Law must take its course on anyone who started the riots that resulted in death of a Chinese national-Sakeni
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, August 5, 2012, 6:46 pm
Chief Government Spokesperson, Kennedy Sakeni, has said that the law must take its course on anyone who will be found guilty of causing the riots that resulted in the death of the Chinese national at Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe yesterday.
Mr Sakeni, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said that the issue of minimum wages allows employers and employees a platform and time to dialogue amicably without violence.
He said that there is no need for the miners to go to such extremes as to shed blood on a fellow worker over an issue which is clear and open for dialogue.
Mr Sakeni has urged the Ministry of Labour and law agencies to deal with the case decisively and leave no stone unturned until all those found wanting are brought to book.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) has condemned the killing of a Chinese miner at the embattled Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe.
NUMAW president Mundia Sikufele said that despite his organisation not having membership at the mine, the killing was barbaric and sends a wrong picture about Zambia to the outside world.
ZANIS reports that Mr Sikufele said that the incident shows the need for people to always embrace dialogue whenever they are grieved.
He explained that people should always aim at exhausting the good communication channels rather than engaging in violent activities that could lead to lose of lives.
Mr Sikufele has noted that what the miners did yesterday is disturbing to the labour Movement; hence stringent measures should be taken to ensure that such an incident does not repeat itself in future.
Yesterday a Chinese miner, Wu Shengzai aged, 50, was killed while another is battling for his life after other miners, particularly Zambians, rioted to protest against delays by management to effect the newly revised minimum wage payment.
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 tunnel where he wanted to seek refuge.
And Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda immediately called for thorough investigations into the killing of a Chinese national. Mr Shamenda has regretted that the riots had led to loss of life and described it as unfortunate and regrettable.
Mr Shamenda has wondered why the embattled Collumn Coal Mine continues to be a spot of tension between Zambian workers and Chinese investors. Mr Shamenda has since urged the workers to avoid taking the law into their own hands.
He said that the sad development at the mine should serve as a lesson for all workers and employers to follow the normal channel of communication. Mr. Shamenda who has since traveled to the Mine was speaking in an interview with TV2 News prior to his departure from Lusaka.
Mr Shamenda also said that Government was working out measures to ensure that the hike in the minimum wage does not become a source of industrial protests. Mr Shamenda said that protests and work stoppages negatively affect governments revenue collection.
Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, KENNEDY SAKENI, STRIKE
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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
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COMMENT - "Gashum Muchindu, said he earns
K20,000 a day. Are these the famous 'jobs' that giving away all the country's resources for a bribe will bring to Zambia? K20,000 at K5,000 is $4 per day. Hardly an improvement over $1,- per day. I say give people land, and cheap credit, and they will create their own jobs, which will pay A LOT more than that. It is time for the Zambian government to get serious about taxing the mines.
Collum mine gets ultimatum on safety
By Gift Chanda
Thu 15 Mar. 2012, 12:59 CAT
THE government has given Chinese-run Collum Coal Mine a 30-day ultimatum to improve safety conditions or risk closure. And workers at the mine have threatened to strike over wages.
Well-placed sources disclosed that the ultimatum on Collum Coal Mine was given during a closed-door meeting held recently in Lusaka with the three Chinese brothers who own the mine in Sinazongwe.
Sources said the mine was given up to end of March to implement a set of guidelines that border on safety, failure to which the mine risks being shut down.
"During the meeting, the officials from the Ministry of Mines made it clear that if safety standards are not improved at the mine, government will not hesitate to close the mine," the source said.
"The mine has been problematic from way back and it is clear that the mining method in use is not the best. So the government told them to look into that as well. They were also told to provide safety gear for the workers."
Early this year, then mines minister Wylbur Simuusa threatened to revoke the mine's licence and shut down its operations due to poor safety standards.
Simuusa expressed sadness at the way the mine was being run by the Chinese, saying it was clear that the owners were totally disregarding safety standards and did not even have qualified personnel approved by the Ministry of Mines to run the mine.
A miner early this year died while underground after a rock-fall occurred at shaft 3 at the mine. And workers at the mine have complained of poor working conditions. They have threatened to down tools if their conditions are not improved. The workers complained of working long hours with little pay. They accused management of threatening them with dismissals whenever they complained about wages.
An underground worker, Gashum Muchindu, said he earns K20,000 a day for loading a 75-tonne bucket with raw coal.
"All the workers have agreed to down tools if salaries remain the same at the end of this month," said Rodgers Sinda, a mine representative.
Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, LABOUR, WYLBUR SIMUUSA
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COMMENT - K50 million is $10,000.
Collum mine compensates family of deceased worker
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Fri 27 Jan. 2012, 13:59 CAT [183 Reads, 0 Comment(s)]
MANAGEMENT at the Chinese-run Collum Coal Mine has paid out K50 million to the family of Gibson Siachivwenya who died when a rock fell on him at shaft three on January 18 this year. According to a letter addressed to Southern Province minister Miles Sampa, Collum Coal Mine has reduced its productivity tasks to 70 coal tramcars from 75 for each team.
"The deceased miners' family has got the compensation cash of K50 million and the coal mine paid off at once. We two parties also made one compensation agreement to look after the other coal miners according to Zambian Laws after recovery. Fortunately, one miner Doubt Mudenda has already been discharged from hospital and the other one Maiya Wispow will be discharged within two weeks," Collum Coal mine stated.
The mine management has also advised miners and supervisors to follow safety standards.
Collum Coal Mine further stated that it took care of all the funeral expenses for Siachivwenya and paid all medical fees for Wispow and Mudenda.
"We apologise to the families. Up to now, the current situation is that management has taken some action about this accident. Firstly, we stopped production for seven days from January 18 as guided by safety rules," Collum Coal mine stated.
The mine management stated that the rock that fell on the three miners in shaft three weighed more than two tonnes and killed Siachivwenya on the spot.
Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, COLLUM COAL MINE, LABOUR, MILES SAMPA, MINING
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Flashback: The mine shooting case as seen by the West
Thursday, December 9, 2010, 12:34
Hundreds of angry Collum Coal miners pushed toward the locked gate at Shaft 3, shouting and cursing as they neared the Chinese mine managers, who understood neither the English nor the Tonga words of the mob. As the workers butted up against the fence, the bosses grew more fearful and finally two fired their shotguns.
The Zambian miners scrambled in terror. Bodies pivoted, jounced and stumbled. Boston Munakazela did not know he was hit until he suddenly fell over and saw the blood on his chest and arms. Vincent Chenjele was knocked off his bicycle with a hole ripped in his belly. Wisborn Simutombo, bleeding from his arms, legs and stomach, pleaded with friends to pull him to safety across the coal-dusted road.
“We weren’t going to hurt them,” Mr. Simutombo, 25, said recently, displaying scars left by the spray of shotgun pellets, but maybe the Chinese didn’t understand that. “They were quick to shoot us though, and in Zambia the Chinese can get away with anything.”
