Zambia needs to focus on economic development, not 2021 general elections (ZUFIAW)
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![Labour Minister Joyce Nonde-Simukuko](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Labour-Minister-Joyce-Nonde-Simukuko.jpg)
Labour Minister Joyce Nonde-Simukuko
![Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers- ZUFIAW President, Mr. Ackim Mweemba](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Zambia-Union-of-Financial-Institutions-and-Allied-Workers-ZUFIAW-President-Mr.-Ackim-Mweemba.jpg)
Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers- ZUFIAW President, Mr. Ackim Mweemba
By ZUFIAW President (Monday 16th January 2017)
The Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers- ZUFIAW President, Mr. Ackim Mweemba has stressed that the country needs to focus on economic development and poverty alleviation and not the 2021 general elections. “It is very worrying to see the country debating on the eligibility of presidential candidates in 2021 general elections instead of addressing immediate pressing needs of the general populace.
Our country is faced with various challenges of food security, economic stability and the diversification of our asset and resource base. Many people in the country are in danger of facing food insecurity this year as a result of the infestation of the destructive army worms and the mismanaged fertilizer input support programme for this farming season.” observed Mweemba.
![ZUFIAW Secretary General Chingati Msiska](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ZUFIAW-Secretary-General-Chingati-Msiska.jpg)
ZUFIAW Secretary General Chingati Msiska
![ZUFIAW -Workers First](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ZUFIAW-.jpg)
ZUFIAW -Workers First
![UNIP members](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/UNIP-members.jpg)
UNIP members
“It is imperative that we transform our mindset as a country and focus on issues that bring development and alleviate poverty amongst the Zambian people. It is very premature for us as Zambians to start debating the eligibility of the president in the next general elections given that we have a judicial system in place which is mandated to guide the nation on the eligibility of all aspiring candidates for 2021 elections.
‘All citizens have the right to express their intention to stand and those with issues should seek legal redress from the courts of law at the right time and guidance shall be given on who is eligible to contest,” Mweemba advised.
“The country has been grappling with the agenda of economic diversification for more than fifty (50) years without success and it is important for the Patriotic Front (PF) government this time around to ensure that the country identifies and implements tangible policies which shall bring success in our renewed diversification programme. It should be a source of concern to note that the agricultural sector, which has been seen as the pioneer sector for diversification, is currently facing a crisis which threatens to compromise the efforts and hard work of Zambians in the 2016 farming season. We must therefore, also explore means of safeguarding these sector based activities from natural and man caused disasters, even as we endeavor to diversify our economy.” Mweemba noted.
![President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is placing emphasis on infrastructure](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/lunguedgarpf-1.jpg)
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is placing emphasis on infrastructure
![President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in Zimbabwe](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/President-Edgar-Chagwa-Lungu-in-Zimbabwe.jpg)
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in Zimbabwe
![UPND cadres teargasing worries Mike Mulongoti](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/UPND-cadres-teargasing-worries-Mike-Mulongoti.jpg)
UPND cadres teargasing worries Mike Mulongoti
![Justice Minister Given Lubinda(Left), President Edgar Chagwa Lungu(Centre) and Geofrey Bwalya Mwamba(Right), now serving as United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President for Administration to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Given-Lubindam-Edgar-Chagwa-Lungu-and-Geofrey-Bwalya-Mwamba.jpg)
Justice Minister Given Lubinda(Left), President Edgar Chagwa Lungu(Centre) and Geofrey Bwalya Mwamba(Right), now serving as United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President for Administration to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.
