Chinese miners at the embattled Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district in Southern province have petitioned government to provide maximum protection to them during riots.
The Chinese nationals, who mobbed Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda yesterday, complained that there was no protection given to them whenever there was a riot at the mine.
This follows the death of Chinese miner, Wu Shengzai, who was on August 3rd allegedly crushed to death by a trolley in shaft five mine.
The sad Chinese miners, who spoke through their representative, Wang Dong, an Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, observed that the mine was experiencing disturbances every after three or four months.
They said when such occur, a government official is sent to the mine but problems persist.
They demanded for a lasting solution to be found over industrial unrest at the mine.
Yesterday, Mr. Shamenda visited the mine where a Chinese miner was killed on Saturday.
They demanded that the Zambian government should provide them with a permanent answer that would provide 100 percent protection to the Chinese nationals because their lives were in danger.
The Chinese miners further appealed to the Chinese and Zambian governments to comprehensively dialogue over the matter saying they were gripped with fear.
Their interpreter, Mr. Wang, however sympathised with his nationals and assured them that the Zambian government was caring and that was the reason why it sent the Minster of Labour, Mr. Shamenda to the mine.
Chinese Military Attaché He Zhigian, who represented his government, advised Chinese workers to go back to work as the two governments find a lasting solution over the matter.
In response, Mr. Shamenda attributed the riots at Chinese Column Mine to the uncaring previous government which had a weaker labour policy.
Mr. Shamenda appealed to the both the Zambian and Chinese miners to give the Patriotic Front (PF) government time to address the problem.
The minister further assured that government has deployed a team of security officers to keep vigil at the mine.
He said he would from time to time dispatch labour officers from his office to ensure that labour misunderstandings between workers and management are resolved.
Police in Southern Province has so far arrested a number of suspects in connection with the death of Mr. Wu as investigations in the matter intensify.
Meanwhile, Chief Government Spokesperson, Kennedy Sakeni said the law must take its course on anyone who will be found guilty of causing the riots.
Mr. Sakeni, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said the issue of minimum wages allows employers and employees a platform to dialogue amicably.
ZANIS
safety health environment… working without safety protection.. another issue at hand.
What kind of a mine in this time and age allows its works in the field with tshirts and slippers?! The govt must surely see to it that these workers are protected…once workers are looked after-with an open book mentality, troubles will surely be stories of the past…i bet this is the same mine where miners where shot at…if not, we have more problems in Zed then i imagined…
It’s a bitter truth,but Soon and very soon the majority poor will arise to defend themselves and their cause in any way possible! When one chinese or two are killed,the Zambian/s suspects end up in jail or behind the bars, yet when one Chinese kills 11 (eleven) Zambians or more at the same mine or the copperbelt, the Chinese appeals and is acquitted, etting away with murder!!(Is life more important in one person than the other? Isn’t Life ought to be equal regardless!) .hat kind of a world of hypocrites and double standards we live in.With this selective justice ,would one blame the poor if they arose to defend their cause in a country that favours the few with money? Civilization demands that whether Chinese, Zmbian or other foreigners, all should be EQUAL before the LAW regardless.
I can’t believe our minister. Only in the last related article I suggested that the PF will blame the MMD for this but anyone should know that for all the ills of the MMD, the issues at Callum Mine are because of the PF and it’s loud mouth. The excited people about working conditions and how they would chase all the Chinese when elected to office and we experienced the shooting of a Zambian miner two years ago. Now in power, the mishandle the minimum wage issue and we have a riot resulting in the death of a Chinese national. The PF labour laws are as flawed as those of the MMD. Nothing has changed apart from the rhethoric and they should shoulder this one.
No 4…u are rite PF is in power en should handle this mess en not MMD…
Why have riots every now and then? we have had alot on this mine,,,,it was to closed earlier on satey grounds ,,,now this minimum wage issue,,,,and a loss of life (MHSRIP). This is totally unacceptable…en pointing a finger at this moment will to sort out this issue….our govt as at now which PF should be brave enough,,,and clearly as a govt state to all investor the dos and do nots,,,if they have to operate their businesses pa ZED. Equally,,,the people of sinazongwe should abide by proceedures in place,,,and the ministry of labour should provide advise where these systems fail. If PF govt does not take this seriously which is just an eye opener then,, it will be in for more incidents of the same nature,,,en i mean fatelities beyond this one because ,,the whole ZED wants positive living!
