Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) A Chinese miner killed by Zambian employees in a minimum wage riot

A Chinese miner killed by Zambian employees in a minimum wage riot
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, August 5, 2012, 1:03 pm

A Chinese miner at the embattled Colum Coal mine in Sinazongwe has been killed by Zambian miners in a riot while another one is battling for his life in Mamba hospital.

ZANIS’s Mike Munkombwe Reports that The miners rioted on Saturday to protest against delays by management to implement the newly revised minimum wage. Southern province deputy Police Commissioner Fred Mutondo has confirmed the killing of the Chinese national BUT could not give further details on the matter.

And Sinazongwe district commissioner Dodo Sindaza and Sinazongwe area member of parliament Richwell Siamunene have also confirmed the killing in separate interviews.

Mr Sindaza has identified the deceased as Wu Shengzai aged, 50.

The deceased died on the spot after being hit by a trolley that was pushed towards him by the rioting miners as he ran away into the underground where he wanted to seek refuge.

The miners who refused to work had mobilized themselves and started beating up fellow miners found working.

Mr Lungu said that there will be no sacred cows in enforcing the law and appealed for maximum restraint from workers and employers as government re-visits issues surrounding the revised minimum wage.

And Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu has said that Zambian miners that have killed a Chinese national at the Collumn Coal Mine in Sinazongwe will be prosecuted.

Mr Lungu said that there will be no sacred cows in enforcing the law and appealed for maximum restraint from workers and employers as government re-visits issues surrounding the revised minimum wage. Mr Lungu was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in LUSAKA on yesterday.

Meanwhile, Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda has called for a thorough investigation into the matter saying the murder is unfortunate and regrettable. Mr Shamenda has wondered why the embattled Collumn Coal mine continues to be a place of tension between Zambian workers and Chinese investors.

ZANIS

Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, MINIMUM WAGE, STRIKE

posted by MrK @ 2:04 AM