By JAMES KUNDA –
THE Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has called for a speedy implementation of the interventions suggested by President Edgar Lungu to improve the financial position and operations of TIMES Printpak, publisher of the leading daily, TIMES of Zambia.
ZUJ president Shamaoma Musonda said the union was happy with the call by President Lungu for the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) the parent company of TimesPrintpak, to establish a special committee to look into the plight of the firm.
Mr Musonda said employees at the TIMES Printpak, which also publishes the popular Sunday TIMES as well as the Saturday TIMES of Zambia, were owed up to eight months salary arrears and were in dire financial straits.
He said it was the union’s hope that short-to-medium and long-term solutions would be quickly mooted to help the company get back on its feet and to improve the morale of the workers.
“We are very excited to hear of the pronouncement by the highest office in the land, the President, who is also chairperson of the IDC Board. This is a very timely intervention, particularly that the livelihood of our people has been uncertain due to the financial challenges affecting the company,” Mr Musonda said.
Meanwhile, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter chairperson Helen Mwale said it was the expectation of the institution that the IDC would move swiftly to act on the directive given by Mr Lungu and provide suitable long-term solutions for the company.
“We welcome the fact that the Head of State has taken interest in the matter of TIMES of Zambia which is historical in nature. We hope that the necessary interventions will be applied in a timely manner to improve the state of affairs at the company,” Ms Mwale said.
She urged private and public institutions owing the company money to quickly pay up to beef up the firm’s financial position.