Mine Workers’ Union of Zambia – MUZ President Joseph Chewe has commended the decision by Mopani Copper Mines – MCM and its holding company Glencore for its decision to resume operations while it continues to engage with government on potential solutions to its current challenges.
MCM has indicated in a statement released on May 3, 2020 by its Public Relations Manager Nebert Mulenga that the company is to re-start operations and issue a notice of its intention to place the mining operations on care and maintenance after 90 days.
And when reached out for further information as to when Mopani will exactly resume operations, Mulenga told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview on May 5, 2020 that the company has already started calling back employees to work provided they go through a health induction before operations fully begin but he did not clearly indicate the date that operations will fully resume.
“We started calling back employees on Monday and we have so far had an overwhelming turnout of over 80% and we are hoping to have over 100% turnout tomorrow then later fully resume operations,” He added.
Meanwhile, in a different exclusive interview, MUZ president Joseph Chewe has disclosed to ZBT that the company is set to resume full operations on May 6, 2020 as they give a notice to put the mines on care and maintenance.
Mopani Copper Mine was last month abruptly placed under care and maintenance by its parent company Glencore which resulted to sending over 11, 000 workers on force leave. This decision was however disapproved by government and Mopani had since rescinded its decision to put its copper mines under care and maintenance.
Chewe said putting the company under care and maintained is not a wrong decision provided the law is follow hence Mopani’s rejection by government was due to it not following the law and not involving the union in its early decisions to give room for interrogations.
“Mopani has the right to put the mines under care and maintainance provided they follow the law which requires them the give notice to government and the unions so that interrogations as to why this decision has been made are done,” He added.
Chewe has also assured mine workers that while dialogue between Mopani and Government is ongoing, the union will ensure no jobs will be lost as it will further meet with Mopani to discuss the way forward.
The Zambian authorities have challenged Glencore to hand back the license if they are not willing to arrive at a win win situation. Mopani is the anchor company of two major towns in Zambia, these are the city of Kitwe which is Zambias second largest city by population and the mining town of Mufulira were the Mopani has its underground mines.