As in many other African nations, the Chinese are an enormous economic presence in this impoverished but mineral-rich country, and their treatment of local workers has become an explosive political issue, presenting an awkward balancing act for governments desperate for foreign investment. “We’re an economy in transition, and we can’t afford to lose the cow that gives us milk today,” said Labor Minister Austin Liato.
Chinese investment here amounted to $1.2 billion in just the past year, according to the government. Nearly two-thirds of new construction involves Chinese-run companies, said Li Qiangmin, the Chinese ambassador in Lusaka, the capital. In this nation of 12 million where a small minority of workers, perhaps one in 10, have salaried employment, the 25,000 jobs provided by Chinese-backed businesses and projects are badly needed.
But many Zambians complain that these powerful foreigners are permitted to play by their own rules, plundering the country more than developing it and abusing workers as they go.
The wounding of 13 miners in a labor dispute at the Collum mine last month once again brought these raw feelings to the surface, revealing conditions at a coal mine where men walk more than 1,000 steps into the earth to slosh through dark and frequently unsafe tunnels. They are paid about $4 a day and say they are expected to work every day of the year.
“We do not have support timbers everywhere they need to be, and we have no masks to protect us from the coal dust,” said Boston Sikalamba, 21, who was buried for several minutes by a cave-in this month. “After the dynamite is set, there’s nothing to do about the dust but breathe it, and if you are slow at your work, the Chinese beat you.”
The Collum mine has been owned for the past nine years by a Chinese businessman, Xu Jianxue. His four younger brothers operate the mine’s four shafts, employing 855 workers, including 62 Chinese supervisors.
Shaft 3, near the site of the shooting, is a steep, narrow pit, barely wide enough for both a man and the loaded coal bins that move on a single thin track to the top. The only light along the way comes from the miner’s headlamp. Water trickles from the ceiling. There are no toilets below, and the miners say they use abandoned tunnels when they have the need.
Most of the Chinese know only a few words of English and Tonga, languages commonly spoken in this part of the country. On occasion, they tell the miners, “Tomorrow, job takwi,” using the Tonga word for “nothing,” meaning there will be no work. Such unexpected days off were at the root of the dispute.
Year after year, two unions have signed deals with Collum Coal, precisely spelling out benefits like a Christmas bonus and transportation allowances.
But these pacts are routinely ignored by the company, the unions say, and while workers bemoan the unremitting work schedule, their biggest gripe is getting docked for days when broken machinery or an oversupply of coal on the market leaves them idle.
Xu Jianrui, the brother who operates Shaft 3, denied in a phone interview that the miners were overworked or mistreated. “They have four or five days off every month because they need to go to church,” he said, speaking in Chinese. “You know, they are kind of lazy. They work like 10 to 15 days but want a full month’s salary.”
Since the shooting, Zambia’s labor commissioner, Noah Siasimuna, has been drawn into the dispute. Atop his desk is a thick folder about Collum Coal, but most of the paperwork is new. No signed labor agreement with the company was ever filed with his office as required by law, he said. Nor did the unions formally report any noncompliance.
Mr. Siasimuna, like the labor minister, Mr. Liato, cautioned against any conclusion that impugned Chinese businesses as worse than others. “We have bad employers that come from everywhere, including Zambia,” Mr. Liato said.
The unions, however, say Chinese owners are indeed their biggest headache. And, contradicting the government, the president of the Gemstone and Allied Workers Union of Zambia, Sifuniso Nyumbu, was able to produce contracts with Collum that had the signed and stamped approval of the commissioner’s office as well as letters from the Labor Ministry acknowledging union complaints about the company.
“The Chinese promise to implement a deal, then claim they forgot or there was an oversight,” Mr. Nyumbu said. “The union doesn’t have enough money to keep sending people down to Collum Coal, and when our members there speak up, they get fired.”
The union’s leaders were frustrated by their own feebleness. Early last month, Mr. Nyumbu implored workers to refuse their monthly wages if the payment was docked for work days missed. Solidarity was essential to the protest, and on Oct. 15, when miners at Shaft 2 heard that men at Shaft 3 were accepting reduced pay, they boldly marched up the road, calling for the others to follow the union’s instructions.
They were met at the gate to Shaft 3 by the Chinese supervisors. The Xu family is from Leping in Jiangxi Province, and most of the men they recruit as managers are former miners from the same place, said Xu Jianrui. They live in a modest compound, electric fans chasing the heat from their small rooms. On a recent morning, wet clothes hung on a long wire line outdoors. The carcass of a skinned pig dangled beside them.
The two supervisors who used their shotguns, Xiao Lishan and Wu Jiuhua, refused to be interviewed. But Mr. Xu, who was not present at the confrontation, said one of the men aimed into the air and the other fired into the ground, causing dozens of pellets to ricochet. He said the managers feared for their lives when the mob began heaving stones.
“We had four people injured in the head and thigh,” he said.
A dozen miners, questioned separately, denied anything was thrown. Whatever happened, it was portrayed in much of the local press as an outrage, reminding people of a 2005 tragedy when 46 Zambians died in an accident at a Chinese-owned explosives factory.
Michael Sata, an opposition leader who has long used anti-Chinese sentiment for political combustion, denounced the spilling of “innocent blood” by “merciless so-called investors.” But President Rupiah Banda said singling out the Chinese was unfair. One local newspaper quoted him as saying, “Everyday, people are shot by Zambians, are shot by white people, are shot by the Americans, they are shot by everybody.”
The two supervisors were arrested and charged with attempted murder, though they are now free on bail. Critics of the Banda government expect the case to be whitewashed.
“The Chinese finance the ruling party, so the government is their captive,” said Lee Habasonda, the director of a prominent pro-democracy group.
This is a common assumption of civic crusaders, though one offered without proof. Mr. Li, the Chinese ambassador, denied any interference in Zambian politics. “It is against our principles,” he said over tea at the embassy.
The shooting has distressed the Chinese. Mr. Li pointed out that Collum Coal is a private company and is not registered with Chinese authorities. In fact, Xu Jianxue, the owner, now claims Australian citizenship, he said. He called the episode a “private matter,” and yet he said the embassy had “ordered” — a word he later changed to “urged” — the company to settle its labor problems and pay the medical bills of the wounded miners.
Last Monday was another pay day. As usual, the workers were told to line up 10 at a time to collect their cash. They happily discovered that the compensation included back wages for the days they had not worked.
[A version of this article appeared in print on November 21, 2010, on page A8 of the New York edition]
Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, CORRUPTION, LABOUR
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COMMENT - K450,000 is $90 per month. Don't let anyone every argue for foreign ownership of the mines because 'they're bringing jobs'. Any government which cannot create jobs that pay more than $90 per month needs to step aside. Resign.
MP accuses national leaders of allowing Chinese’s misdeeds
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Wed 17 Nov. 2010, 04:00 CAT
NKANA parliamentarian Davies Mwila says the Chinese investors disregard Zambian labour laws with the blessings of the government. Mwila, the PF chairperson for labour, questioned Southern Province minister Elijah Muchima’s involvement in the negotiations for salary packages for Collum Coal Mine workers.
