Maravi

Ex-miners accuse govt of compromising MUZ

Ex-miners accuse govt of compromising MUZ
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe

FORMER Luanshya miners have accused the government of compromising the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) local officials over the sale of the Luanshya mine.

But MUZ Luanshya Branch chairperson Stanslous Mwimbe yesterday declared that the union members cannot be bought.

The miners who stormed The Post newspaper officers in Kitwe, led by Ben Nonde and Roan member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili, alleged that mines minister Maxwell Mwale recently paid the union officials K1 million each when he addressed them in Luanshya.

“The money was given to the union leaders so that they could not allow miners go ahead with the planned peaceful demonstrations regarding the opening of the mine. We are very disappointed with MUZ leaders. Instead of obtaining a police permit, they decided to go and hold a meeting with mines minister,” alleged the workers.

Kambwili said a few days ago when Mwale addressed the union leaders, members of the press, himself and other government officials were asked to walk out of the meeting so that the union leaders could remain with him (Mwale).

He said some union officials who were part of the meeting and received the K1 million confirmed to him that Mwale had allegedly paid them for safeguarding property at the mine.

Kambwili said it was not the duty of union officials alone to safeguard property at the mine because since its closure, Luanshya residents and ordinary miners had been on alert to secure the property.

He said when the raise boiler machine was taken from the mine, it was not the union officials who raised alarm but ordinary mine workers who did so.

“So paying the miners K1 million each for safeguarding property is tantamount to corruption. He is paying them so that they can support the Chinese investor government wants to take over the Luanshya mine,” alleged Kambwili.

And the miners, in a press statement, accused the union leaders of speaking for the government recently.

“During our usual meetings at 28 Shaft, we requested them to obtain a police permit to enable us carry out a peaceful demonstration, to our surprise they decided to have an audience with the minister of mines Hon. Maxwell Mwale, MP,” they stated.

The former miners said they would accept any credible investor who would be picked competitively and continue running the mine hospital and supporting sports and schools.

“We will accept an investor who will deal with local suppliers and contractors like Prosec and Mpelembe drilling including small and medium entrepreneurs; respect and treat workers with dignity and never employ casuals to work underground, and give them a 10-year initial plan and guarantee the development of the Mulyashi project,” stated the miners. “We do not want second hand information, we want the minister himself to address us, failure to which there will be endless trouble in Luanshya as it was during the Binani time and the police will not stop us.”

And Mwimbe explained that the K1 million paid to the 13 union officials was a substance allowance for safeguarding property at the mine.

He said the money was given to them last week by permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mines Dr Godwin Beene after a meeting with Mwale.

“Six meetings were held with miners in both Roan and Mpatamato, at all the two meetings, the workers accepted that a team of 24 mine officials be part of the team that was safeguarding the property at the mine,” he said.

Mwimbe said a contract was then signed with LCM that the company would be meeting allowances for eight workers while 13 others would have their allowances covered by ZCCM-IH.

He alleged that Kambwili was not just happy with the union leaders because on a number of occasions, the union had opposed his ideas regarding the sale of the mine.

Mwimbe said Kambwili had not been consisted with his stance regarding the sale of Luanshya Copper Mines.

“Earlier, he invited the PUKU, and we hear PUKU bid for the mine, again a week later he brought a Canadian investor by the name of Lion, he later changed his mind and asked miners to demonstrate and ask government to give the mine back to LCM,” Mwimbe said.

He said Kambwili was not only an ordinary member of parliament but he was also a businessman with interests.

Mwimbe complained that Kambwili had also instructed people to beat up union officials, accusing them of being corrupt, and said the union would report the matter to police.

Labels: CORRUPTION, MAXWELL MWALE, MUZ, NUMAW, THE POST

posted by MrK @ 3:15 PM