Former miners from three groups have come together in solidarity with miners currently being retrenched, claiming that terminal benefits are not being paid which is leaving families languishing in poverty. They will hold a peaceful ‘national demonstration for ex-miners’ outside a Ndola High Court hearing in the case of 752 KCM miners retrenched in 2009.
The KCM workers were paid varying rates of terminal benefits when Vedanta (KCM) closed the Nkana smelter in 2009, with some who had worked for over 25 years failing to receive the funds held in trust for them by ZCCM when they changed over to privatised companies. They have spent a total of 180 nights sleeping at Intercity bus stop in Lusaka over the last six years waiting to see government officials to resolve their struggle, and were finally advised by the Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska, and Minister of Mines Christopher Yaluma to go to court this year.
Chairman of the group, Francis Wambuzi says;
“Like so many other former miners we have been from pillar to post fighting this injustice. We want the government and Zambians to know how former miners, the backbone of this country are being treated after losing their jobs. We feel betrayed by the unions, some of whom are now in government posts but have failed to help us.”
Doreen Mumba and Matilda Mulenga, widows of one the former miners said:
“Our husbands died while fighting against the underpayment of their dues. Now our children are unable to go to school and others have had to stop. Our whole families are suffering.”
Representatives for the Association of Former Mopani Workers will also attend the demonstration. They represent more than 3000 former miners retrenched between 2000 and 2008 who have never received their proper terminal benefits. 569 of these sued Mopani, and were given a favourable judgement at the Supreme Court in 2010. However the judgement is yet to be read out in court or justice served. 237 of them are now deceased. 106 were medically discharged for job related illnesses such as TB and mine related accidents such as lost limbs. Though some of them received one months basic pay per year of service, they never received the medical compensation, repatriation or healthcare they are entitled to.
William Chola, Chairperson for the Association of Former Mopani Workers says:
“It is so sad to see the state of these miners and their families. Many don’t have electricity or water. Everything has been cut off because they can’t pay the bills. The medically discharged are moving around like dead people. Many have died now due to depression and lack of healthcare. The widows and orphans of the deceased remain part of our group hoping they will finally get something.”
Another group attending the demonstration represent 1195 workers who lost their jobs at Mpelembe drilling in 2009 when the company went bust following a management buyout after privatisation in 1997. None of these workers, many of whom had specialised skills, have received any terminal benefits.
Mopani have recently declared their intention to lay off 5,331 permanent workers, with another 4000 contractors also expected to go, while KCM are planning to close the Nchanga mine affecting 2,503 contract workers.(1) The protesting miners claim they are unlikely to receive their due terminal benefits either and urge them to join their group to demand justice for their families.
President Edgar Lungu stated this week that he would work to ensure terminal benefits for newly retrenched miners were paid.