Shamenda mudala stop blaming the MMD when are you guys growing up?? Your minimum wage caused all this and you point fingers @ MMD..Ba CNP
A Zambian was shot to death by a Chinese national; a Chinese national has been crushed to death. “Its called tit for tat.” Am not sure whether is a fair game.
I grew up in a Mining town. I never saw anyone going to work without Gumboots, overalls and Helmets. The miners even had water pouches in which they carried Cocoa drink and Kampompo on the other side. They were well looked after. Not like those in this picture. We should send this investor packing back to Shangai Province
May I also add that the working conditions as displayed in the picture is a cause for concern on its own. One would understand some of the tension points between the Chinese owners and the the locals. However, I do not think much has changed nor will it change under this PF Govt.
ITS UNFORTUNATE A HUMAN LIFE HAS BEEN LOST. THIS MATTER IS DELICTE AND ITS NEEDS ONESTY RESOLUTIONS FROM THE CHINESE OWNERS AND THE MINERS REPRESENTATIVE.FROM THE TIME WHEN SOME MINERS WERE SHOT AT BY THE CHINESE OWNERS THERE TEMPERS HAVING BEEN BUILDING UP AND THIS CULTURE OF VIOLENCE WILL CONTINUE IN OUR INDUSTRIES.WE ARE NOT PROACTIVE.LETS PUT GUD LAWS IN PLACE TO BE RESPECTED BY ALL.
Improve the working conditions of workers. The government should not allow any invstor who can not meet the laid down working conditions. Amen.
What has the Zambian miners working at this mine without protective clothing got to do with the former govt,the problem is current so there has to be a solution for the now,lets not blame the M.M.D what are we doing as PF to sort out the problem????These pipo need a voice to speak for them,the chinease have tortured them enough en i guess thay are only reacting now!!!i trust something can be done to serve the situation en pips’s lives!
ONE WOULD VE EXPECTED THE LABOUR MINISTER TO QUIT COZ HE FAILED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM HE CAUSED WHEN ANNOUNCING THE MINIMUM WAGE POLICY. HE NEVER EXPLAINED HOW IT WAS GOING TO IMPLEMENTED.SINCE IN ZAMBIA WE DONT RESIGN ON MORAL GROUND I WAS EXPECTING THE APPOITING AUTHORITY O TAKE SHAMENDE TO ANOTHER MINISTRY. THERE IS NO POINT PF SPOKESMAN TO BLAME MMD FOR MESSY THEY LEFT BEHIND THATS WHY WE BOOTED THEM OUT AND BROUGHT IN PFTO SORT THE ILLS. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD
The president should not delay to dismiss shamenda, this man never held a responsible position in his life other than only fighting employers. This position is rather too big for him, he may just create crisiss in the labour market.
When those hands in the picture touch nshima, the nshima starts looking like coal
they eat sorghum or millet meal darker than maize meal and more filling and nutritious
Who was protecting our miners when you shot them?
Where is Mr Kambwili? He was the best suited Labour Minister.
Let the Chinese know that only the President can have maximum security. All of us get some security in between. Furthermore, it is up to the company to provide its own security. The Police, who are public servants should only be called upon to go and do their legally allocated jobs, not to be made security guards for private enterprise, such as we see in Banks. It is a misuse of the much needed public security resource.
We need to see Policemen and women deployed in our communities, public places, and for those attached to road safety, doing their patrols.
Why is it hard to get organised kansi? Why should rules be made in a reactionary manner?
DOES ZAMBIA NEED ZAMBIANS LIVING ABROAD TO FORM A VOLUNTARY REVOLVING ADVISORY BODY OF PATRIOTS TO ADVISE MINISTERS AND THEIR DEPUTIES?
SOME OF WHAT IS GOING ON AT HOME IS DISAPPOINTING.
Certain issues don’t really need any wisdom…just look at the picture in this story…basics my good fellow…
The country does not need this type of developement; it was called slavery in the past. Why are you allowing another country to take advantage of your people. China has no civil rights at home, no safety in there own mines why would they practice them here in their new colony?
