Maamba mine retirees turn to for Levy redemption

By Tovin Ngombe
Maamba mine retirees have appealed to President Levy Mwanawasa to assist them in getting their retirement money.

The Chairperson for retirees Douglas Siakalonga told ZANIS in an interview that despite the court ordering Maamba mine management to pay them their retirement money in four installments last year they have failed to respect the judgment.

“It seems now that Maamba mine management was more superior than our courts were can we turn to when courts decisions are not being honoured, can some one help us be it a Minister or whatever,” Siakalonga said.

He said that the current scenario seems that President Mwanawasa was not aware of what was obtaining on the ground at Maamba mine.

Siakalonga has since castigated Zambia Consolidated Copper Mine (ZCCM) Investment Holding for paying free salaries to Maamba miners who were not producing any coal.

He said ZCCM Investment holding should also look into there plight as they also contributed to the wellbeing of the mine despite its current state.

Maamba miners have been getting salaries despite their failing to improve production of coal which was due to the dilapidated equipment that has stayed for over 20 years without being replaced.

The retirees Chairperson who retired in 2003 disclosed that Maamba Mine Management has been giving them small amounts of money which they could not buy anything from it and the last meager amount was paid in October 2005.

“What is disturbing was that our children were being chased at the mine School when they owe us huge sums of money, we have been turned into destitutes,” Mr Siakalonga said.
However, on Thursday bailiffs seized some mine properties but because the Mine Management was tipped off of their coming they hide some of their valuable assets such as vehicles and locked up their offices.

One miner who refused to be named told ZANIS that bailiffs seized a motor vehicle that was on its way to Lake Kariba along Maamba Batoka road and they preceded to the mine area where they found most of the vehicles were hidden and offices locked.

Bailiffs have continued to haunt the mine, two weeks ago they pounced on them and seized vehicles, houses, and the Izuma lodge.

Mine Manager Coin Siakachoma said the situation was contained when ZCCM Investment holdings through their lawyer intervened.
The retirees’ chairperson said people should not think they were being cruel by sending bailiffs because that was the only way to get their money.
“Maamba position is bad but we need to survive as well because nothing tangible is coming from the mine management and do they expect us to take the law into our own hand?,” Mr. Siakalonga said
Most of workers at Maamba mine said the situation at the mine was pathetic because most of the coal that has already been exposed was not being picked inlarge quantities because the mine has no equipment.
“It is equipment that his hindering production here otherwise we are sitting on money let ZCCM Investment holdings bring equipment if they are serious about mining.” One worker said.

TN/END