SESTUZ
Secondary School Teachers’ Union of Zambia
The aforementioned circumstances created fertile ground for secondary school teachers to begin agitating for better representation for purposes of improving their conditions of employment within the context of “One Industry, One Union” as provided by the law at the time. Spearheading this movement were teachers on the Copperbelt, supported by other voices in places such as Sesheke, Chipata and Kabwe. Consequently, the Secondary School Teachers Association of Zambia (SESTAZ) was born, whose objective was to create space on the ZNUT platform where voices and concerns of secondary school teachers could be effectively heard and addressed.
Naturally, the establishment of SESTAZ was met with a lot of resistance from the ZNUT Leadership as well as Government which were misled into believing that SESTAZ might have had political affiliation given the context that this was an era the One-Party Participatory Democracy. This resistance led to instances of work stoppages in Ndola, Kitwe and Chipata. As a result of these stoppages, the ZNUT leadership together with government vehemently opposed the association’s efforts in advocating for the interests of Secondary School teachers. Attempts by SESTAZ to have representation on the ZNUT negotiating team were scorned at. This however, did not deter the determination which the SESTAZ Leadership had and the struggle continued into the 90s.
The inception of the Secondary School Teachers’ Association of Zambia (SESTAZ) is traced on the Copperbelt Province where a dedicated team of individuals spearheaded the initiative. These visionary and brave leaders were;
Meanwhile, in 1988, Teachers at Kansenshi Secondary School in Ndola formed a SESTAZ Executive team. The group was made up of the following:
Kitwe, teachers also formed their SESTAZ District Committee comprising the following: -
Seeing that the association faced challenges in openly advocating for its members, the pioneers devised a way of championing the cause discreetly. Under this guise, SESTAZ positioned itself as an entity dedicated to championing the following;
(i) Lobbied government for the feeding of markers at the marking centers during marking of Grade 9 and 12 Examinations. However, it was observed that the quality of food served to the markers was poor and the serving facilities failed to meet the required standard. This state of affairs forced SESTAZ to lobby for payment of lunch allowance to the markers and further demanded payment of Transport Allowance for the markers. To the markers’ relief, these demands were met.
(ii) Formation and coordination of subject associations in secondary schools.
(iii) SESTUZ was formed
SESTAZ FAILURES(i) Although the Association managed to lobby for the payment of Marking and Lunch Allowances, it failed to ensure payment of the said allowances before or upon commencement of the exercise.
In 1991, a SESTAZ National Conference was held. Ultimately, a National Executive interim Committee whose objective was to spearhead the registration of SESTUZ was elected. The Following were elected: -
This Committee commenced the registration process. The process was smoothly done and SESTUZ was then gazetted in the Government Gazette Notice No – 1284 of 1992 by the then Labour Commissioner, Mr. S D Mkasanga. The Gazette stated that any person aggrieved and objected to the registration of SESTUZ should submit in writing to the Labour Commissioner not later than 90 days from the date of notice which was 20th November, 1992. The 90 days elapsed without any indication of opposition to the registration of SESTUZ as a Union.
After 90 days had elapsed, the Labour Commissioner seemed to have forgotten that he had gazetted SESTUZ and that the requirement for the registration of any objections against SESTUZ had elapsed. After observing silence from the Labour Commissioner, the SESTAZ NEC decided to remind the labour Commissioner. The Labour Commissioner replied that the Law at the time only provided for ‘One Industry, One Union. So SESTUZ could not be registered as a union since Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) was already representing all teachers in Zambia. To this effect SESTAZ was advised to disband within six months of receiving the letter. This surprised SESTAZ NEC because the objection should have been raised during the 90 days gazette period.