Last Sunday, Muchima met management at the Chinese-owned Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe and negotiated for salaries and conditions of service. According to the new conditions, the lowest paid miner will receive K450,000 per month.
But Mwila said Muchima’s role amounted to total interference in the bargaining process because only unions and management were allowed to negotiate according to the labour Act.
He said the government, through the labour ministry, could only intervene if a dispute arose.
“The Zambian people have complained about the attitude of Chinese mining investors who have refused to sign recognition agreements with unions such as MUZ and they prefer to negotiate with government officials,” Mwila said. “Anyway, this is why the Chinese are disregarding Zambian laws with impunity since they have blessings from the MMD government hence Muchima going to negotiate on behalf of workers.”
He said Muchima’s involvement in the matter was suspicious.
“The MMD should keep away and leave everything to the unions and if those Chinese are genuine mining investors why can’t government compel them to negotiate with unions? Even at Sino Metals, NFCA, it is the same situation for the workers and for how long will government negotiate, taking over the role of unions?” asked Mwila. “But one thing which is clear is that the Chinese at Collum Coal Mine are dealing direct with the MMD government to pay for their misdeeds alleged shooting at the mines and the MMD will ask for a favour later.”
Labels: CHINESE, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, DAVIES MWILA, LABOUR
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Call for closure of Collum Coal Mine
By Mubanga Luchembe
Thu 04 Nov. 2010, 03:59 CAT
Editor,
I cannot help responding in support of the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) deputy general secretary in charge of finance and administration Adams Chipeta for having demanded the closure of Collum Coal Mine pending resolution of all unresolved safety, health, financial, legal and compensation concerns.
Locals who were not shocked by the shooting of about 11 Zambians working for this Chinese-owned mine in Sinazongwe, perhaps, do not understand Chinese investment in Zambia at all. China, contrary to MMD’s official claims, does attach conditions to its investments. For instance, the profits are externalised, leaving the locals poorer and empty-handed. The working conditions are also terrible. Unlike the MMD ruling elite who enjoy all the deal outcomes, the rest of ordinary Zambians languish in abject poverty.
Albeit the close ties between Zambia and China go back decades, today Zambia is not only the destination for an ever-increasing number of Chinese goods, but also its nationals – doctors, farmers, engineers, shop owners and market traders among others.
Not only are the Chinese seen as killing local businesses, but their commitment to health and safety regulations is questionable.
Medicines are labelled in Mandarin in breach of Zambian health legislation. These are immoral and harmful things which ordinary Zambians must all stand up against.
Let us be clear, Chinese do not treat locals as human beings. To the Chinese, locals do not deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
So what is to be done? Calls for closure of Collum Coal Mine are justified and must be heed. But structural change is also needed and educating the Chinese managers in local labour, health and safety regulations - with great emphasis that Zambian workers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
Yes, Zambian workers should be taught that Chinese migration can also be a positive force for economic growth. After all, Zambia’s relative success can, in part, be attributed to the arrival of skilled, entrepreneurial labour from China.
Still, without saying much, the response to Chipeta’s demand must come quickly and decisively from the MMD leadership.
Failure to do so could mean that union and government leaders will be fire-fighting Chinese-related labour disputes at Collum Coal Mine and other Chinese-owned businesses for some time to come.
Mubanga Luchembe,
Lusaka
Labels: ADAMS CHIPETA, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, MUBANGA LUCHEMBE, NUCIW
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Collum mine heeds directive to improve working conditions
By Sandra Lombe, Chiwoyu Sinyangwe and Darius Kapambwe
Tue 02 Nov. 2010, 03:59 CAT
THE Chinese management at Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe have complied with the government’s ultimatum to improve working conditions for the workers.
And the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) is today expected to sign a collective agreement with the owners of Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe to help improve working conditions.
Meanwhile, National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) deputy general secretary in charge of finance and administration Adams Chipeta has demanded the closure of Collum Coal Mine pending resolution of all the unresolved safety concerns.
The government recently gave the mine management an ultimatum to improve the conditions of service for the workers by October 30, 2010 following the shooting of 11 employees after they protested over poor conditions of service.
Speaking yesterday at provincial minister Elijah Muchima’s office, Shaft Three director Xu Jianrui said they would abide by the government's directive.
“We shall follow the law of Zambia,” he said.
He said management would also help the injured miners.
“This story shooting incident is first and the last one...No more. We can promise,” he said.
Xu said they would change the design of the mine so that water from their operations did not go into the stream.
“We will put affordable toilets underground to keep it clean,” said Xu.
And Muchima said he was happy that Collum mine management had complied with the directive.
“Our colleagues the Chinese directors at the mine have complied with the orders and are now working with the Ministry of Labour on conditions and they have agreed to comply with the conditions and health,” he said.
“But I was not happy with the director Xu; he nearly refused to come to our office. I have mentioned he should not confuse our provincial administration. He has apologised and said they will oblige,” he said.
Muchima said the government had enjoyed good relations with China for a long time.
“We are people of laws and we have to abide. They have to make the environment conducive...underground toilets to make it safe for the miners, including uniforms. They are going to comply by all laws, labour, health, mines. We want to make sure they are not to blame for cholera outbreak. We shall have our eye on this mine,” he said. “Other companies are doing well in the province. I was at Fallsway Timber. The conditions are excellent; their workers are getting between K295,000 and K3.5 million. There is water, lunch allowance, gender balance.”
And Muchima said the injured miners were being looked after and given food.
“They are working on a package. The pupil will be supported in his education for three years and make sure he is strong and fit,” he said.
“We are happy they have taken steps. People will be paid according to the law.”
Muchima said he would visit the mine on November 13 to check on the situation and the victims.
“I wanted to go tomorrow today but they are finalising with labour office. Politicians should not get a mile out of it. It’s something that happened which is unfortunate,” said Muchima.
And MUZ general secretary Oswell Munyenyembe said the union wanted to step in to help improve the conditions of service at the mine which had been characterised by low pay and lax safety standards.
Munyenyembe said the signing of the collective agreement would enable MUZ to represent the miners at the Sinazongwe-based coal mine.
“We had a tripartite meeting with the Labour Commissioner, the Chinese and ourselves; that was on Thursday last week,” Munyenyembe said. “So, we came with the proposal that we want our members there to join. So, we are going back to Lusaka on Tuesday to sign the collective agreement.”
Currently, two Chinese mine managers – Xiao Li Shan and Wu Jiu Hua – of Collum Coal Mine are appearing before courts after they allegedly shot and injured 12 miners who were protesting against their working conditions on October 15.
The two have been charged with attempted murder.
And Munyenyembe said some Chinese-operated mines still subjected Zambian workers to “very pathetic” working conditions.
“Some mines, the conditions are worse… the reason is that we are not there,” said Munyenyemba.
