Desist From Mudslinging, MUZ Advises New Miners' Union

LUSAKA, June 10 - The Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has advised the newly launched National Union of Mine and Allied Workers (NUMAW) to desist from mudslinging and concentrate on issues that would improve the welfare of miners.

MUZ general secretary, Ernest Mutale said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that NUMAW should concentrate on doing what MUZ had failed to do to justify its existence as opposed to attacking the oldest union in Zambia.

Mr Mutale was reacting to a statement in the media by NUMAW president, Mundia Sikufele that MUZ was a sinking boat which had failed to address the plight of miners.

Mr Sikufele told miners not to be cheated by MUZ which he said had been sleeping for many years.

But Mr Mutale said the statement by Mr Sikufele was misplaced because it was not reflecting what was on the ground as the two unions were negotiating together.

The MUZ general secretary said it was sad that NUMAW could resort to attacking MUZ in the media when the entire country knows what happened to the mining industry after privatisation.

He said things in the mining industry would never be the same as they were in the days of the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM).

He said the challenge which lay ahead of unions representing miners was enormous and needed a united workforce.

He said it was important to work together in harmony and find a better way of improving the miners' welfare because nothing would be achieved through mudslinging.

Source: The Times of Zambia / allAfrica Global Media