IDG News Service —
The strike by Zambia Telecommunication (Zamtel) workers may interfere with the transmission of presidential election results from outlying centers, said Ian Mkandawire, acting secretary general of the Zambia Congress of Trade Union, on Monday.
Workers went on strike last week, demanding improved salaries and conditions of service. The company's communication system, including Internet service provision, was paralyzed immediately.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set up transmission equipment, connected to Zamtel's communication system, at centers around the country in preparation for Thursday's polls. The equipment includes fax machines and computers connected to WANs (wide area networks).
Mkandawire has now called for the urgent intervention of Minister of Communications and Transport Dora Siliya to ensure that the situation is resolved as soon as possible.
Efforts by the National Union of Communication Workers (NUCW) to force the workers to return to Zamtel before beginning negotiations with management have proved futile.
Zamtel is a government-run communication utility company that employs about 2,700 workers across Zambia.


