Miners warn of countrywide strike

Miners warn of countrywide strike
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Friday, April 03, 2009 7:04:50 PM

THE Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has threatened a general countrywide strike in the industry should Mopani and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) go ahead in further retrenching a total of 2751 workers respectively. Mopani and KCM are soon expected to lay off 1400 and 1351 workers respectively.

And MUZ president Rayford Mbulu has observed that the government has not shown relevance in coming up with pragmatic steps to restrain mining companies from indiscriminately sending workers to the streets.

Briefing the press at Katilungu House in Kitwe on Thursday, Mbulu said peaceful means had failed the union and that they would have no choice but to show solidarity to their colleagues that had already been sent to the streets by going on a general strike.

He said miners wanted to show the nation that without them the countryÕs economy would be paralysed and that they were tired of only being recognized in statistics of their contribution to the countryÕs Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

ÒWe shall now take the law into our own hands. We have to react with the kind of force that will prevent further job losses because a poor manÕs liberty lies in the use of a sword and to every liberty there is shedding of blood,Ó Mbulu warned.

He further warned that Mopani would not be allowed to selectively hand over assets to the government adding that they had information that the company was going ahead in putting Mufulira mine on permanent closure.

ÒMopani wants to keep the smelter and refinery in Mufulira and hand over the concentrator and shaft to government but we are saying no to this because this is equal to handing over liabilities to government. Let them come out in the open and say they have failed,Ó he added.

ÒWe have credible information suggesting that Mopani are willing to continue running operations at Nkana mine on condition that they are allowed to retrench a total of 1400 workers. We say no to this and we will not tolerate such kind of action by Mopani to hand over assets selectively. If they go ahead, they will be met with the kind of physical resistance that they have never seen before.Ó

Mbulu further said the union had reliable information that Mopani had been stripping assets and taking them to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo where they had vested interests.

He said the union had told the government through the line ministries of labour and mines to impose a ban on internal or external movement of mining equipment unless such equipment was coming from outside Zambia.

Mbulu said it would be difficult for other willing and credible buyers to take over a mine that had its assets stripped.

And Mbulu expressed disappointment at State House authorities for refusing to grant an appointment for members of his union to meet President Rupiah Banda.

ÒThere is a time when we can interact with ministers but there is a time when we need to meet the head of State. We have written four consecutive letters to meet the President but the response has been negative. At a stroke of a pen, party cadres can see the President,Ó amidst shouts of shame, by MUZ branch officials.