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Appreciate workers’ efforts, Nchanga MP urges KCM

Appreciate workers’ efforts, Nchanga MP urges KCM
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe and Ernest Chanda
Mon 16 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

ONLY the miners can tell if things have become better for them and not anyone else, former Kitwe mayor Luxon Kazabu has observed. And Nchanga member of parliament Wylbur Simuusa has called on Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to appreciate workers' efforts by paying them reasonably.

Commenting on the protracted differences between the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and President Rupiah Banda, Kazabu said the miners could not be forced to say that things were getting better when they were not getting any benefits. Kazabu said the miners were on the ground and President Banda was speaking from outside.

“The miners are the ones in the picture and as things stand, they are the ones who are in a better position to feel the heat, the rest of us can just express our opinions,” Kazabu said last Thursday.

“The President is speaking from outside and the miners are the ones who are in the picture. Even what I am saying is just opinion but the miners are the ones who can say that actually things are getting better. The miners are the ones who are saying that there is nothing good but the President is entitled to his opinion.”

Kazabu said the ongoing industrial unrest at KCM, the country's biggest copper producer, was a clear indication that things were not good among the workers in the country's lifeblood.

“I get an impression that things are not very good. Even what you are reporting today that Indians are getting US $6, 000 while Zambian employees are getting US $500 when they are doing the same job…so what is happening at KCM, I wouldn't hesitate to say the miners have a good case,” he said.

Kazabu said the huge salary gap between the expatriates and local workers had worsened the industrial status in the mining sector.

Kazabu, who said the removal of windfall mining tax had also worsened the situation, feared that the country would be left with nothing in the post-mining period.

“Even the jobs that you are talking about, it remains to be seen how many of those jobs are long-term…jobs that are sustainable,” Kazabu said.

“Above all I think when the mines come to epilogue, are we going to have something to show for our valuable resource which is copper? At the moment there is nothing to show and why did we remove tax which was self adjusting.”
And Simuusa said KCM should pass on the benefits the government gave them to the miners.

Simuusa said KCM and other mining companies had taken miners for granted.

“Although I'm far away from my country in Qatar at the time of the interview on other national duties, I've been following events in my constituency through The Post online. And my heart bleeds to see that the situation in the mining sector has deteriorated despite my several pleas to this government. I've always said that this government has made all mining companies disrespect Zambia's human capital by allowing these mining companies to abuse their workers,” Simuusa said.

“This government has given a lot of incentives to the mining sector, one of them the abolition of the windfall tax on the mines. Now, we all know that copper prices have soared at the London Metal Exchange. This is a boost to the mining companies which should pass on the same benefits to employees by giving them reasonable wages.”

Simuusa said mining companies had no excuse for them to continue giving their workers slave wages.

“First of all I want to appeal to my colleagues who are on strike to stop breaking property. I ask them to resolve this problem through dialogue with their employers. As for KCM they have no excuse to be abusing our people because they have benefited a lot from this government through various incentives. They should reciprocate by passing on the same benefits to our miners who are making them huge profits. I'll not accept abuse of my people by any investor no matter their investment,” said Simuusa.

Last week, MUZ secretary general Oswell Munyenyembe said President Banda had failed to inspire miners during his one year in office.

However, President Banda's aide Dickson Jere condemned Munyenyembe, saying the government had done a lot to revive the country's mining sector.

But MUZ reiterated Munyenyembe's statement and added that it was a true reflection of the union's position on the challenges faced by miners in the country.

Labels: KCM, LABOUR, MINERS, WYLBUR SIMUUSA

posted by MrK @ 5:07 AM