By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Mine Union Workers of Zambia (MUZ), United Mine Workers Union (UMUZ), National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) members staged a peaceful demonstration to air their grievances over delayed payment of terminal benefits.
The employees were protesting against the owners of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Vedanta who have dragged KCM Provisional Liquidator Milingo Lungu and ZCCM-IH to court.
Vedanta who were unceremoniously kicked out of KCM are testified the legal fighting for a comeback.
MUZ President Joseph Chewe said that Vedanta should not be entertained as they are major contributors to the bad economy in Chingola, Chililabombwe, Kitwe and Napundwe.
Mr Chewe said the courts should not entertain Vedanta instead they should consider the plight of the miners.
He said the miners want their benefits paid as promised, hence miners hope for a fair judgment for their suffering.
And UMUZ president James Chansa said miners are owners and custodians of the mines hence the mine operations should run with or without the investor.
Nchanga Member of parliament Chali Chilombo thanked Government for the support that they are giving to the miners.
And Chingola District Commissioner Agness Tonga said that the Government of President Edgar Lungu is behind the miners.
Ms Tonga said that no investor should delay the mining of copper and has urged the court to do the right thing.
She called on all the stake holders to stand and work together with the Government irrespective of the political affiliation.
And Copperbelt students joined the miners in the solidarity match led by their Union president Lawrence Kasonde.