“Where we have been recognised as representative of the workers, we have improved the conditions of service, but where the Chinese were reluctant to accept us, we took them to court; the court ruled in our favour but still can’t recognise us and we have taken them back to court.”
And in an interview in Kitwe, Chipeta said Collum mine operations must be suspended for stakeholders to resolve issues.
He said workers’ safety concerns and conditions of service had been outstanding for a long time.
Chipeta said the government failed to act when former Southern Province minister Alice Simango openly wept when the Chinese were sending miners to work under ground without protective clothing.
And Chipeta said the form of compensation to Collum mine shooting victims should be treated differently because the miners were not injured in the process of carrying out their duties but deliberately shot at by frightened managers.
“This is criminal and the perpetrators of that violence must be declared criminals before anyone is compensated. And we want to see the wheels of justice to be moving in this matter because if this (shooting) was committed in China by a Zambian, right now death sentences could have been passed,” Chipeta said.
He demanded that the compensations be made public and should not be treated with secrecy.
Chipeta accused the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions of not doing anything to advocate justice for the injured miners.
“As a congress, there is totally nothing they have done; it’s priorities are upside down. This is why we are calling for regime change in the congress because how can they be busy commenting on unrelated issues when issues that are directly bordering on its core values are going unchecked by the congress?” asked Chipeta.
Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, LABOUR, MINERS, NUCIW
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Compensating shooting victims will undermine justice - Sata
By Ernest Chanda
Mon 01 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has observed that
compensating Sinazongwe shooting victims before concluding the court process is tantamount to rigging justice.Reacting to labour minister Austin Liato's statement that all victims in the Collum Coal Mine shooting will be compensated, Sata said the action would undermine the judiciary since the offence was criminal in nature and still in court.
He said the government should not defend managers who shot the miners by what he termed compensation in form of bribery.
“First of all, this means that they sent Vice-President George Kunda to China to go and advocate for those compensations. George Kunda just told the Chinese government that if you compensate these miners, then that's it, there will be no prosecution. Now, this is clear rigging of justice which is happening right under our noses,” Sata said.
“Rupiah Banda is trying to protect the Chinese at the expense of his own people. And he sent his boy George Kunda to China to trade those miners' dignity with MMD campaign funds from the Chinese. Shooting is a criminal offence. And the case is still active in court, so why is Liato talking about compensation now? Why not leave that to the courts to determine?”
Sata compared President Rupiah Banda to Judas Iscariot, who betrayed his master.
“The people of Zambia are Rupiah Banda's masters, and he is supposed to be defending them. But because he loves money like Judas, he has sold his own people in exchange for Chinese money. This explains why Rupiah Banda has never condemned the Chinese managers who shot those miners in Sinazongwe; he has been quiet about it. This is pure corruption and bribery,” said Sata.
Addressing the media on Friday, Liato said the committee the government set up to look into the shooting incident and conditions of service for workers at the mine would conclude its work by the end of this week.
Liato said the public would also be informed about the results of the committee’s work.
And speaking through an interpreter, director of the coal mine Xu Jian Ling said his company would compensate the victims according to Zambian labour laws.
Xu also pledged to render more and necessary help to the victims when need arose.
Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, MICHAEL SATA
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Collum shooters should be tried in Zambia - Dr Chiputa
By Agness Changala
Thu 28 Oct. 2010, 03:59 CAT
UNIVERSITY of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) president Dr Euston Chiputa has charged that the recent shooting incident that occurred at the Chinese-run coal mine in Sinazongwe district has exposed the country’s failure to enforce its own laws.
Dr Chiputa said it was unacceptable that foreign investors coming into the country should begin to shoot at innocent Zambians. He said the two Chinese managers should be tried by the Zambian courts and if found guilty, they should be sentenced.
“I strongly disagree with fellow Zambians who are arguing that the two should be deported. They must face the law,” he said.
“Perhaps if they were diplomats they would be deported, but they are not.”
He said it was also unfortunate that leaders in Zambia only reacted when someone had been injured.
Dr Chiputa, like many others, recalled that a few years ago, former Southern Province minister Alice Simango shed tears at the pathetic conditions under which miners were operating at Collum Coal mine.
He observed that the shooting happened because leaders in the government had forgotten about the plight of the workers. Dr Chiputa said if the problems of poor conditions of service were looked into, the shooting would not have taken place.
On some government officials who were accusing the opposition and others commenting on the matter of being political, Dr Chiputa said being political on such a matter was inevitable.
“...And all Zambians who feel aggrieved deserve to talk about it,” said Dr Chiputa.
Two weeks ago, eleven workers at the Chinese-run Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district were allegedly shot at and wounded by managers after they protested over poor conditions of service.
Among those who were shot and wounded was 20-year-old Vincent Chenjela, a grade eight pupil at Nkandabbwe Basic School in Sinazongwe. Chenjela went to work at the mine to raise school fees.
Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, EUSTON CHIPUTA, UNZALARU, VINCENT CHENJELA
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COMMENT - Absolutely amazing. The MMD got rid of universal healthcare and replaced it with a fee based system. They shifted the tax burden from the mines to workers by giving foreign owned mines decade long tax holiday and increasing PAYE (Pay As You Earn) income tax. They bend over backwards to corruptly defend foreign investors, so they take the investors side over the side of their own people.
And now, when a young guy is shot by these same investors, his family must come up with the money for his hospital treatment. An absolute disgrace.
Collum Coal Mine shooting victim seeks help
By Mutale Kapekele
Thu 28 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
The youngest victim of the 11 Collum Coal Mine shooting is stranded in Lusaka after being discharged from the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) following a stomach operation. 20-year-old Vincent Chenjele, a grade eight pupil at Kandabwe Basic School, was shot twice in the stomach and a third pellet pierced his chest.
In a walk-in interview, Chenjele’s father Leonard Kapwizi said he had no money to take his son back to Sinazongwe and the mine had not provided any logistics for the victims.
“It has been difficult because even the money to go to the hospital was just borrowed from the neighbours and now we don’t have transport money to go back to Sinazongwe,” Kapwizi said.
“Travelling on public transport is going to be difficult looking at the operation that is still far from healing and on top of that, we have to come back on the fifth of November for review.”
Kapwizi said the government should ensure that the victims of the shooting received compensation from the Chinese-owned Collum Coal Mine.
“My son is a grade eight pupil who works part time at the mine to raise school fees. This shooting has left lifelong effects on the boy and he will have to find employment that is not labour intensive, otherwise he never do what he was able to do before,” he said. “The government and the mine should compensate the victims. They Collum Mine have not visited the victims at the UTH and have not provided any logistics. If the government does not act, it is possible that the victims will not get any compensation from the mine. I doubt that they will pay.”
He complained that Chinese investors were taking the country back to the pre-colonial days.
“This situation in Sinazongwe should be changed because the Chinese investors are taking us back to the pre-independence period which is not acceptable,” Kapwizi said. “The Chinese don’t care about human life and just do what they want. If that is the way they live in their country, someone should tell them that this is a democracy with a different business environment. Zambia is independent so why should we suffer.”
