Zambia Congress of Trade Union says it is saddened with First Quantum Mine in Solwezi in North-western province’s intention to lay off 500 workers at the mine.
ZCTU Secretary General Roy Mwaba said his organisation condemn such a move because it is against the Zambian decent work agenda and the Patriotic From manifesto of job creation.
Mr Mwaba said that as a country, we are depending on the mining industries to create employment which are fully sustainable.
ZANIS reports that the ZCTU Secretary General said this in a statement released in Lusaka, today.
He said all along, the country have been happy that the mining has been taking root in the new Copperbelt of North Western province but that this is no longer the case.
Mr Mwaba stated that contrary to what FQM is planning to do the mining giant must first compare notes with what happened at KCM when the Zambian people cried against the massive lay-off of 2000 workers.
“We hope that FQM management can rise above what is only in their best interest and advantage. They must immediately enter into social dialogue with key stakeholders so that a way forward beneficial to all can be found,” Mr Mwaba.
He appealed to FQM management not to proceed with the current plans but to take a leaf from KCM to help this country overcome challenges it is seriously facing.
The mining giant is reported to plan to lay off 500 of its workers at its Sentinel Mine at Columbia in Solwezi District.
According to the company management this follows Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA)’s action to place an order which halted the construction of the Chisola Dam for the mine last month.
ZANIS
There are no amicable conversations in Zambia, just threats!!
ARE YOU STILL STAYING WITH YOUR MOTHER INSTEAD OF YOUR WIFE(S). DO NOT SADDEN BE HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. KAPIRI ISSUE STILL PENDING AND WHAT HAVE DONE? CLIVE HAS BEEN RETIRED WHAT IS YOUR PICK? CORRUPTION IS RIGHT ON YOUR NOSE WHAT DO SAY? ROY WHAT ABOUT TEACHERS WHOSE ALLOWANCES HAVE BEEN REMOVED WHAT DO SAY?????????
@Tasa.. There is sense in what you wrote, but those CAPITAL LETTERS like PF shouting. Just write easy and simple.
ZCTU is finished, according to them govt employing 500 deputy ministers and self increasing of presidential and minister salaries and having continuous bye elections is ok. Why cant you ZCTU give the govt proper advise.
Makes sad reading.
ZCTU ifiko, they are finished. ZCTU was for the smart Chiluba’s. Look at Roy,he looks like Sata’s thug. How can those sit on same table with amasungu who are running KCM & FQM?
I tend to agree with opinions of folks above. ZCTU is a total shadow of its old self. That’s the cast iron truth!
Roy Mwaba’s bellicose rhetoric against FQM is similar to a roar of an 80 year old beast, that suddenly wakes up from its deep slumber, leaps up to attack its youthful and energetic prey, only to realize its toothless gums are softer than a sponge and its muscles are hanging out from its body like loose fibre.
The man doesn’t strike me as intelligent thoughtful and alert. He’s a PF’s praise singer who beats his own war drums and simultaneously dances to their sound. If the current crop of ZCTU leadership is the best there’s to offer for the workers, no wonder the procrastination on workers rights.
I feel sad that Zambia and Zambians continue to be docile. If Mr Mwaba is really sad about the 500 workers about to let go, he should be rushing to negotiate with the owners of the mines instead of rushing to the media. Parliament should be debating topics like this, area members of the parliaments to the affected areas should be going nuts about the 500 workers about to be released but it’s zeeee! And what do Zambians do ? watch while the gvt and the paliarmentarians are busy getting fat while the regular citizen is left to fend for him/herself. Are Zambians really docile that they have become good at talking/blogging /critizing and less talking?
Criticising
Please LT, there is no Columbia in Solwezi, it is Kalumbila. What kind of nonsensical journalism is this. It shows that who ever was writing this, has completely no clue on the subject.
Coming to the subject on hand, FQM are not to blame for insinuating that they intend to lay off 500 employees. First of all, understand why they suddenly want to do that. They are supposed to be building a dam at Chisola, those of you who know mining will understand the need for the dam. These 500 employees were engaged to build this dam, but because of the government or ZEMA’s inability to make a decision on a permit, this work is at a standstill. So, which businessman will continue paying someone for not doing anything? Do not blame FQM, instead ask ZEMA why the delay in making a decision.
The side effects of decision making for this PF government are almost immediate. The worrying thing is not how reckless the decision making is, but the slowness in our people articulating the issues at hand and reacting accordingly. We need to be brave and start forcing the agenda.
I agree with you Sam. am sure you are on the ground of Kalumbila. a month ago or so the Deputy Minister of NWP was reported to have ordered to dam construction to stop and the ZCTU know about this news but never said anything in the media. do not pretend to care for workers when you do not. ask ZEMA now where they stand regards Kalumbila Chisola dam. be proactive and reduce lip service.
Ba Roy,do you know why FQM want to lay of the workers?Imagine you have a farm and you told that fertilizer will be delayed for six months,are you going to be paying the workers for that period?If your answer is yes,then you are a goddam liar.Be realistic like a person i know and don’t play politics of appeasement.Why keep the work force when there is no work to do.Tell GRZ and FQM to resolve this issue quickly to safe guard these jobs.
Waoh! so QFM is that huge, i had no idea they had even a hundred employees, sad though, means they were doing something sensible if they could have that number of people working for them! Why dont Zambians protest? umwenso ifwe, but then again i wouldnt blame us after what transpired in that village were innocent villagers were murdered by ZNS.
Don’t blame FQM but ZEMA. Why should a company keep workers for doing nothing? ZEMA and some tin pot environmentalists who would like to see Zambia/Africa in perpetual poverty and asking for alms from Europe have tendency to frustrate well intended projects that would employ many people. Former CEEC chairman Jacob sikazwe wanted to build a hotel in Mosi o tunya pack and hell broke loose for him yet sun hotels has hotels built in in the park? Another of his projects in Boabab area of Lusaka/Boabab was sabotaged by our own people. Zambezi resources has been blocked from starting up a copper mine in Feira which locals desperately want for jobs! And now a dam for company that wants not only to develop a mine but a entire new town has become an issue! Do we really know what we want?
Don’t blame FQM but ZEMA, the interministerial team & the Zambian psyche. Why should a company keep workers for doing nothing? I remember how RB in the midst of 2011 campaign period went to commission the Kalumbila project without full ZEMA approval effectively giving FQM a go ahead. The PF govt discovered anomalies in land issues over a year ago and promised to fix the anomaly. 18 months later FQM is being told to keep 500 workers on payroll for doing nothing because ZEMA and the interministerial team cannot sort out a legal glitch carried over from MMD! ZEMA and some tin pot environmentalists who would like to see Zambia/Africa in perpetual poverty and forever asking for alms from Europe have tendency to frustrate well intended projects that would employ many people. Former CEEC…
Page,its not QFM radio its FIRST QUANTUM MINERALS(FQM),its a very big mining company!!
Kruger park in SA has hotels and North Mara in Tanzania has a uranium mine! And now a dam for company that wants not only to develop a mine but an entirely new town has become an issue! Let’s learn from China’s determination over the 5 gorges dam, development prevailed despite massive outside pressure. FQM is not citing external factors such as the copper price over which we have no control but our own laws and community based issues which a fully within our grasp. Do we really know what we want? This makes me think Zambians enjoy poverty and begging for alms from the West.