Three Mine Workers Unions on the Copperbelt will today conduct a mass protest against the presence of Glencore in Zambia.
Mine-Workers Union Of Zambia –MUZ- president Jospeh Chewe has disclosed that the three unions applied for a permit to enable all the affected miners to protest against the owners of Mopani Copper Mines and has guided that the demonstration will take place in The Morning from Katilungu House to Mopani Central Offices.
Three mine unions on the copper-belt have officially written to the ministry of labor to complain against Mopani Copper Mines for abrogating several provisions of the law by going ahead to place the Mufulira and Kitwe mines on care and maintenance and issuing letters to miners without notifying their representatives.
Mr. Chewe revealed that management at Mopani copper mines has continued ignoring the 3 unions by refusing to meet with their leaders to discuss issues pertinent to the prevailing situation.
And National Union of Miners and Allied Workers President James Chansa has called on government to thoroughly investigate the incident where Mopani Copper Mines Chief Executive Officer Nathan Bullock attempted to flee the country while his company is the midst of high level negotiations with government over the decision to place the mine under care and maintenance.
The three unions namely the Mine-Workers Union of Zambia –MUZ-, the National Union Of Miners And Allied Workers –NUMAW- and the United Mine-Workers Union Of Zambia –UMUZ- are all advocating for the expulsion of Glencore and to be replaced by a new investor amidst a 7-day ultimatum which government has issued to mining firm to justify why its mining license should not be revoked.
