By ALEX NJOVU
THE Mine Workers’ Union of Zambia (MUZ) has described the Patriotic Front’s intention to stage a demonstration against the firing of workers by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) as a vain attempt to win political support.
And Government says it is monitoring the situation at KCM.
In an interview in Mufulira yesterday, MUZ general-secretary Oswell Munyenyembe said the planned protest is not necessary.
He was reacting to a planned demonstration in solidarity with miners who were fired by KCM after taking part in a riot in Chingola last month.
Mr Munyenyembe said unions are holding talks with KCM management to ensure that all the miners who were fired are re-employed.
He said it is regrettable that some PF officials on the Copperbelt are planning to protest against the firing of miners.
“We are making every effort to ensure that all the miners that were fired are reinstated. KCM management has reinstated eight out of 40 miners that were fired for taking part in the riot after an appeal. Our hope and prayer is that the remaining miners will be reinstated,” Mr Munyenyembe said.
Mr Munyenyembe accused some PF officials of trying to take advantage of the situation.
“We don’t need their sympathy in this matter. We are capable of handling this issue as unions and we are wondering why PF officials want to stage a protest.
“Why should these officials be seen to care now when they are nowhere to be seen during negotiations?” he said.
Mr Munyenyembe said it is sad that some politicians want to take advantage of situations to gain popularity.
“Why should they gain political mileage over this issue that we can handle on our own? They must desist from causing confusion in the mining sector,” Mr Munyenyembe said.
PF Copperbelt chairman Mwenya Musenge said the party will organise a demonstration that will paralyse the operations of mines if the sacked workers are not reinstated.
Mr Musenge, who is Nkana Constituency member of Parliament, said yesterday that his party held its provincial council on Saturday in Chingola where it was resolved that PF members would rally behind the miners who were fired.
“We don’t want to give them a timeframe, but we are appealing to KCM to reinstate the miners that were fired before we organise a protest that will paralyse the mining sector,” Mr Musenge said.
He called on the government to intervene in the matter and address concerns of miners.
Meanwhile, Government is monitoring the situation at KCM and hopes management and the union
will resolve the issue.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Austin Liato said Government is closely watching the situation.
“We are watching the situation closely because we are interested in harmony at places of work, including KCM. It is our hope that the mature union leaders and management will resolve the issue,” Mr Liato said.
He said if there are any other concerns on how the matter should be handled, union leaders should bring those issues to his attention.
Mr Liato said it is not procedural for Government to intervene and disregard the process that KCM management and the union have embarked on.
“I am still waiting for the issue to be resolved by management and the union because I believe that the two parties know the details of who did what,” Mr Liato said.
He said Government will not support the breaking of the law and that there is no room for violence during the process of collective bargaining.
And Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima is confident that stakeholders will find a way forward over KCM’s decision to dismiss some workers for rioting, but that Government will not take sides on the matter.
“We hope KCM will resolve the issue. We believe that Government has created enough cpacity in institutions to attend to such matters. We will not take sides and I believe that at the end of the day, stakeholders will find a way forward,” Mr Mbulakulima said.
Last month, KCM workers damaged property during a protest in which they were demanding a 100 percent salary pay rise.
THE Mine Workers’ Union of Zambia (MUZ) has described the Patriotic Front’s intention to stage a demonstration against the firing of workers by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) as a vain attempt to win political support.
And Government says it is monitoring the situation at KCM.
In an interview in Mufulira yesterday, MUZ general-secretary Oswell Munyenyembe said the planned protest is not necessary.
He was reacting to a planned demonstration in solidarity with miners who were fired by KCM after taking part in a riot in Chingola last month.
Mr Munyenyembe said unions are holding talks with KCM management to ensure that all the miners who were fired are re-employed.
He said it is regrettable that some PF officials on the Copperbelt are planning to protest against the firing of miners.
“We are making every effort to ensure that all the miners that were fired are reinstated. KCM management has reinstated eight out of 40 miners that were fired for taking part in the riot after an appeal. Our hope and prayer is that the remaining miners will be reinstated,” Mr Munyenyembe said.
Mr Munyenyembe accused some PF officials of trying to take advantage of the situation.
“We don’t need their sympathy in this matter. We are capable of handling this issue as unions and we are wondering why PF officials want to stage a protest.
“Why should these officials be seen to care now when they are nowhere to be seen during negotiations?” he said.
Mr Munyenyembe said it is sad that some politicians want to take advantage of situations to gain popularity.
“Why should they gain political mileage over this issue that we can handle on our own? They must desist from causing confusion in the mining sector,” Mr Munyenyembe said.
PF Copperbelt chairman Mwenya Musenge said the party will organise a demonstration that will paralyse the operations of mines if the sacked workers are not reinstated.
Mr Musenge, who is Nkana Constituency member of Parliament, said yesterday that his party held its provincial council on Saturday in Chingola where it was resolved that PF members would rally behind the miners who were fired.
“We don’t want to give them a timeframe, but we are appealing to KCM to reinstate the miners that were fired before we organise a protest that will paralyse the mining sector,” Mr Musenge said.
He called on the government to intervene in the matter and address concerns of miners.
Meanwhile, Government is monitoring the situation at KCM and hopes management and the union
will resolve the issue.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Austin Liato said Government is closely watching the situation.
“We are watching the situation closely because we are interested in harmony at places of work, including KCM. It is our hope that the mature union leaders and management will resolve the issue,” Mr Liato said.
He said if there are any other concerns on how the matter should be handled, union leaders should bring those issues to his attention.
Mr Liato said it is not procedural for Government to intervene and disregard the process that KCM management and the union have embarked on.
“I am still waiting for the issue to be resolved by management and the union because I believe that the two parties know the details of who did what,” Mr Liato said.
He said Government will not support the breaking of the law and that there is no room for violence during the process of collective bargaining.
And Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima is confident that stakeholders will find a way forward over KCM’s decision to dismiss some workers for rioting, but that Government will not take sides on the matter.
“We hope KCM will resolve the issue. We believe that Government has created enough cpacity in institutions to attend to such matters. We will not take sides and I believe that at the end of the day, stakeholders will find a way forward,” Mr Mbulakulima said.
Last month, KCM workers damaged property during a protest in which they were demanding a 100 percent salary pay rise.
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