECIALLY AFTER A PROFITABLE FINANCIAL YEAR. MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED WORD WITH EXCITEMENT THE MANNER IN WHICH THE 2021 BONUSES WERE ADMINISTERED TO BOTH THE PERFORMERS AND THE NON-PERFORMERS. THIS HAS GREATLY MOTIVATED OUR MEMBERS. WE HOPE THIS IS NOT A ONE-OFF GESTURE BUT A CONTINUOUS WAY OF APPRECIATING AND MOTIVATING THE WORKFORCE.

MD, ALLOW ME TO PLACE ON RECORD THAT ZUFIAW WILL PARTNER WITH ALL OUR STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING YOUR TEAM IN MAINTAINING INDUSTRIAL HARMONY AND PROFESSIONALISM. HOWEVER, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT GOING FORWARD MY OFFICE AND THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL PROTECT AND DEFEND THE RIGHTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR OUR MEMBERS BY LIVING OUR MOTTO “WORKERS FIRST”. TO THE BRANCH LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVE MY AND THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL’S FULL SUPPORT HENCE DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED BUT REMAIN PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR CONDUCT.

FINALLY, TO OUR MEMBERS, MAY I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING WHICH ALLOWED THE PROCESS TO BE HANDLED AND CONCLUDED SMOOTHLY. I URGE THE BRANCH LEADERSHIP TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR HARD WORK AND PRODUCTIVITY AMONGST OUR MEMBERS AS WE WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS THE GROWTH OF THIS BIG STRONG AND RELIABLE BANK.

I WISH TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND GOD BLESS

KASAPO SUNDREA KABENDE

GENERAL SECRETARY