Ndola — KABWE Town Clerk, Vivian Chikoti, has ordered a Chinese manganese firm to seek lasting mechanisms that will reduce air pollution posing a health hazard to residents of Makululu and Mutwewansofu townships.

Ms Chikoti, who toured Chiman Manufacturing Company yesterday was shocked to see the amount of fume being let out from the plant and also noted that Zambian workers were working without protective clothing.

"It is unacceptable to see the amount of uncontrolled pollution being let out on our residents in Makululu and Mutwewansonfu townships. I cannot understand how the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) could certify this plant to operate under such a situation," Ms Chikoti said.

The town clerk, who was flanked by Kabwe Mayor Jerry Chama, has since summoned management from the Chinese firm for meeting today.

Ms Chikoti warned that if the company failed to take corrective measures immediately, relevant authorities would move in and shut the plant.

"We closed this firm some time last year and management assured us that they will do a good job by procuring proper equipment that would lessen pollution but it seems like the problem has just been worsened.

"It is also unacceptable to see that most Zambian workers have not been provided with protective clothing despite working in a hazardous environment like that," Ms Chikoti said.

The workers have no gumboots as well as proper uniforms and they complained of being paid slave wages despite the amount of work they put in. The firm has employed about 100 Zambian workers.

And Mr Chama said in as much as the Government encouraged foreign investors to operate in Zambia, it was important that they followed laid down labour laws. Mr Chama said Kabwe yearned for proper investment for development to take root.

"The investment this company has put up is very good for the development of our town but our colleagues should also try by all the means to ensure that our people are working under a conducive environment," Mr Chama said.

In response Chiman Manufacturing Company production manager, Zeng Xiang Liu, assured the town clerk that his firm would take corrective measures to address the issue of pollution.

Mr Zeng who was at pains to explain his situation argued that the amount of fumes had reduced compared to the previous time.

He argued that the weather pattern where there was too much wind caused the smoke to blow towards the two townships but such was not the case all the times.