And the UPND demanded that the Chinese embassy should ensure that the victims got compensation.
UPND chairman for logistics Sibote Sibote, who accompanied the victim, said his party expected the government to secure compensation for the 11 victims.
He said Chinese investors needed orientation on how to conduct business and how to behave in a democratic state.
“We understand that they come from an environment that supports dictatorial attitudes but this is not China,” said Sibote. “We demand that they compensate the victims and urge the government to ensure that they get that compensation.”
Labels: CHINESE, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, LABOUR, MINERS, VINCENT CHENJELE
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Chinese managers questioned over shooting of11 Zambian coal miners
Statements have been taken by police from two Chinese managers over incident in which eleven protesting miners were shot and wounded.
Author: Chris Mfula
Posted: Saturday , 16 Oct 2010
LUSAKA (Reuters) -
Zambian police on Saturday questioned two Chinese managers over the shooting and wounding of 11 miners protesting over pay and conditions, an official said.
Sinazongwe district commissioner Oliver Pelete told Reuters that police had recorded statements from the two managers at Chinese-owned Collum Mine Ltd., about 325 km (200 miles) south of Lusaka, in connection with Friday's shooting.
"The police have opened a case record and are now awaiting the advice of the director of public prosecutions on whether to proceed with the case," Pelete said.
Police said on Friday they were investigating whether people associated with the Chinese owners may have opened fire on the protesting miners when they confronted management.
Pelete said two of the miners with serious bullet wounds had been transferred to a bigger hospital in Lusaka for surgery. The other nine were out of danger.
"The situation at the mine is calm and production should resume by tomorrow because the management agreed to address the concerns of the miners," Pelete said.
A Chinese embassy spokesman told Reuters on Saturday there had been tension between the Chinese owners of the mine and local employees leading to the shooting incident, but refused to comment further.
Collum Mine Ltd. supplies coal to mines in the mineral-rich Copperbelt and to Zambia's largest cement producer, a unit of France's Lafarge.
(Reporting by Chris Mfula, Editing by Gugulakhe Lourie and Mark Trevelyan)
© Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved
Labels: CHINESE, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, LABOUR, MINERS, OLIVER PELETE
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COMMENT - All excellent points. The Rupiah Banda government is treating this shooting as an issue that should not embarrass their 'friends'. They are corrupt to the core.
Kabimba accuses Rupiah of trivialising Sinazongwe shooting
By Chibaula Silwamba
Mon 25 Oct. 2010, 11:30 CAT
WYNTER Kabimba has charged that President Rupiah Banda does not care about the lives of Zambians that are shot and wounded.
Commenting on President Banda’s statement that people must not single out the Chinese and create phobia against them over the shooting and wounding of 11 Zambians working for the Chinese-owned Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district, Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Kabimba condemned President Banda for trivialising the shootings and not showing concern for the victims of the brutality. “We expect him as head of state to be concerned when a life of a human being is threatened by another human being. That is the line we expect him to take. His saying these incidents are common is not to show concern as head of state for the lives of Zambians. He doesn’t seem to care,” said Kabimba, a lawyer, in an interview.
“If the Chinese ambassador himself has acknowledged that the wrong has been committed, it will be wrong for the President to generalise the problem; we are talking about a particular incident here, and as head of state, what I would have expected him to say is not to trivialise the matter. The way he is approaching this problem, from his comment, he is trivialising the matter.” He said President Banda’s statement was demeaning to the victims. “These are human beings; these are Zambian nationals. If the Chinese ambassador himself says they are sorry that this incident has happened, the President cannot say, ‘but these people are being shot every day by Americans, by Zambians and everybody’.
That is not the point. The point is that the shooting of any human being must be condemned,” Kabimba said. “Nobody is condemning this incident because those that involved are Chinese. I think the reaction would have been the same even if it had been another national.” He explained that early this year, when then deputy minister of health and Chitambo parliamentarian Dr Solomon Musonda shot and wounded a PF member Jackson Musaka in Serenje district, people condemned the legislator. “That was the shooting by a Zambian. But we didn’t hear, and up to now we have not heard, the President condemn Dr Solomon Musonda.
The statement that he made was that ‘let us find out why he did what he did’. So, he wanted to find out the justification for Dr Solomon Musonda having shot at a defenseless citizen and that is a line he President Banda is taking even in this Sinazongwe incident,” Kabimba said. He said this was not the first time President Banda was defending culprits in shooting incidents going by his defence of Dr Musonda and now the Chinese.
“I was shocked with his reaction over Dr Solomon Musonda’s incident. This is the second time he is doing that,” said Kabimba.
“We can judge him by his statements that he does not care about the lives of human beings, going by his own words, and nobody is putting words in his mouth.”
Two Chinese nationals on Friday last week shot and wounded 11 Zambian workers at Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe after the locals demanded improved conditions of service and salaries. But on Thursday President Banda, in defence of the Chinese, said it was not good to incite people against them.
“I think let’s be careful that we don’t single out people. Every day people are shot by Zambians, are shot by white people, are shot by the Americans; they are shot by everybody. You know this business of Chinese! Chinese! It’s like you want to create a phobia against people. It’s obviously wrong,” said President Banda. CK/FM
Labels: CHINESE, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, MINERS, RUPIAH BANDA, WYNTER KABIMBA
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COMMENT - It should be clear to everyone that neoliberal economists and exponents of their supply side economics have no sympathy for the workers at all. Recently minister Musokotwane stated that there would be no significant reduction for at least 30 years. Obviously, he is comfortable with that. As long as there is 'economic activity', even if that activity is the robbing blind of Zambia's resources, they are ok with that. And if Zambian workers die, that is just an inconvenience to them. they are more concerned with how quickly those workers can be replaced so production doesn't slow down. We need Demand Side Economics, that understand that you don't have an economy unless workers have disposable incomes, beyond a living wage - which means they are protected from exploitation, are unionized, and
domestic producers are protected from competition with foreign goods. You know who to vote for in 2011.
Rupiah’s defence of Sinazongwe mine crimes is scandalous - Sata
By George Chellah in Mpulungu
Sun 24 Oct. 2010, 09:50 CAT
PF leader Michael Sata yesterday said President Rupiah Banda's defence of Chinese managers who recently shot miners in Sinazongwe is scandalous. Commenting on President Banda's statement on the recent shooting of miners in Sinazongwe, Sata said nothing that comes out of President Banda shocks him anymore.
“Personally, I wasn't expecting Rupiah to show any leadership or patriotism on this incident. Typical of Rupiah, Zambians are shot by trigger-happy Chinese investors and the head of state can't even show any remorse or sympathy with the victims that were shot,” Sata said.
“How does a leader side with the perpetrators of a criminal activity and not the victims? What type of thinking is that? What sort of leaders do we have in this country that can't see the misery and hopelessness in fellow human beings that are disadvantaged? Rupiah's defence of the Chinese is scandalous.”
He said President Banda's caution on Zambians to ensure that the incident did not lead to phobia against the Chinese was misplaced.
