By ALEX NJOVUTHE United Mineworkers Union of Zambia (UMUZ) has accused the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) of allegedly interfering with its operations.
But MUZ acting president Charles Mukuka has accused UMUZ of having ‘stolen’ 1,000 MUZ members and that his union has nothing to do with an organisation that was ‘dubiously’ registered by the MMD government.
In an interview from Mufulira yesterday, UMUZ general-secretary Wisdom Ngwira said his union will no longer allow MUZ to interfere with its operations.
“We cannot allow these people to continue making our operations difficult. We have an agenda of contributing positively to the well-being of miners and the outlook of the mining sector. Gone are the days when they used to harass us,” Mr Ngwira said.
He said UMUZ is ready to work in harmony with MUZ and dismissed claims that the union was dubiously registered.
“Our records of registration at the Ministry of Labour are straight…procedure was followed. We will not allow anyone from MUZ to frustrate us or interfere with our work.
“We have not stolen any member from MUZ. Miners are joining us because they have seen that we have the capacity to represent them effectively. We are not thieves,” Mr Ngwira said.
He said workers have the right to belong to a union of their choice.
But Mr Mukuka said his union cannot embrace UMUZ because it has allegedly stolen over 1, 000 MUZ members.
“In fact, it is us in MUZ who are being harassed by UMUZ. They stole our members, 1, 000 members were stolen by UMUZ. We cannot embrace them in any way,” Mr Mukuka said.
Mr Mukuka said MUZ will continue working with Government to develop the mining sector.
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