Maravi

Kagem guard strips minerin search of emeralds

Kagem guard strips miner in search of emeralds
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Monday, October 19, 2009 7:01:01 AM

A KAGEM Mine security guard of Asian origin stripped naked a Zambian miner in search of suspected stolen emeralds. Sources told The Post that on October 8, the guard identified as Guyung Yogendra, stripped Davison Mwila whom he suspected of concealing emeralds in his underwear.

The sources said Mwila, who was on duty was sent by his supervisor to get water and that on his way out, Yogendra searched him as per procedure. The sources said on searching Mwila, Yogendra found that he wore underwear that had a zip and he stripped him on suspicion that he might have concealed an emerald.

They said when Kagem mine workers heard that Mwila had been stripped naked, they protested against the action.

The sources indicated that when Kagem Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) officials got wind of the incident, they reported the matter to the police.

Other sources complained that Kagem security officers of Asian origin sometimes use dehumanising methods to search mine workers whom they suspected of stealing emeralds.

The sources said there had been instances where the officers would strip workers and even go to the extent of inserting fingers in the anus of an employee suspected of stealing emeralds.

They further said a senior state security officer and Lufwanyama district commissioner Evans Pwele held meetings with Kagem management over Mwila's incident.

The sources explained that when the union reported the incident to police, state security officials told Yogendra to stay away from work.

The sources feared that Yogendra was being shielded and that Kagem officials were attempting to 'bribe' government officials to facilitate his continued stay in the country.

When contacted for comment, Kagem senior manager for corporate affairs Jonas Mwansa confirmed the stripping of Mwila but said it happened in the normal course of duty.

Mwansa also said there might have been some exaggerations in the way some people reported the matter because there were no witnesses to the incident.

He defended Yogendra, saying Mwila was asked to take off his clothes because he wore two underwear and this raised suspicion.

"This security man suspected he had stolen because he was wearing two things [underwear]," Mwansa said. "He was asked to take off one. The dress code is that he is not supposed to wear two things. People are searched as per normal procedure. In this particular instance he was wearing two pants."

Asked if security officials were allowed to insert their fingers in their employees' anus in the course of searching, Mwansa said he did not think there were any such occurrences.

"It's just that yes, when people want to hide something, they can hide it anywhere," he said. "You have to pampanta [search thoroughly] everywhere...all what has been done is according to the procedure that the security department have put in place. As you know, emerald is not like copper. For copper there is no need for searching people because copper is heavy but for our business, even a small thing is valuable.

And Pwele condemned the stripping of Mwila.

He said though Kagem had the right to search employees, stripping them naked was wrong.

However, Pwele said procedure was not followed in reporting the matter to the police.

He said Mwila, as the victim should have complained to the police.

He said when investigating the matter, police would only go to Mwila and not the union.

Pwele said Mwila needed to get a medical report from police for medical doctors to sign for action to be taken.

However, Pwele said his office was handling the matter with Kagem management and that it would be resolved.

And MMD Lufwanyama constituency chairman Moses Chiyuka demanded Yogendra's deportation or suspension from work.

Chiyuka called on Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima and the Human Rights Commission to investigate the matter.

He said Zambian law had no provision for stripping naked and parading an employee who was suspected of stealing.

Chiyuka said the rights of Zambians needed to be protected.

Labels: EMERALDS, KAGEM, LABOUR

posted by MrK @ 6:01 AM