'KCM a dead horse', Unions allege mine in poor shape, demand full disclosure of Mopani deal (video)

Mine unions have called for urgent investments in Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) to avoid the imminent flooding of the underground mine.

Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president, Joseph Chewe, said at a media briefing in Kitwe on Wednesday that delays to iron out legal matters was worrying.

Chewe who held a briefing alongside his National Union for Mine and Allied Workers (NUMAW) and Uinited Mineworkers Union of Zambia (UMUZ) president, Saul Simujika, said more pressure was noticed on KCM operations.

“Starting at Konkola the smelter has been down, KCM is a dead horse, we can’t close our eyes when things are becoming worse, very soon the mine is going into care and maintenance,”he said.

Simujika said during the same briefing that the union had been wanting to meet President Hakainde Hichilema to present their case but the move had not yielded results.

On Mopani Copper Mine (MCM), he observed that unions had not been involved and further demanded for a total disclosure on the deal government signed with the Abu Dhabi investor.

Simujika also said the union was demanding that Shaft 28 mining project in Luanshya by Luanshya Copper Mine (LCM) starts now and not the envisaged June commencement date due to the strategic nature of the mine.

Union branch officials displayed placards denouncing Vedanta while calling for the quick conclusion of the impending issues that were holding commencement of operations.

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