The SESTUZ interim NEC decided to appeal to the Industrial Relations Court against the Labour Commissioner’s decision. Unfortunately the Industrial Relations Court took long to reply to the letter written to them. During the long period of waiting NEC decided to petition the Labour Commissioner’s decision in the Ndola High Court before Justice B. Mutale. SESTUZ was represented by Mr. Stora Mbuzi. Some Secondary School Teachers made financial contribution to pay for the Legal Services. The witnesses for SESTUZ were Mr. Febian Zulu, Mr A.C Kamukwamba, Mr N.L. Sitenge and Mr Maybin Mundia Muyangwa. At this stage the interim NEC of SESTAZ decided to ignore the appeal made in the Industrial Relations Court of Appeal.
The High Court ruled in favour of registration of SESTUZ and ordered Government to do so without delays. In his judgment Justice Mutale B. said that the Republican Constitution allowed people to belong to Association, Unions, Religious grouping of their choice and that since this was a major law from which “ONE INDUSTRY ONE UNION” was born, it was therefore more binding. Government took long to act on the High Court’s ruling. It (government) went as far as putting a stay of execution on the High Court ruling. As a result SESTUZ could not be registered as a union.
Meanwhile, SESTAZ leadership was having its own problems. Whenever a meeting was called for, only a few would attend. This hampered progress of the union as a result four members from the Copperbelt executive committee were co-opted in order to enhance the numbers as well as to strengthen the discussion. Those co-opted included:-
In the Interim National Executive Committee, these gentlemen were given different portfolios to avoid the element of passive observer ship hence:
The Interim National Executive Committee resolved to appeal against the stay of execution which was placed by Government in the High Court. The matter was then moved to the Supreme Court, but SESTUZ had another problem involving Mr Stora Mbuzi (lawyer hired by SESTUZ) who had his Certificate of Practice withdrawn. Nevertheless, Simeza Sangwa Associates were contracted to represent SESTUZ in the Supreme Court. The Ndola High Court ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court with a 2-1 majority on 30th November, 1995.
The Supreme Court ordered government to register SESTUZ and at the same time pay the union a sum of K2 million kwacha. Despite the Supreme Court ruling which was very promising to SESTUZ, it took a lot of struggle to have the Labour Commissioner, Mr Nyirenda to issue the Certificate of Registration to the union. The union lawyers Simeza-Sangwa Associates had to threaten the Labour Commissioner with contempt of Court and arrest for him to issue the Certificate of Registration. The Certificate was finally accessed on 22nd December, 1995, its number is 69.
While all this was going on, SEZTAZ faced a lot of opposition from the Media, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and ZNUT. When the Ndola High Court had directed Government to register SESTUZ, the press had this to say “There is no doubt that the Labour Relations in Zambia are headed for chaos, very soon the country will experience a proliferation of unions – too many to make Labour sense” All this would have been on account of a High Court ruling by Justice B. Mutale when he directed that the Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia which had been denied registration be registered. The same newspapers reported ZCTU and government’s displeasure with the Court ruling.
The union Constitution was drafted several times and subsequently was submitted and approved by the Labour Commissioner. The issue of the Constitution was followed by that of the Recognition Agreement. A Recognition Agreement was necessary because without it, the union would be toothless as it could not represent its members in terms of Negotiations for improved Conditions of Service or protect them in case of victimization. This was so because the employer would not recognize the union. With a lot of huddles in the way, the Recognition Agreement was signed on 20th of November, 1996.
Another problem arose, the period which was given to the union to have leadership in the Interim state had since long run out. A letter from the Labour Commissioner reminding it to hold a General Conference and elect substantive leaders was received by the Interim NEC. The biggest problem was lack of funds for organizing the General Conference. The leaders thought of fundraising by reaching out to big companies and Members of Parliament (MPs), but the idea was discouraged by then ZCTU President General.
He argued that the move was going to tarnish the image of the union and the labour movement altogether. This prompted the union to organize and meet the President General of ZCTU with the aim of convincing him to use his office to help the union organize its conference. He promised to help and this made the interim NEC to set 26th – 28th February, 1997 as dates for the General Conference with venue being Masiye Motel in Kabwe. However, the bill from Masiye Motel was a bit too high for the union to afford. An alternative cheaper venue had to be identified and the former President’s Citizenship College is what was settled on. So due to the change in the venue, dates also moved to between 12th and 15th March 1997.
