By ADRIAN MWANZA
THE payment of RAMCOZ benefits by Government is long overdue and President Edgar Lungu is just trying to clean the mess caused by an opposition leader who was in charge of privatisation, says the Mine workers Unions of Zambia (MUZ).
MUZ president, Joseph Chewe, said that President Lungu needed to be commended for trying to improve the lives of ex miners some of whom had died and their families languishing in poverty.
Mr Chewe said that the problems were brought about by a certain individual who was involved in the privatisation of the mines.
He said that most former miners were languishing in poverty and that their benefits were timely and would give them a lifeline in years.
“I feel the head of State has a heart of the people because those people went through a lot, some even lost their lives in the process but finally their prayers have been answered.”
Mr Chewe said that the miners had started getting their benefits as of Monday and that they would be cleared because it was their entitlement.
He said many presidents had come and gone but that they all failed to give the ex-miners what was owed to them by their former employers RAMCOZ. And former Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili said that the miners had been through a lot and that he was happy that President Lungu had heard their plight. MrKambwili said that the President needed should be given a pat on the back by every well-meaning Zambian because he did not want to leave anyone behind.
“I think the people of Luanshya will give the Head of State 100 percent votes because he has shown that he has a heart for Zambians in all the provinces of Zambia,” Mr Kambwili said. He called on Zambians to give the Head of State another mandate for him to continue delivering what was best for Zambians.
One of the miners who spoke on condition of anonymity said that they had been waiting for their dues from 2003.
He said the move by the Head of State was commendable and that the people of Luanshya would give him a resounding victory.
“We as ex miners are very happy because the Head of State has heard our cries and given us an olive branch to restart our lives all over,” he said.
Ends.
