MCM Unionized Workers Protest Over Delayed Payment Of Their Accrued Benefits
By Michael Kaluba
Scores of unionized workers at Mopani Copper Mines –MCM- today protested demanding the immediate payment of the second installment of their accrued benefits that has been halted pending clearance from the Ministry of Finance.
Mopani yesterday issued a memo to the employee’s statement that management is waiting for clearance to pay the accrued benefits because Mopani is now a public entity and is subject to the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act No. 1 of 2018 and that the new government is reviewing the matter and would provide feedback.
But the workers who gathered at their union offices at Katilungu house in the town center today and later peacefully matched to the Mopani Central Offices in Nkana west have rejected this and threatened to paralyze operations at the mine if they are not paid within 24 hours while chanting the “no money, no production” slogan.
The miners, some of whom showed up with their wives, vowed not to leave the Mopani Central Offices until the money reflected on their accounts and in the process daring police officers who continued reasoning with the gathered crowd that later dispersed.
And Kitwe District Commissioner Lawrence Mwanza, flanked by union officials led by Mine-Workers Union Of Zambia-MUZ president Joseph Chewe, who labored to calm the miners before and after an emergency meeting, later assured the miners that their money is ready and will be credited into their accounts this afternoon as soon as it is authorized.
Mineworkers at Mopani were earlier this year awarded accrued benefits at the instruction of Former President Edgar Lungu with the first installment successfully paid, the second that was due on 31 October 2021 still not paid and leaving miners doubting whether their 3rd installment will be paid on time amidst loan issues with 3 financial institutions.
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