The Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) says the recent split of Konkola Copper Mines into two entities will boost production and increase efficiency in the company.
MUZ president Joseph Chewe in an interview yesterday, said the development will further stimulate creation of more jobs in the sector thereby boost government’s revenue through various taxes.
“The split will result in more production, job opportunities and more business linkages and the community will benefit more,” Mr. Chewe said.
And Mr. Chewe clarified that no worker will be laid-off in the process adding that all workers will be paid their benefits adding that the benefits will paid in three instalments due to the poor performance of the mine.
He said the priority now is to redeem the company from collapsing hence the decision to pay the miners in three instalments so that they do not lose out completely.
“ As you may know the mine has been in the intensive care unit, Vedanda left the company with a huge debt of about 2.3 billion US Dollars, so the company has no money, what is needed now is to remove this company from ICU and bring it to life and if we wait for the liquidation process to be concluded in court, the loser will be the worker,” Mr Chewe said.
Citing the plight of former workers of RAMCOZ in Luanshya who are still unpaid since the mine was liquidated over ten years ago , the MUZ president further noted that this was the only liquidation process in Zambia where workers will be paid.
Mr. Chewe urged the workers to accept the payment of their benefits in three instalments as the company still has to be saved from total collapse.
But Lusaka based Economist Maambo Hamaundu said the splitting of the mine should have waited for the conclusion of the court case between Vedanta Resources and ZCCM-IH to avoid possible litigation that may arise as a result of the action taken while the case is still active in court.
“It would have been better to wait for the conclusion of the court case so that we do not have a repeat of what we had on Lap-Green ( now Zamtel) where we had to pay heavily as a country when the sale of the company was overturned,” Mr. Hamaundu noted in an interview.
The Konkola Copper Mine Liquidator Milingo Lungu has split the mine into two entities that will operate separately from each other.
Its been long overdue this is good
What is an email address for International federation of people with albinism and blindness? I am asking about the story which you wrote on your online newspaper.
Let’s now move on from this chapter and make money with our resources.
How can you welcome something that is still in International court? You are welcome it because we all know MUZ leaders have supplier contracts with KCM
This is a welcome move keep it up ECL a voice for Miners.
We the people of Chilibombwe, Chingola , Kitwe and Napundwe under KCM and the community we wnat to say thank our President.
This have come at the right time Mr President, just tell ECZ to print the ballot paper we wnat to vote in advance here on the comperbelt.
We assure you of our vote ECL, copperbelt is your home land, you were born and bread here you really love home.
UPND who are condemning the move forget about copperbelt, you have decided to side with investor not miners you will see if vendant will vote for you HH.
Its been long overdue
We want KBF as president of PF. The incumbent has failed, for those saying he has succeeded, check all the economic stats which a country uses to check its health, it is in a comatose. Please let’s do the right thing for once.
First there is the court case still ongoing and secondly no one has explained what the splitting of the mine really means – and some people are already ululating. Could someone explain the ‘gain’ in this move – and how it will exist within the environment of the court case?
What are those two units into which the mine is split and how will they operate?
Eh, there is no Covid? Not a single mask in sight. Hope this is an old photo!
Kkkkkk,kcm is finished
Splitting the mine if it will enhance the operations..then it’s good
”Citing the plight of former workers of RAMCOZ in Luanshya who are still unpaid since the mine was liquidated over ten years ago , the MUZ president further noted that this was the only liquidation process in Zambia where workers will be paid”.
I am not sure where Mr Chewe was during the troubles of Luanshya Mines. It seems he doesn’t understand the problems of Luanshya. Please go and read the history of the Luanshya Mines privatisation and understand why miners were partly paid. NAPSA contribution for 2001 to 2004 haven’t been remitted. it now 17 year these money have not been remitted and some former miners have since passed on with out getting their money.