KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has formally charged the 48 workers who recently took part in the riot in which property worth millions of Kwacha was destroyed.

KCM spokesperson Rahul Karkhar said in Chingola yesterday that 11 other employees have been reinstated.

Mr Karkhar refuted reports that the company had fired 40 miners but said that, 35 workers had so far been dismissed but had since written letters of appeal to the management, which was hearing their cases at various stages of the KCM disciplinary code.

He said of the 35 that were dismissed, ten had lost their final appeal while 25 were pending hearing.

Mr Karkhar said KCM was a big organisation, which could not fire employees as though the employees in question were on contract or on probation.

He explained that, the various stages through which the cases were being heard, were aimed at ensuring a fair hearing.

Mr Karkhar said KCM was an open company that believed in transparency and called on all policy makers and other interested parties to contact KCM to verify facts before making statements to reduce panic among employees.