“What phobia? He is just ashamed of what his so-called investors did. This type of reasoning is extremely dangerous because instead of protecting lives of citizens, Rupiah wants to justify and cover up these crimes with assumptions,” he said.
Sata said President Banda's remarks over the shooting painted a very bad picture to would be investors.
“How will future investors respect our labour laws and local labour force if the President is in the forefront of defending criminal activities?” Sata asked.
“It's clear that Rupiah is defending criminal activities of the Chinese. It even makes us wonder whether there will be any justice in the courts of law. Rupiah has confirmed that he is giving maximum protecting to the Chinese.”
Sata said President Banda's remarks should be an eye-opener to the Zambian people.
“I have been vindicated because I started complaining about this inhuman treatment and poor working conditions of our brothers and sisters by some of these so-called investors a long time ago. I was even labeled that I am anti-Chinese and yet all I was asking for was for these investors to respect our labour laws and treat our people as human beings and not animals. If those who are governing this country had cared to listen, incidents such as the recent shooting could have been avoided,” Sata said.
“But as usual, the government saw it as an opportunity to peddle all sorts of lies against me, but see what has happened now and what Mr Banda who is believed to be 'investor friendly' is doing to his own people whom he is supposed to protect. Surely, in this day and age why should a country continue shedding more innocent blood at the hands of these merciless so-called investors?”
Sata said like any country, Zambia was at liberty to embrace foreign investment.
“We are only asking our brothers and sisters to treat us with dignity and respect. Is this too much to ask for? You cannot shoot at fellow human beings like animals over a labour dispute and when we speak you want to vilify us and accuse us of all sorts of crimes. I donít think that is fair,” he said.
Earlier, Sata addressed three rallies in chief Chitimbwa's area.
During the rallies, Sata urged the people to reject the MMD candidate.
“Given Mung'omba is a councillor in this area and he has failed to even bring a grader to work on these roads. So how will he deliver when you elect him as member of parliament? He has taken your vote for granted,” Sata said.
“Given thinks you are sleepy and dull, that's why he is back today asking for you to elect him as MP after failing to deliver as area councillor."
Labels: CHINESE, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, GIVEN MUNG'OMBA, LABOUR, MICHAEL SATA, MINERS, RUPIAH BANDA
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Felix Mutati warns investors
Saturday, October 23, 2010, 9:44
Government says it will not condone the abuse of laws in the country by any investor or national. Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati says government through the Ministry of labour is working to ensure that conditions of service in private owned companies meet the minimum requirements as set by the Zambian government.
Mr Mutati says government is also working through the Ministry of Mines to ensure that the safety regulations and requirements in mines are as defined by the laws of Zambia.
He explained that the strategies are being put in motion and government will take action against anyone who does not comply.
“For us we are not looking at the face of the investor, we are looking at the compliance to the rules and regulations of the country as the principle driving force for the residence of the investor into our country and nothing else.” Mr Mutati said.
Recently two Chinese nationals allegedly shot and injured workers during a demonstration in Sinazongwe. The minister was speaking to ZANIS after touring the Zambian Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai expo in China today.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mutati says he is confident that Zambia’s participation at the 2010 Shanghai Expo will attract more investment and trade from China into Zambia.
He noted that China takes the center stage in terms of being an engine for creating the transformation that is required for Zambia and the rest of the world.
Mr Mutati said China is one of Zambia’s key trading and investment partners
He also said trade between Zambia and China annually is in the excess of $900 million United States Dollars and is one of the countries Zambia has recorded positive trading surpluses.
“So for us China remains a key partner in our effort to meet the vision 2030 for Zambia to become a mid income country.” he added.
Mr Mutati explained that Zambia has translated the theme for the Expo, “Better City, Better Life” by bringing in the pavilion the cultural aspect of Zambia and some of the key structures in Zambia such as roads, buildings and paintings that are predominantly Zambian, and the tourism component of Zambia making sure that life can become easier if we looked after our environment.
The 2010 Shanghai Expo which was officially opened on the 1st of May and ends on the 31st of October has attracted 242 countries and international organisations.
The theme” Better City, Better Life” represents the common wish of the whole human kind for a better living in future urban environments.
The theme also represents a central concern of the international community for future policy making, urban strategies and sustainable development.
[ZANIS]
Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, FELIX MUTATI, LABOUR
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Govt to address Collum Coal mine woes
Friday, October 22, 2010, 16:34
Government has constituted a committee to look into the plight of miners at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district. Home Affairs Minister Mukondo Lungu announced the formation of the committee at a meeting held at Collum Coal Mine. This was after Mr. Lungu and his labour and Mines counterparts visited the mine Thursday.
He disclosed that the committee which would comprise Labour officers, the Ministry of Mines, the Chinese management,the Gemstone Allied Workers Union,and the workers’ representative will address the problems on 27 October at the Ministry of Labour and Social services in Lusaka.
Mr Lungu appealed to both the management and employees to work in harmony as the discussions are going on and urged the Chinese investors not to use firearms on innocent people.
He said government was alarmed over the shooting of 12 miners at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine and President Rupiah Banda has conveyed his sympathy to all the affected employees.
Mr Lungu who was sent by President Banda to find out the root cause of the shooting incident at Collum Coal mine was also accompanied by Labour Minister Austin Liato, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwell Mwale.
He said government would engage the Chinese investors to abide by the Zambian laws than resorting to the use of a gun.
“ We are interested in the investors and employees so that they live in harmony, President Banda is also interested in the welfare of employees at place work that is why he sent us here to find the root cause of the shooting incident,” Mr Liato said.
Mr. Liato said that government is interested in the mutual relationship between employees and the employers for social dialogue to be achieved all the times.
“ We are interested in the investors and employees so that they live in harmony, President Banda is also interested in the welfare of employees at place work that is why he sent us here to find the root cause of the shooting incident,” Mr Liato said.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Mr. Mwale also said government want to encourage investment though the investors should respect the employees and follow the country’s laws.
He said there should be a fresh start to address the problems at the mine because in the past his Ministry had failed to address them.
The Chinese Collum Coal Mine employees’ representative Ebby Siamuvwele told the ministers that they operate without having leave days, sick leave, and there were no written condition of service.
Mr Siamuvwele said they get their money through a window rather than from a bank and the Chinese manager beat them while they were on duty with impunity.
Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, LABOUR, MUKONDO LUNGU, MURDER
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Milupi blames Rupiah’s govt over Chinese shooting saga
Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 16:42
Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) president, Charles Milupi has observed that the MMD government is too mesmerized by anyone called a foreign investor so much that indigenous people are becoming second class citizens in their own country.
“Zambians are being made to suffer because their government has been made to surrender to the investors,” Mr . Milupi said
Mr. Milupi said this is evident by the failure by the government to condemn the Chinese mine owners who shot at 11 miners in Sinazeze who were protesting over improved working conditions.
ADD president noted that the shooting at Collum coal mine is a clear tragedy and an indication that government has given too much priority to the foreign investor above their own people.
