By ROGERS KALERO
MINE workers unions should not be perceived to be engaging in politics or inciting their members to rise against the government when they speak on the dilemma of their members on the delay in the operationalisation of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), Saul Simujika has said.
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Mr Simujika, the president of the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) says the role of the unions is to safeguard the interest of their members and ensure that the mining sector should continue to grow and contribute to job creation and national development.
Mr Simujika said responsible workers unions should always champion the interests of their members and that the mine unions are deeply concerned that there had been no activity at KCM three months after government had brought back Vedanta Resources to take full operational control of the giant copper mine.
He said the mine unions had voiced out their concerns in order to protect and defend the interests of its members because they feared future of their membership was being threatened.
During a joint press briefing at Katilungu House in Kitwe on Wednesday, Mr Simujika said KCM had more than 3, 000 unionised miners and that should the giant mining company fail to pick up, more than 3, 000 miners and other workers would have no jobs.
The joint press briefing was attended by Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ), president Joseph Chewe and Wisdom Ngwira, the president of United Miners Workers Union of Zambia (UMUZ).
Mr Simujika said KCM was in bad state and in dire need of re-capitalisation and what was needed was more of a practical approach than rhetoric to save the giant mine from going to waste The mine workers unions and their membership were concerned that despite three months of signing the agreement with Vedanta Resources Plc elapsing, there was nothing happening at the mine
Mr Simujika said the interest of the unions was to see that the giant mining company was re-capitalised and the promises which Vedanta Resources Plc had made were fulfilled
He said NUTAW supported the return of Vedanta Resources Plc to return to KCM and would not like the Vedanta project to fail for other people to gain political mileage “When the agreement was signed, we said it was a crucial agreement because we thought it would breathe life in KCM. But up to now, nothing has happened. The situation at KCM has continued to deteriorate. It has been three months, now, but there seems to be no hope.”
“We are not doing politics, but we are safeguarding the interests of our members. A responsible union will protect the interests of its members. We have more than 3, 000 unionised miners at KCM and if the mine is not saved, then the more than 3, 000 miners will be left in the cold,’’ Mr Simujika said
Mr Simujika however expressed hope that the mining sector would be revived Athis year following government’s tireless efforts which had resulted in finding equity partners for the two giant mining companies
He also said mine workers unions had been understanding and flexible to the management of various mining companies during negotiations in 2023, but once the sector was revived, unions would ensure that miners got the best of what deserved in conditions of service.
Mr Simujika said, while KCM and MCM were facing challenges which had led to the declining levels of production, mines in North-Western Province such as Kalumbila, Kansanshi , Lumwana, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and others had performed considerably well in 2023
“Whilst, we had challenges at KCM and MCM, I must say, mines in North-Western Province had performed well where FQM had invested heavily in the expansion of Trident mine in Kalumbila, there was also ST project and there was also the opening of Nickel mine in Kalumbila,’’ Mr Simujika said.
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