MUZ backs Kambwili's stance on investors

MUZ backs Kambwili's stance on investors
By Darious Kapembwa and Mwila Chansa-Ntambi
Sun 05 Feb. 2012, 12:59 CAT

THE Mine Workers Union has backed Chishimba Kambwili's tough stance against Chinese investors that abrogate the country's labour laws.

MUZ president Oswell Munyenyembe said in Kitwe yesterday that those that were condemning Kambwili, who is now sports and youth minister following the realignment of ministries by President Michael Sata on Friday, did not know how stubborn some Chinese investors were and how much they mistreated Zambian workers.

"Kambwili is just okay; the Chinese have been mistreating Zambian workers for a long time. They shot 11 miners in Sinazongwe last year. Miners have really suffered at the hands of the Chinese and those that are today condemning Kambwili have been silent when these Chinese have been mistreating their fellow Zambians," Munyenyembe said.

He added that complaints against Chinese investors' mistreatment of Zambian workers were not new but that they had persisted because of inaction.

"The Chinese can't bend if they are not handled by someone who is strong," Munyenyembe said.

He said while investment needed to be supported, it was also important that investors adhered to the provisions of the law.

Munyenyembe added that investment was supposed to benefit both the investors and people in the host nation where those investors invested and that if labour laws were abrogated, then that investment risked becoming futile.

Kambwili has recently come under fire from some sections of society for his hard-line stance against some investors that are abrogating labour laws.

Last week, Kambwili ordered the revocation of the work permit for Sinozam Friendship Hospital chief medical officer Dr Xisheng Qin, a Chinese national, for allegedly being rude.

Kambwili who toured Sinozam Hospital to verify alleged reports of poor conditions of service for employees was upset with Dr Xisheng when he started scolding him for quizzing him over the workers' conditions of service.

Kambwili and Dr Xisheng took each other on, calling each other rude.

Dr Xisheng said Kambwili was being rude by pointing at him while talking.

Kambwili asked his ministry officials to contact the Ministry of Home Affairs so that Dr Xisheng's work permit could be cancelled and gave him seven days to leave Zambia.

But President Sata, in announcing the realignment of ministries, said he made the changes to curb statements that had the potential to alarm the nation and investors alike.

"I would like to direct that the portfolio of tourism be transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the labour portfolio be transferred from youth and sport to Ministry of Information, it shall be known as Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour," President Sata said.

"As a government, we have to be level-headed and not be seen to be inciting the public. I expect ministers to discourage strikes and lock-outs. Strikes or industrial unrests have a very negative effect on a fragile economy like ours. The same applies to lock-outs."

He said if not careful, some of the alarming statements had the potential to destroy the little the country has or the little strides it had made economically so far.

President Sata said the government knew that there were numerous shortcomings in almost all sectors but they would not be addressed through threats and being loud-mouthed.