![United Progressive People (UPP) President Saviour Chishimba](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Saviour-Chishimba-is-UPP-leader.jpg)
United Progressive People (UPP) President Saviour Chishimba
![Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba takes an HIV test voluntarily under the guidance of United Party for National Development (UPND) Keembe Member of Parliament (MP) Princess Kasune](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Foreign-Affairs-Minister-Harry-Kalaba-takes-an-HIV-test-as-UPND-Keembe-MP-Princess-Kasune.jpg)
Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba takes an HIV test voluntarily under the guidance of United Party for National Development (UPND) Keembe Member of Parliament (MP) Princess Kasune
“2015 and 2016 were very challenging times for Zambians given that the country recorded an increase in commodity prices and the cost of living rose significantly. Zambians are currently looking forward to some relief from these pressures and many citizens would like to see a relatively improved business environment in the country. Many traders, employing thousands in the informal sector, were forced to downsize or even shut down operations given the fact that the cost of doing business in the country had increased and it was therefore not in their best interest to either invest or continue with their operations. We must not lose our focus on the real issues by dwelling on the 2021 general elections. Let us first
![Zambia's former First Republican President Dr. Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2875.jpg)
Zambia’s former First Republican President Dr. Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda
![First-Republican-President-Dr.-Kenneth-David-Kaunda-blessing-author-Derrick-Sinjela-as-Maxwell-Simbuwa-waits-for-his-turn-pix-by-Zcyp-Development-1.jpg December 9, 2016](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/First-Republican-President-Dr.-Kenneth-David-Kaunda-blessing-author-Derrick-Sinjela-as-Maxwell-Simbuwa-waits-for-his-turn-pix-by-Zcyp-Development-1.jpg)
First-Republican-President-Dr.-Kenneth-David-Kaunda-blessing-author-Derrick-Sinjela-as-Maxwell-Simbuwa-waits-for-his-turn-pix-by-Zcyp-Development-1.jpg
December 9, 2016
![Kaunda with Sinjela pix by Zindabah Mwanzah](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Kaunda-with-Derrick-Sinjela.jpg)
Kaunda with Sinjela pix by Zindabah Mwanzah
![Chinese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Yang Youming, former First Republican President of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda, Minister of Tourism and Arts Mr. Charles Banda, Justice Minister, Given Lubinda, Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa, other Senior Government officials at 2017 Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair in Zambia Saturday 14th January 2017 picture by Peng Lijun Xinhua News Agency 0976238561](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20170114-1_14____________________________________________·________.jpg)
Chinese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Yang Youming, former First Republican President of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda, Minister of Tourism and Arts Mr. Charles Banda, Justice Minister, Given Lubinda, Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa, other Senior Government officials at 2017 Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair in Zambia Saturday 14th January 2017 picture by Peng Lijun Xinhua News Agency 0976238561
address the immediate challenges the people of Zambia are facing and then we can focus on other issues at the right time,” Mweemba observed.
![FDD President Edith Zewelani Nawakwi with her Spokesperson Antonio Mourinho Mwanza](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/fdd-mwanza.jpg)
FDD President Edith Zewelani Nawakwi with her Spokesperson Antonio Mourinho Mwanza
![Zimbabwe Tourism Minister Walter Muzembi ,Pres.R.G Mugabe,Pres.M.Sata](http://217.174.149.21/~zambi/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Zimbabwe-Tourism-Minister-Walter-Muzembi-Pres.R.G-MugabePres.M.Sata_.jpg)
Zimbabwe Tourism Minister Walter Muzembi ,Pres.R.G Mugabe,Pres.M.Sata
Released by Ackim Mweemba President (Monday 16th January 2017).
Zambia Union of Financial Institutions And Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) is the dominant Financial trade union in Zambia. The union was called Rhodesian Society of Bank Officials (RHOSOBO) and founded on 17 November 1961 then changed to Zambia Union of Bank Officials (ZUBO), 23 November 1970 then changed to Zambia Union of Financial Institutions (ZUFI), 1978 and finally Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied workers (ZUFIAW) 1984-Date. Sector Representation: Banks, Insurance, Building Societies, Micro-finance, Pensions, all financial related and allied institutions..[1] It has currently has 33 member unionised institutions.
Joyce Nonde Simukoko was General Secretary of ZUFIAW from 1998-2013.From 2013 to date, the General Secretary elected at the Quadrennial Conference of 2013 was Chingati Msiska and his President Ackim Mweemba. The ZUFIAW is affiliated to the UNI Global Union UNI Global Union and Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia .