Sinazongwe Member Parliament (MP) Raphael Muyanda has assured miners at Maamba Collieries that Government would soon intervene in their plight.
Workers at the coal mine have had no salary for the last four months.
Mr. Muyanda told the workers at a meeting in Maamba that President Rupiah Banda has promised that government would pay the Maamba Collieries (MCL) workers who have not been getting their salaries for four months now.
He told the workers that during a meeting he held with President, he expressed sadness at the failure by Management to pay the workers their salaries.
Mr. Muyanda called on the workers to be patient as government was trying to address their plight.
“Money is coming and the President has promised to sort out the matter through his Economic Advisor,” Mr. Muyanda said.
Mr. Muyanda said he it pains him when the miners were starving, failing to send their children to School, and paying for their rentals.
The MP called on management to work hard and ensure that the thousands of tones of coal that were still heaped at their plant were quickly sold.
Mr. Muyanda said he would not hesitate to move a motion in parliament to have the management at MCL removed from their positions if they continued being showing signs of incompetence.
“They must take this issue seriously if they want to keep their jobs,” he said.
He said coal has market within the country and other countries such as Malawi, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
ZANIS
‘ He said coal has market within the country and other countries such as Malawi, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. quote’ The above statement by this MP is very interesting, honestly how much revenue can Zambia make by selling coal to countries which their economical status are as well below poverty lines and they are also in dare need of donor help just Zambia itself? secure good market then those miners will be liberated.
Nambala 1 Joe Bidden sensible point: we expect to see countries like Great Britain, Germany, USA, China and Japan on Zambia’s trade list. How can you count on our war torn and poverty stricken neighbours for a steady cash-flow? No wonder the miners are suffering.
” honestly how much revenue can Zambia make by selling coal to countries which their economical status are as well below poverty lines and they are also in dare need of donor help just Zambia itself? ”
What does the one have to do with the other? As long as they pay in hard currency, the closer to home coal is sold, the better. Besided, the DRC has a large mining industry, I’m sure they need energy too.
Now what makes you think ‘Zambia needs donor aid’? Donor aid isn’t charity. It is the country’s money coming back to it. In 2004 Zambia exported $4,000 million, of which $2,400 were pure profits to the mining industry, and received $600 million in ‘donor aid’. Zambia received $6 million in taxes.
So who said Zambia needed donor aid again?
Zambians are funny! One day they say regional trade in africa must be strengthened, the other day zambia should trade with Great Britain Germany ah ah, what exactly do you want??
People lets be realistic here. Ati shani? Trading with Nani? Great Britain and Shani??? We are failing to consolidate regional trade and yet you want us to trade with ba nani? Not in our life time (as long as RB exists anyway!)
Can you actually believe it that Lafarge cement is getting its coal from Zimbabwe,reason,Maamba Collieries is too inconsistent with supply.There is a yawning market for coal but d.a.m.n, talkin nation
who’s going to get that regional trade going at full-speed??? you can bet your last zmk10,000.00 it’s NOT any politician or bureaucrat from any country in sadc/comesa. only when politicians and bureaucrats get out of the way can private businesses and individuals willingly trade among themselves, leading to a boom in regional trade.
it’s really sad the coal miners are suffering due to the incompetence of management. the collieries must be liquidated and sold so the miners can be paid their dues. it’s even sadder the politicos are issuing empty promises to the suffering. that’s just downright immoral.