Police in Kitwe arrest rioting ex-miners

By ALEX NJOVU

 

POLICE in Kitwe yesterday arrested 10 former Konkola Copper Mines and Mopani Copper Mines miners who were among several others that staged a protest against Barclays Bank’s decision to withhold their terminal benefits to recover loans.
Copperbelt acting police commanding officer, Danwell Kasonde said the suspects have been charged with conduct likely to cause the breach of peace and that they would appear in court soon.
“I can confirm that 10 former miners have been arrested after they staged a demonstration.
These people got loans from Barclays Bank and the bank is merely trying to recover its money,” Mr Kasonde said.
He condemned the action by the former miners to protest without following laid down procedures.
“We are wondering why these people decided to protest. How do they expect the bank to recover the loans that they got? The bank is merely trying to recover its money,” Mr Kasonde said.
He warned people against engaging in activities that can endanger the peace of the country.
Mr Kasonde wondered why the former miners decided to run amok when they could have easily engaged relevant authorities in dialogue.
“It is unwise and, in fact, there is no sense in what these people have done. As police, we will take action against people who are bent on causing unrest in communities,” he said.
The irate miners gathered at Barclays Bank offices in the morning before proceeding to Freedom Park where they displayed placards denouncing bank officials and called on Government to bail them out.
Patriotic Front Nkana member of Parliament Mwenye Musenge pleaded with the miners to stop protesting, saying bank officials had agreed to meet 10 representatives of the former miners to chart the way forward.
Mr Musenge said the matter could only be resolved through dialogue and urged them to desist from holding activities that would jeopardise negotiations.
“Please stop protesting, there is no need to demonstrate since our colleagues have agreed to hold a meeting with us on Monday so that this issue can be resolved. Let us dialogue instead of running to the streets.
“I believe that even the government can move in and find a solution. I know you are suffering and there is need for you to be re-employed since copper prices have gone up,” Mr Musenge said.
But the miners disagreed with Mr Musenge and accused him of not being interested in their case.
The miners then threatened to walk to Lusaka to have an audience with President Banda and senior bank officials.
Their intended long trek to Lusaka only lasted three minutes after riot police intercepted them.
The former miners then scampered but some were apprehended and bundled into police vans.
They are detained at Kitwe Central Police station.