HomeNew Alliance to represent informal economy workers in Zambia
by Kashiwa Lameck, general secretary Zambian Informal Economy Associations (AZIEA)
The convention to launch the Alliance for Zambian Informal Economy Associations (AZIEA) was held on 17th-19th October and attended by 60 delegates representing district committees in Mansa, Kitwe, Ndola, Kalulushi, Lusaka and Kabwe.
The convention followed several months of preparation by the interim National Executive Committee who laid the groundwork for the launch of the national alliance. Workshops were held to facilitate the formation of district committees by the participating associations and organisations.
Interim President Elvis Nkandu told the convention that in so far as the informal economy was concerned, the launch of the Alliance was an historical occasion. He said informal workers in Zambia comprise significant numbers, but the government had yet to recognise their existence. He reminded the government of its fundamental responsibility to provide for the needs of its citizens without prejudice. Noting the treatment of street and market vendors by local authorities, politicians and state police, Nkandu said that street traders face acute harassment and intimidation. They are jailed for not paying levies to councils while councils failed to provide services to markets. Government should adopt a more enlightened approach to the informal economy and stop treating it as a problem. He called upon all informal workers to work together to fight injustices.
The growth of the informal economy he said, was as a result of negative global or international trends in which smaller economies struggle to compete. This leads to national debts, structural adjustments, privatisation, liquidations and retrenchments.
In the keynote speech, Deputy Secretary General of Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Ian Mkandawire, said the Alliance’s leadership had an important mandate: to build an effective representative organisation for informal economy workers. He said organising the unorganised in the informal economy was a key challenge facing the labour movement in order for their needs to be taken seriously by government. He estimated that between 70-80 percent of the labour force is in the informal economy, and works outside the normal labour and social security regulations. Mkandawire said the ZCTU has affirmed its commitment to their adequate representation by allowing informal economy associations to affiliate as associate members. He added that, including the Secretary General of Zambia National Marketers Association and the Alliance in the delegation to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva in July 2002 was an indication that ZCTU saw the need for informal workers to have representation at the highest level. He assured delegates that ZCTU is ready to work with the Alliance.
Declaring the convention open, the guest of honour, the Deputy Minister of Housing, Songobele Mungo assured the delegates that his ministry, which is a key partner in the delivery of services to the informal economy, welcomed the formation of the Alliance. He encouraged other associations which have not yet affiliated to do so in order to make representation to government stronger for its members. He said that government and it’s co-operating partners were currently studying micro-finance in order to empower many vulnerable traders to improve their capital base.
At the convention, delegates adopted a constitution and work plan for the Alliance. The mission is to: “promote full recognition and protection of informal economy workers in community and national development.” The Alliances’ Plan of Action for 2002-2003 prioritises:
The interim national executive committee was dissolved and elections were held for leadership for the next 3 years. Elvis Nkandu Chishala (Zanama-Kitwe) was elected President and Johnathon Zulu (Cross Border Traders Association-Lusaka) Vice-President. The General Secretary is Kashiwa Lameck (Zanama-Kitwe) and the Treasurer, Bernard Tembo (Carpenters’ Association of Zambia-Kitwe).