He said government has made foreign investors feel that they are kings in this country and weigh above the Zambians who are hosting them.
Mr. Milupi further blamed government for the failure by the foreign investors to respect the laws of this country.
He said it is for this reason that the government could not lift a finger against the investors no matter how serious what they have done is.
“Zambians are being made to suffer because their government has been made to surrender to the investors,” Mr . Milupi said.
[ QFM ]
Labels: ADD, CHARLES MILUPI, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE
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COMMENT - Say no to the 'minimum wage', and instate a living wage, directly linked to the cost of living. End casualisation. Or, raise the minimum wage in the mines to $15/hour, and collect $10/hour in PAYE. That way, the miners get paid a real wage ($5/hour instead of $3/day) and the government still collects $1.16 billion in taxes from the mines. They could scrap all other mining taxes if they did that.
The plight of Sinazongwe coal mine workers
By The Post
Wed 20 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
The workers at Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe have the right to receive a just wage. And we welcome the position taken by Elijah Muchima, the Minister for Southern Province, to try and end the gross abuse and exploitation of workers at this mine.
As Muchima correctly observed, problems at this mine are not new; “this mine has been a source of concern” for a very long time. All the other ministers before Muchima have had to deal with similar problems at this mine. Truly, Collum Coal Mine is treating its Zambian workers like 21st century slaves. The rights of workers, like all rights, are based on the nature of the human person and his transcendent dignity.
Among these rights are: a just wage; a work environment not harmful to the worker’s physical health or his moral integrity; social security and the right to assemble and protest poor conditions of service. Therefore, remuneration for work should guarantee people a dignified livelihood for themselves and their families.
And it is the duty of government to regulate industries and commerce to protect workers’ rights and to curb exploitation. As things stand today, the labour laws of our country do not adequately protect workers. The minimum wage is too low.
It is easy to complain that employers are paying slave wages without looking at the minimum wage that the government has sanctioned. As things stand today, the minimum wage in this country is K268,000 per month. Any employer who pays a salary not less than K268,000 is within the law and there is no justification for government officials to castigate them for paying such low salaries. Why should the government harangue employers who are not paying salaries that are not below the minimum wage?
There is no need for government officials to talk tough and pretend to be on the side of the workers when the legislation they have put in place allows for the exploitation of workers. Efforts which enable workers to improve their conditions should be valued and promoted by everybody in the nation.
There is need for the government to set a just minimum wage and ensure that employers give a just wage to their employees. And for a country that has declared itself a Christian nation, there is need to realise that human work is a continuation of God’s creation, a duty, a means of pastoral development, redemption and sanctification. We are all called to use our talents through our work in order to build the good of our society. The conditions of Sinazongwe coal mine workers merit special attention.
The roles of business owners and management have central importance from the viewpoint of society, because they are at the heart of that network of technical, commercial, financial and cultural bonds that characterise the modern business reality. For this reason, the exercise of responsibility of business owners and management requires constant reflection on the moral motivations that should guide the personal choices of those to whom these tasks fall. The motive of business should be not only to make profit but even more to contribute to the common good of society.
We should ask ourselves: are the owners of Collum Coal Mine responsibly promoting just wages and working conditions for their workers? Businesses should be characterised by their capacity to serve the common good of society. The sense of responsibility in economic initiative should demonstrate the individual and social virtues necessary for development. A business enterprise must be a community of solidarity.
There is need to realise that people’s work concerns not only the economy but also, and especially, personal values. Work is rooted in respect for human dignity. It is done by a collection of individuals who have chosen to come together and to unite their minds, wills and hearts for the common good. Every effort should be made that the enterprise becomes a community of persons.
All workers have the right to receive a just wage. Employees have a strict duty to give their employers efficient and conscientious work for which they have a right to a just wage. Work provides an opportunity for each of us to show that we are God's image.
This is so because God is Creator and we, every woman and man, show forth God’s image when we continue creation through our work, our labour, our engagement in shaping our country of the future. The dignity of work must be recognised with just wages and safe conditions. All forms of capitalism that place profit before persons and are based on the exploitation of one by another should be condemned.
The situation in Sinazongwe has continued because it has been allowed to continue. The government has not been serious enough to stop it. And the truth is that although government officials have been critical of the wages and working conditions at Collum Coal Mine, this has been nothing more than lip service.
It will be interesting to see if the ultimatum given to Collum Coal Mine by Muchima to improve conditions of service for the workers by the 30th of October will be met. It will be interesting to see what will happen if this ultimatum is not met. Will Muchima close that mine? We doubt it.
We may just end up with the same old story and the same old noise. It is not possible to understand how a government that is strongly opposed to what has been going on at Collum Coal Mine could have tolerated the same for such a long time.
The government knows very well, and it has always known, that the conditions of work at Collum Coal Mine do not measure up to acceptable standards and the workers have been “getting slave salaries”. But what has it done? What will happen if the owners and management of Collum Coal Mine simply say they are paying salaries that are not below the statutory minimum wage of K268,000?
This government is much more keen to go to Parliament and quickly change laws that allow its leaders to steal with impunity but has no time and resources to enact laws that protect workers. What affects them is done very quickly and the resources are always available. But what affects the workers and other people is only attended to on the platform of lip service.
For over nine years, Collum Coal Mine has been exploiting and humiliating workers of Sinazongwe with the full knowledge of their government but nothing has been done to correct the situation. Labour laws are being violated with impunity. Muchima is telling us that at Collum Coal Mine, workers are employed with no contracts and conditions of service and the administration seems to be very naughty.
But nothing has been done for nine years to straighten up things while Zambian coal mine workers continue to be treated “as animals”. We can only hope that Muchima will take things differently and change things for the betterment of Sinazongwe coal mine workers and abolish this 21st century slavery of Sinazongwe coal mine workers.
Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, ELIJAH MUCHIMA, MINERS, SINAZONGWE
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Govt gives Collum Mine ultimatum to improve workers conditions
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone
Wed 20 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
CHINESE-RUN Collum Coal Mine has been
given up to October 30 this year to improve the workers’ conditions of service. Southern Province minister Elijah Muchima described the plight of the workers as sad, saying they were subjected to
slave wages and worked under
hazardous conditions. Mushima explained that the workers at the mine earned between
K57,000 and K500,000 per month.
[OK. That is $100,- per month max. So this is what we are supposed to give up the mines for? 'Jobs' of hard physical labour, that pay $3,33 PER DAY? This is what the MMD calls 'development'? I hope that the free trade/privatisation SCAM is clear for all to see now. The mines must return to Zambian hands. It matters not 'how well they are run' when the country or the people do not benefit. And to say that 'they bring jobs' is an insult to every Zambian. There is more money in agriculture than these slave wages. - MrK]
“The provincial administration summoned administrators for shaft one, two and six to discuss the happenings of the Collum mine in Sinazongwe district. This mine has been a source of concern. My predecessors complained about the mine and when I was at local government I complained. They are giving slave salaries to Zambians. The law is very clear on labour conditions,” Muchima said.
