13 November 2009
THE two-day protests by workers at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) in Chingola are uncalled for, especially that unions and management are still engaged in neg3otiations, stakeholders from a cross section of society have said.
Police have arrested 27 more people in connection with the riots that have rocked KCM and surrounding townships, bringing the total number of those arrested to 38.
Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president, Joyce Simukoko condemned the violence by KCM unionised workers over salary increments.
Mrs Simukoko said violence retarded national development. She called on KCM management and workers to consider engaging themselves in constructive dialogue and come up with lasting solutions to address such problems.
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) also condemned the violent protest by KCM Nchanga employees, describing it as an impediment to economic rights' attainment in the nation.
HRC vice-chairperson, Palan Mulonda said as much as it was the miners' entitlement to press for improved conditions of service and salaries, their action to destroy property was retrogressive in as far as protection of economic rights was concerned.
Mr Mulonda was speaking in an interview in Kitwe yesterday during a three-day human rights workshop organised for police officers at Hotel Edinburgh.
"They are asking for more money but at the same time embark on an action that is destroying other wealth," Mr Mulonda said.
Labour and Social Security Minister, Austin Liato condemned the riotous behaviour by the miners, saying the pay talks had not collapsed as management and the union were still negotiating for better salaries and conditions of service.
Mr Liato said it was inappropriate for the workers to resort to strike action and later riot when management and the union were discussing better conditions of service for employees.
"The workers are supposed to allow management and the union conclude the negotiations and only when they have reached a dispute can the strike action be justified," he said in an interview.
The miners continued with their work stoppage, defying their union leaders' appeal to return to work and allow them resume negotiations with management.
Meanwhile, the miners in the morning gathered in the plant to be addressed by Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president, Rayford Mbulu and his National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) counterpart, Mundia Sikufele but later turned unruly.
Copperbelt police chief, Antoneil Mutentwa said police quickly moved in and fired teargas and drove the miners out of the plant.
One miner had his fingers blown off after he handled an exploding teargas canister, as he attempted to throw it back at the charging riot police.
Mr Mutentwa said the miners wanted to proceed to the open pit to damage vehicles there but police were alert and thwarted the move.
"There is no question that more people other than miners are involved in the riotous behaviour and among those arrested are loafers and students," he said.
Main roads in Chingola's Nchanga North Townships were blocked with logs and stones and business was paralysed as some people feared to have their shops looted.
The protesters smashed windows at Nchanga North local court, disrupting court proceedings and sending court staff running for safety.
KCM spokesperson, Rahul Kharkar said in a statement that morning shift workers at Nchanga underground and the concentrator should return to work, failure to which they would be deemed to have dismissed themselves.
"It is important to emphasise that the action taken by the affected employees is premature as no dispute has been declared," he said.
Mr Kharkar urged employees to proceed to their work stations as management and security wings would not allow formation of groups inside the mine premises.
"Management is now making an earnest appeal to all employees, especially those in the morning shift to report for work, failure to which they would be deemed to have dismissed themselves," he said.
And Mr Sikufele said the workers had refused to listen to their leaders and instead were demanding a 30 per cent salary increment.
He said workers were only interested in learning that management had granted the 30 per cent increment as opposed to calls to return to work.
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