CONTRACTOR FIRES SEVEN ‘HIRED GUNS’

ALOCAL contractor working on the pavers and drainages at Zesco offices in Kitwe has fired seven of its workers after a dispute.

The workers were reported to have started demanding their September wages.

Zambian Ventures is alleged to have dropped seven of its workers, mostly bricklayers on October 9, 2019.

Director Rodrick Walichupa explained that the fired workers were demanding to be paid salaries even before they could clock a month.

Mr Walichupa charged that the affected former employees were set on the firm to cause confusion at the company.

The seven fired workers were Moses Phiri, a bricklayer aged 57 years, Elijah Malama who was employed as a driver, Barnabas Nseluka, bricklayer aged 58, Timothy Phiri aged 28 also a bricklayer.

Others were Jamas Njovu bricklayer aged 60, Kennedy Sakavumbi a bricklayer 37, and Abraham Luneta a bricklayer.

Speaking on behalf of the affected workers, Mr Phiri said they were fired for asking for their September wages.

Mr Phiri said their wages ranged between K1,200 and K1,600 and were wondered why they were relieved of their duties instead of paying them their wages.

But Mr Walichupa said the fired workers had been hired to cause confusion at his company and that they had not even clocked a month for them to demand to be paid their wages.

"Whatever they have told you, they are telling lies. The truth of the matter is that those are hired guns to cause confusion at this company, but they will not succeed,'' Mr Walichupa said.

The seven workers said they had taken the matter to the labour office in Kitwe.