President Hakainde Hichilema has given about K100,000 thousand to five families of the workers who were trapped and died at Macro Link Mines Limited in Ndola District on the Copperbelt Province.
Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo confirmed in a statement that the money has been given to the five family members of the deceased to cushion the burden that occurred as a result of the loss of their beloved ones.
Mr Matambo disclosed when family members of the deceased together with management from Microlink met him at his office in Ndola District that they will also be given their last money by workers Compensation Fund Control Board as outlined in the laws.
He pointed out that earlier the deceased relatives had received about K5000 kwacha each from the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board to cater for funeral arrangements.
The Minister has since thanked Macro Link Mines Limited for also paying the five families the agreed amount as compensation for the loss of their beloved ones.
John Musanshinko, a father to one of the deceased, appreciated both the government and Macro Link Mines Limited for handling the matter to the expectation of all affected family members.
Ba LT, you should have shed more light on Macro Link Mines Limited; who are the owners and what do they mine?
I also think families of the deceased are eligible for wrongful death penalties. Improper mining practices are likely the cause of deaths.
@Uncle Spider. The owners are Chinese and this accident was as a result of poor mining practices. When MSD was a real department these Chinese would be appearing in court for homicide. But nothing has happened and the incident is it never happened.
Exactly. This mining company should be scrutinized to make sure they’re not liable for whatever accident that transpired. The family members of the deceased should immediately hire a competent lawyer to sue this company for fitting compensation, not these ngwes they’re throwing at them. Investigate this case thoroughly, to see if there was any negligence involved. And HH offering his money to them is just a publicity stunt.
Mpampa above. Well written. I was about to argue against the president being involved in compensation. Whilst it remains a welcome move, this can’t be the usual affair going forward.
Indeed, how much is the company worth? If taken to court for negligent management of the mine, these guys could possible shed off half a million each.
Lastly, are our lawyers not hungry enough to offer services to such potential clients?
Zambian lawyers are awfully inefficient just like most of our professions have deteriorated since 1991
As a matter of interest has Campaigning started
Just that a lot of money suddenly being dished out
These people need justice not handouts. The managers of company ought to be in jail and the company should compensate the families adequately enough to last until the children are fully educated.
The accident was due to negligence.
Why is HH giving out handouts here. We need a proper investigation. What happened, what is happening and what is going to happen. Handout will not close these deaths. What happened to JJ Bands and the IBA director? Zambians need to grow a brain before these guys finish us off.
Probably the same money could be from the same Chinese mine owners. It’s not right to take advantage of these people’s poverty and ignorance of the process. A mine inspector was supposed to investigate the cause of the accident…in the civilised days even a rock fall was an issue which could cause the loss of mining practicing licence of the managers.
The African way is steal the billions then give back some change, in form of “ gifts” Africans are so easy to fool. Even better still just lie that you have given out so much. No one follows up anyway.
After reading some of the comments , I feel like we are mixing issues here. HH giving money is different from tge issue of compensation from the company Macro Link Mine.
We all know that. Some of us have been following the incident from the beginning and how it has been hushed up. These families should have benefitted from the company already. No government official has said anything serious about the accident. This hundred thousand is just a way of shutting up these families. Of course you won’t the other side’s points because for you there’s no life without HH.