“Underground miners get K22,000 per day while those upper get K20,000. They get K2,000 as lunch allowance. They used to provide food but it was fit for pigs, not human beings. What can one buy from K2,000? You can’t survive on Coca-Cola when you are doing a hard job.
And this is a mine, which has been in existence for the past nine years. Only one administrator, Rui came. We had a good meeting with him and we have expressed our disappointment. As government, we have to make the situation conducive but with this mine, it’s different.”
Muchima disclosed that workers at the mine had no contracts, conditions of service and no one had a permanent job.
He said the mine management seemed to be “naughty” but no one would be protected in the event that they committed a crime.
“Contrary to what people are saying that the Chinese are above the law, no one will be protected when they commit a crime. We are not promoting anarchy,” he said. “Zambians are being treated as animals.”
Muchima said the mine administrators complained about the lack of a market for coal but he wondered why they could not reduce the number of workers so that they could remunerate them well.
He said the government would resolve the problems at the mine because they wanted to protect the interests of Zambians.
Muchima said the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) and ministries of health, labour, local government and mines were involved in the matter to ensure that the mine was safe.
Muchima said the discharge of water from the mine contaminated a nearby stream and there were no toilets underground.
“On 1st November 2010 we want to see that they have complied with the conditions of service and others. On 2nd November we will visit the mine. Nobody should be fired due to the protest,” he said.
Muchima said the Chinese embassy had also directed the
managers at the mine to improve the workers’ conditions of service.
In 2006, then Southern Province minister Alice Simango openly wept after she toured Collum Coal Mine and saw the workers emerge from a tunnel half-naked and barefoot.
Simango, who was blocked from entering the mine by the Chinese, later recommended that it be closed to protect human life.
Last year, operations at the mine were suspended indefinitely following two accidents in which two people lost their lives.
Labels: ALICE SIMANGO, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, ELIJAH MUCHIMA
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Chinese investors are above the law - Sata
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone and Patson Chilemba in Lusaka
Sun 17 Oct. 2010, 04:40 CAT
MINEWORKERS unions have strongly condemned the shooting of 11 Collum Coal Mine workers in Sinazongwe by Chinese managers after they allegedly protested over bad conditions of service. And chief Sinazongwe has warned that the shooting of the workers in his chiefdom marked the beginning of war between the Chinese and the local community.
Meanwhile, PF leader Michael Sata has charged that the shooting incident had revealed that Chinese investors were now above the law. Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Rayford Mbulu and National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) national secretary Godwell Kaluba in separate interviews said it was unacceptable that investors could resort to shooting workers that were demanding what was rightfully due to them.
Two of the victims who were seriously wounded, Vincent Chengele 20, and Simon Simwete 28, have since been evacuated to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. “I have dispatched the general treasurer and director of occupational safety and health. They should be in Sinazongwe tomorrow (yesterday) to get information on the ground. In a mine we can’t allow the carrying of firearms, we can’t allow the Chinese to do that.
The police should investigate and bring to book the suspects. We don’t care what investments people bring in the country. They should have sought dialogue with the workers or the unions. This is regrettable. What if a life was lost?” Mbulu asked. “We can’t allow people to do anything they want because they have brought ‘funny money’ in this country.
They can take it elsewhere. They must be arrested immediately.” Mbulu said MUZ was dealing with a similar case three years ago where Chinese investors used a firearm on miners in Chambeshi. He expressed regret that the case was up to now still being investigated.
“Workers should be protected in this country. We want to be informed that these suspects have been brought to book. They should leave our country,” Mbulu charged. He said there were many investors that wanted to invest in the country but Zambians should never allow such behaviour from foreign investors.
And Kaluba said there was growing concern over some Chinese investors who had exhibited violence towards staff at their mines. “There are some bad eggs. It’s very unfortunate, it’s extremely unacceptable. When people are crying for better conditions of service, it means there is a problem. It’s either management doesn’t want to listen, negotiate or dialogue. The shooting is extremely unacceptable.
In some cases we have had the Chinese slapping or beating up Zambian workers,” he said. “This is unacceptable, that is why some people say the Chinese are bad.” Southern Province commanding officer Lemmy Kajoba referred queries to public relations office, as the matter was now being handled by Police Service Headquarters.
Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana said she was not yet at the office by press time. However, chief Sinazongwe has expressed anger and strongly condemned the Chinese managers for shooting at the workers. He said firearms should never have been used. “The issue was very simple, they (workers) were asking; ‘why no increment for two months’.
The other thing could have been communication was not good, the workers were using English and the Chinese were using Chinese. Two guns were used,” he narrated. “They shouldn’t have used the firearms. That’s very bad. We know they bring development but they shouldn’t shoot and use violence on the workers. This is the beginning of war between the locals and the Chinese.
We need to harmonize the situation if no death occurs. If there is a death, this war will never finish unless we step in as traditional leaders.” And narrating events that followed, chief Sinazongwe said the residents in the area were angered after they heard about the shooting and that the Chinese managers had run away. “The people went to hunt for them. Police came with tear gas and many people were tear gassed,” he said.
“The two that were seriously injured in the chest by this time have been taken to Lusaka (UTH). For the others (nine) here, we don’t know when the bullets (pellets) will be removed.” UTH public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta could not give details of the two referred to UTH.
“I am told they are at UTH.
I am here trying to check, I will give you details later,” Mbangweta said. Meanwhile, Sata has charged that the Chinese investors were now above the law. Commenting on the shooting of the eleven workers, Sata said it was only in Zambia where a foreigner could shoot so many Zambians and get away with it. “You see the Chinese are above the law.
It is only in Zambia where a foreigner can shoot so many Zambians and get away with it, and the police are only making slogans that ‘we are going to investigate’. They are behaving the same way they behaved on Chitambo MMD member of parliament Dr Solomon Musonda who shot a PF cadre” he said.
Sata said the Chinese were supposed to be in custody pending investigations because the evidence was already there that they shot people. “That’s the evidence. What more do they want? Why did they let people who were shot taken to the hospital and leave the Chinese? Are the Chinese above the law?” he asked. Sata said the slowness by the government and the police to react to the shooting showed that the country lacked leadership.
“If we had leadership, what is happening would not happen because I can’t see any investor in the People’s Republic of China shooting any Chinese and getting away with it,” Sata said. He said the opposition should put aside their differences and speak strongly in unison against the incident.
Sata said the PF would demonstrate to the country how patriotic they were as the party would stand by the victims of the shooting. “We know we can’t be protected by this government because it has been heavily corrupted by the Chinese for the 2011 elections and the current by-elections,” said Sata.
An eyewitness on Friday told The Post that the Chinese employers shot the victims in the neck, mouth, head, shoulder, chest and other parts of their bodies. When contacted for a comment, mines minister Maxwell Mwale said he was awaiting a full report on the matter.
Labels: CHINESE, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, MICHAEL SATA
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