That photo is not a true picture of what is happening – i have been to the mine and everyone is working with gamboots and overalls.
Ba Shamenda please stop the BLAME GAME.You and the PF govt are in power now.One thing for sure, its easy to be in opposition but not easy to run govt.YOU NEED BRAINS TO RUN GOVT.AND THAT IS WHAT IS LACKING AT THE MOMENT.
bane….I grew up in MUVULILA and Bashimani were a proud lot with ama jombo, helmelt+light, overoszz and kampompo mutumba!!! those guys were proud to be miners!!!! but seeing this picture, literally a taboo in CCM days is really sickening!!
It is pity that this mine has remained like this up to this time. With all the rhetoric by Pf when in opposition, one would hve thought these things would change. When Mutale Nalumango was Min of Labour she visited this same mine & found these same conditions. Instead of taking action against the mine, she wept & it ended there. This is the problem with investors having a direct line to the president (at least they used to with the former government). labour inspectors could not act not even the then Minister bcoz state house was heavily soiled in such matters. How much does safety gear cost when u compare with profits they make and human life of the workers. We only get to know how much mines make when there is a work stoppage bcoz they complain about how much millions they lose per day
Number 1, its no longer SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT but SAFETY, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY. Security because of terrorist attacks. I have worked on a project designing a security system for a company and I hope it was implemented.
our president has the best men of all the presidents zambia has ever had,but are all in the wrong ministries,like shamenda must be in “ndevu ku kamwa white ministry….that man is a failure,lets have chishimba kambwili back to labour
Mwanya ba kamwamba bafyatile, Mwakula cema fye ing-ombe nokushi tondeka amakala ngayaima ka maini ngabaisala.
every thing has to be tribal and insults. it is this behaviour that is keeping our country down.Â
WHY THE CHINESE DID NOT CRY FOR SAFTY WHEN THEIR CHINAMAN SHOT 11 ZAMBIAN MINERS LAST YEAR. THE CHINESE EMBESSY PEOPLE ARE USELESS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT CONDEMN THEIR CHINESE NATIONAL WHEN HE HAD FIRED SHOTS AND INSTEAD GOT R.B TO QUASH THE CASE DIPOMATICALY.THAT WOULD BE MURDER WAS NEVER JAILED AND WE ALL KNOW THAT.I DONT HOLD HATRED BECAUSE ANY DEATH IS PAINFULL. I CALL A SPADE SPADE
LT, please, where does Shame-nda blame MMD? You need to justify your title. Yaba! Journalism shouldn’t be so hard!
The PF Government should stop this business of saying “with immediate effect”. Consultation is key in leadership. Otherwise, the captain of the ship will see passengers jumping into the sea.
The picture tells a vivid story but unwise men and women
whose minds are corrupted refuse to accept the reality.
If Zambians are treated this savagely on their own soil, imagine,
the plight of those working on Chinese soil.
The same blame game! When are the PF guys going to solve problems? Every time there is a problem, “MMD is to blame”. For heaven’s sake MMD has not been in office for almost a year! I guess for the next 5 years the solution to every problem will be “MMD is to blame”. Did people vote for PF to listen to this song? Enough!!!!!!!!
:=))=))=)):)):)):))
Can someone tell us where the chinese who shot Zambians at Column mine is now? In prison for Murder or attempted murder?………NOOOOOOO!!!! He is a free man of Zambia!
What about those who have failed in theirs constitutional duties and obligations? Are they going to be promoted for creating fertile grounds for misunderstandings leading to murder?
Both parties to blame PF and Chinese.A Hungry man is an angry man.Please note this .
With all the due respect for Zambians irrespective of political affiliation or present locality in the global village, please rise above self opinionated views about whatever happens in Zambia. Zambia like any other country has problems similar to any incident which can occur anywhere e.g. in USA, UK, China, Germany, SA. This is not argue that people should not express their reactions or internalise whatever happens in Zambia but on one hand, those who opt to engage sensetive issues should not resort to threats of withdrawing/withholding investments, turnishing the good image of Zambia. As if it is not enough, even Zambian citizens both inside and outside the country join the band wagon of slanderers in maliciously insulting Zambians and anything good about that country. Be proud of Zam
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