More riots and protests in Kansanshi and Chingola

The Post reports that Kansanshi mine workers on Tuesday morning staged a demonstration over delays in negotiations for new conditions of service. Talks have been going on for almost six months. Among other issues, workers want a 30 per cent salary increment across the board..

National Union for Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) president Mundia Sikufele told the paper, “I can confirm to you that this morning, we received a report that workers at Kansanshi Mine staged a demonstration demanding management to address them over the prolonged negotiations. We are monitoring the situation.”

The demonstration lasted about one hour. Management suggested that the demonstration targeted labour deputy minister Austin Liato who was visiting the plant in an effort to encourage the parties back to the negotiating table. “My advice to management really is for them to speed up the process and not to put the blame on the minister, he just came to reconcile the parties and it was up to management to go back to the board to report what we had agreed and not the minister,” said Sikufele.

The workers agreed to go back to work but gave management an ultimatum of today to conclude the negotiations if they don’t then workers would go on strike.

Kansanshi Mine public relations manager Godfrey Msiska said, “I can confirm that a number of workers gathered within the plant to be given an update on the negotiations and management went to address them advising them to go back to work as they await to be updated.” Msiska explained that when Liato went to chair the meeting to reconcile management and the two unions, they agreed that none of the parties was to issue statements in the press apart from Liato’s office, adding that they were still waiting for an update from his office.

Meanwhile the Times of Zambia reports a riot in Chingola by illegal miners after two of their friends were shot and wounded by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and Cobra Security officers. The miners were part of a large group working disused pits.

The miners mobilised themselves early in the morning and blocked the Chingola-Chililabombwe road with stones near the underbridge, stoning motorists using the road. Police fired teargas to disperse them. Copperbelt police chief, Antoneil Mutentwa confirmed both the shooting and riot by the illegal miners.He said the two who were shot were at first rushed to Nchanga North General Hospital before being referred to Kitwe Central Hospital for specialised treatment.

He said this was the second time the illegal miners were rioting. Last year on April 19, illegal miners rioted to protest against being barred access to the disused pits. Mr Mutentwa said police would continue to use force. Mr Mutentwa said KCM was chasing the illegal miners from the disused pits not because the company was losing money but on account that the Government was concerned with the number of deaths recorded as a result of the illegal mining activities. "The Ministry of Mines under its wing, the mines safety department (MSD), has warned KCM that if the company fails to keep the illegal miners away from the dangerous areas, then the company risked closure, being charged or held responsible for the deaths. As State police, we were informed of the shooting and we have made some reinforcement to supplement other security wings."

KCM communication advisor, Sam Equamor declined to comment and referred all comments to state police because the matter involved shooting of suspects. Meanwhile, Citizens for a Better Environment executive director, Peter Sinkamba said the directive by MSD on KCM to bar the illegal miners was placing the company in an awkward position because the company was primarily involved in copper production. Mr Sinkamba said there was need for the Government to expedite the handing-over of the disused pits in Chingola to illegal miners to reduce deaths.