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AZIEA: Report By General Secretary, Lameck Kashiwa

 1. Introduction

 AZIEA operated under difficult and trying moments in the year under review. 

• The Market and Bus Station Act number 7 of 2007 was enacted without taking into consideration the views of the majority Zambians.

• National Constitution Conference started its sitting in December without  representatives from the informal economy. A letter was written to the minister of justice about government bias in its selection and exclusion of the majority of the economy.

• Threats of deregistration of AZIEA affiliates (eg ZANAMA) by government officials due to our pressure on government to relook at some aspects of the Market and Bus Station Act.

• Little has been done to improve the national infrastructure, and in the case of markets the situation is pathetic. Where government is putting up markets (Kitwe) there is no guarantee that marketers will have the chance to get spaces. In  Lusaka, one example, ordinary marketers cannot manage the exorbitant market fees demanded by local government.

AZIEA witnessed the continued harassment of street vendors in all major cities and towns to the extent of being arrested and their goods confiscated, and in some cases destroyed. 

2. Activities carried out 

2.1 Education 

Education programmes were held for affiliates in Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Mansa and Kalulushi The informal economy worker programmes are offered by WEAZ. 

2.2 Participation in International events 

• World Social Forum - Under different sponsorship (including by StreetNet International), Mike Chungu and Violet Mumba attended the world event in Nairobi, Kenya in January.

• UK Conferences and Senegal workshop - Mr Lameck Kashiwa and Florence Lishika attended a) StreetNet International Collective Bargaining seminar in Senegal and  b) A visit to the UK under the auspices of IFWEA with the purpose of sensitising trade unions on the informal economy.

• StreetNet Congress: Six AZIEA participants attended the congress, two sponsored by StreetNet and four by ZANAMA. Mr Elvis Nkandu and Mr Kashiwa Lameck, President and General Secretary of AZIEA were respectively re-elected International Secretary and International Council member of Streetnet International.

• Johannesburg Workshop on the Decent Work Agenda-ILO.  ZCTU nominated the AZIEA general secretary and CISEP coordinator to represent it at the Johannesburg workshop on the Decent Work Agenda in the informal economy.

2.3 Exchange visits 

1. ZANAMA women visited India with the purpose of learning about social security programmes developed by the Self –Employed Women’s Association. The exchange visit  was sponsored by StreetNet with additional funds from AZIEA. 

2. AZIEA members visited NUIEWO, Uganda, to study the HIV/AIDS programmes being carried out in three Kampala markets. 

2.4 Newsletters, leaflets and posters 

Two newsletters were produced. Due to a lack funds and inflation, very few leaflets and posters were produced. 

2.5 Women’s Conference 

The women’s conference : “The Gender policy in Zambia: Its implication on Informal women workers” was postponed from December to January. 

2.6 Affiliation 

AZIEA continues its affiliation to ZCTU (Zambia congress of Trade Unions), Streetnet International and WIEGO (Women in Employment: Globalising and Organising). 

New applications for affiliation

The Zambia Bus and Taxis Workers Union.

Alangizi Association of Kitwe

Zambia Audio Tapes Association of Zambia 

2.7 District Reports 

The office has not received any report from the districts, a situation that needs attention. 

2.8 Future Plans

Adhering to the plan of action

Consolidating the finance committee

Admitting associations wanting to join

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