These dates were yet to be changed. This was so because on Monday 10th March 1997, Mr Stephen Mumbi a co-opted Deputy General Secretary who was serving a suspension handed in summons of the
Court Injunction restraining SESTUZ from holding its first ever General Conference to the General Secretary and the President on behalf of the union. Since the timing of the serving of summons was very bad, the SESTUZ group could not travel to Ndola, where the Industrial Relations Court was to preside over the matter. The Summons were served on the General Secretary and President at 19:00 hours and 20:00 hours respectively but they were required to be in Ndola at 08:30 hours. Because of the failure by the two union leaders to travel to Ndola, the Industrial Relations Court granted Mr. Mumbi an injunction. This meant that the Conference could no longer be held until such a time that the Injunction was disposed of.
This new development (Injuction) had its own problems because there was need for instance, to communicate with the nine Provinces in order to tell them not to travel to Kabwe. All the nine Provinces with an exception of Western Province were informed by phone. The delegates from Western Province arrived in Kabwe. A total of two hundred and ten thousand kwacha K210, 000.00 was required for transport refunds. It was also difficult to convince these people when the new dates for the Conference would be set.
Another problem was that of delaying dates for Negotiations. The delayed National Conference through Mr Mumbi’s injunction also meant the postponement of the proposed dates for Negotiations a fact which did not auger well with the General Membership.
However, in order to dispose of the case quickly the ZCTU lawyer advised NEC to lift Mr. Mumbi’s suspension and allow him to contest in the elections. He advised Mr. Mumbi’s Legal Aid lawyers to talk to their client and advise him to accept the offer by NEC. So when Mr Mumbi was approached by SESTAZ NEC, he accepted the offer but opted not to contest in the elections. The General Conference was then convened at National College of Management Development (Mulungushi University) on 23rd – 26th April 1997 in Kabwe.
In due course Mr. Fabian Zulu fell sick and eventually passed on in 1998 and Mr. Layson Mando who was Vice President took over the Presidency and the then Provincial Chairperson for Lusaka Mrs. Mutale Nalumango was co-opted to fill in the Position of Vice President. Mr. Chisimba Katuta on the other hand was suspended along the way and while serving his suspension he passed on. The Deputy General Secretary Finance Mr Evans Ndondondo Machayi was elevated to the Position of General Secretary.
Note: Mrs Mutale Nalumango did not save up to the end of term of office because she left and ventured into politics.
Zambezi Source Lodge (Kabwe) – 2006 – 2012Note that Mr Machayi did not complete this term because he retired in 2009. NEC elected Mr Wamuyuwa Sitibekiso as General Secretary and Mr Makala Andrew as Deputy General Secretary Finance and Business Administration
Zambezi Source Lodge – 2012 – 2019The Union under Gender and Youth mainstreaming has National Structures. National Women Advisory Committee (NWAC)
Garden House Motel (Lusaka) – 2014 – 2019 (Interim Committee)Note that the Secretary did not complete this term because she was appointed as Director Public Relations in April 2022. As per Constitution the Vice Secretary took up the office of the Secretary leaving her position vacant. During the Workshop for the Provincial Women’s Coordinators and NWAC Members held in Kabwe in 2022, Ms Lubasi was elected to fill the Position of the Vice Secretary and Ms Unyenya Martha was elected as a Committee Member.
Cross Road Lodge (Livingstone) – 2019Note that Ms Chileshe Carol left the teaching fraternity before 2019 and was replaced by Ms Banda Setrida who at the time was the Eastern Province Youth Coordinator
KM Lodge (Livingstone) – 2019 – 2023Note that Ms Chewe Dorcas did not finish her term because she resigned from her Position. Her Position remained vacant until the election time (2023)
Decha Lodge (Livingstone) – 2019Note that Mrs Patricia Chinunda Siame is the first Director to occupy this Directorate.
