Open Letter to His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema
Subject:
Upholding Promises of Good Governance Concerns of NRFA Employees on the Ndola-Lusaka Dual Carriageway Toll Plazas
Your Excellency,
I write to you as a concerned Zambian citizen and on behalf of my colleagues, employees of the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA), who are grappling with severe uncertainty and frustration, what feels like a betrayal of trust. This situation arises from the transition to a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) on the Ndola-Lusaka dual carriageway and the fate of employees at the Katuba, Mayumbi, and Kafulafuta toll plazas.
Your Excellency, during your campaign, you promised the Zambian people good governance, transparency, fairness, and a leadership style rooted in justice and care for the welfare of citizens. I’m now compelled to question whether these promises are being upheld in the decisions affecting NRFA employees and the so called PPP arrangement looking at reality on the ground.
When the PPP arrangement was announced, NFRA employees raised concerns about job security and sought assurances about fair treatment during this transition. And in response, management provided three options:
1. To opt for redundancy, receive a package, and leave NRFA.
2. To accept redundancy, receive a package, and be recommended for employment with the new contractor.
3. To remain with NRFA and be transferred to other stations.
Most employees chose the second option, believing it was in line with the promises of fairness and continuity. However, what has unfolded is a series of unjust actions that have left NRFA employees feeling exploited and disregarded.
1. Why subjecting employees already in the system to unfair tests despite being recommended for employment under the new contractor. The arrangement which is designed to exclude the long-serving, dedicated employees and discarde them under the guise of these assessments, aiming to frustrate them.
2. Drastic Salary reductions employees are being forced to accept reduced salaries from K15,000 to K5,400. This represents a profound cut, especially in today’s economic climate. How can your government justify these conditions when toll fees are expected to increase? This sharp contrast raises serious questions about the priorities of the PPP agreement what is it you are trying to achieve by forcing people into destitution because good governance is about uplifting people’s lives.
3. Broken promises to employees who have served the NRFA for more than five years are being treated as disposable. Redundancy packages of less than K500,000 it’s mockly looking at the cost living it cannot even sustain families or help employees transition to new opportunities. Is this the good governance and leadership we were promised Mr president?
4. Questionable awarding of the Contract the decision to award this critical contract to a company that seemingly lacks the funds to complete the dual carriageway project raises serious concerns. Why was such a contractor chosen, and why was NAPSA, a trusted national institution, not entrusted with this project to ensure accountability and economic benefit for Zambians?
5. Premature takeover of operations of those toll plazas imply that something sinister is cooking behind the curtains. Why giving toll gates operations to the contractor before completing the dual carriageway. This move prioritizes the interest of a contractor over the well being of workers and the public, further eroding trust in this PPP arrangement.
6. What is the role of DKB Consulting firm? Handing over human resource management to DKB Consulting firm has added another layer of opacity. Who truly oversees and safeguards the welfare of workers under this arrangement?
Your Excellency, this situation is not just about NRFA employees it is about upholding the principles of fairness, justice, and accountability and good governance, that you promised the Zambian people. As the leader of this great nation, I urge you to address the plight of NRFA..
1. Protect NRFA employees who opted for employment under the new contractor let them be retained without unnecessary assessments. Their dedication and experience deserve recognition, not rejection.
2. Ensure Fair Salaries drastic reduction in salaries while increasing toll fees is not only unjust but also a betrayal of the trust of workers and the Zambian people. Salaries must reflect both the cost of living and the value of the work performed.
3. Guarantee Job Security and employment terms under the contractor must provide stability, not exploitative contracts that leave employees in perpetual uncertainty.
4. Let there be transparency and full disclosure of the terms and conditions of the PPP agreement and the role of DKB Consulting Firm. The Zambian people deserve to know how this arrangement benefits them and the country at large not just the few selected individuals at the expense of the poor majority Zambians.
5. Reevaluate the Contract entrusting such a critical project to a financially impotent contractor undermines national confidence. Empowering entities like NAPSA to manage the project directly would ensure greater accountability, transparency, and benefit to the nation.
Your Excellency, this is a test of your commitment to good governance, transparency and the promises you made, the fact that, the Zambian people entrusted you with leadership, it doesn’t mean you and your administration have monopoly of wisdom Zambian are watching. The Ndola-Lusaka dual carriageway project should not become a symbol of broken promises, exploitation, and disregard for welfare of Zambians.
I challenge you to reconsider your stance, not only to correct these injustices but also to reaffirm your commitment to the principles that brought you to office. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that your government truly serves the interests of the Zambian people and not the few elite groups. Your Excellency we are watching, as we continue sipping this bitter cup of coffee of your governance.
Respectfully,
Simpamba Abraham Simpamba
Concerned Citizen
Together We Can Ichalo Bantu!