Directorate of Organization and Administration
Note that at the time Mr Matandiko took up this Position, the Directorate changed to “Directorate of Organization”
Directorate of Research and Worker EducationThe following are the directors who have served under this Directorate
Directorate of Human Resource and Administration.
Directorate of Public Relations and Information
Note that Mrs Sikana Christine is the first Director to occupy this Directorate.
Directorate of FinanceNote that Mr Makumba is the first Director to occupy this Directorate.
Eastern Province
Mr Musonda – 2024 February to date
Muchinga Province
Mr Kaluba Davies – 2024 February to date
Luapula Province
Mr Friday Mutale – 2024 February to date
North Western Province
Mr Kankomba Anthony – 2024 February to date
The first official physical address for the Union Secretariat was Kitwe Boys Secondary School, as reflected in the Union’s first Constitution. Given the fact that most government institutions are headquartered in Lusaka, including the Ministry of General Education at the time, it was felt prudent to have Secretariat relocate to Lusaka and National Union of Public Service Workers (NUPSW) came to the Union’s rescue by offering it accommodation.
In 1999, Secretariat moved to Kabwe where the cost of accommodation was relatively affordable following the closure of the mine and scaling down of operations by Zambia Railways. The first offices in Kabwe were located on Munkoyo Street, and then later moved to Zambezi Street in High ridge.
Later still in 2000, the offices moved to Stacey Building on Independence Street. As Secretariat staff increased the need to find a spacious environment arose, thus the move to Godetia Street in Luangwa Township in 2010.
Over the years, the Union Leadership through the National Council kept on resolving that Secretariat moves to Lusaka where the Union would have greater synergies with other Stakeholders. This was finally achieved in June, 2013 and to date the Union has maintained offices at Public Service Pension House, Sapele Road in Lusaka.
The task of mobilizing Union Membership commenced in earnest following the signing of the Recognition Agreement in 1996. It is worth mentioning that an Interim National Executive Committee already existed, consisting of mostly Copperbelt based teachers. By the beginning of 1997, Interim Provincial Committees were already shaping up in preparation for the First National Conference which was to usher in the first substantive National Executive Committee.
Despite a few legal and administrative set-backs the Conference finally took place at the National College for Development Planning (NCDP?) (Now Mulungushi University) in July, 1997, ushering in the first substantively elected National Executive Committee led by the late Fabian Zulu as President with Chishimba Katuta as the first General Secretary of the Union.
Since 1997, the Union has strengthened its structures mainly at National, Provincial and District levels through periodic elections.
Provincial OfficesThese have been established in all the ten (10) Provinces with full time office Assistants.
Secretariat StaffFrom only three (03) elected full time officials in 2001, Secretariat has expanded to include Directors in various portfolios as well as other support staff.
Members WelfareThis undoubtedly is the reason for the Union’s existence. So the following are some of the things the union has done in line with welfare of its members.
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Without a subscribing Membership, the Union started off with a highly pronounced limp. There were no
financial resources to operationalize the Secretariat. So the early days of Union operations, both at
National and Provincial levels were marked by individual sacrifices and dependence on well-wishers who
included ordinary teachers. National and Provincial Officials were dipping into their own pockets to
mobilize teachers across in the nine (09) Provinces at the time. Ordinary teachers offered their humble
homes wherever the officials travelled.
Spouses of some of the officials were always readily on hand to
provide food and accommodation, and these deserve special commendation and recognition. Some
sympathetic Public Service Unions readily offered assistance in terms of financial resources and
accommodation. For instance National Union of Public Service Worker (NUPSW), whose offices were
located behind First Alliance Bank on Cairo Road hosted SESTUZ for some months.
This is the brief History of SESTUZ