MUZ SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL BASE, REMAIN VIBRANT

THE Mine workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has embarked on several income generating projects to help it strengthen its financial base to continue providing a voice to the few workers that will remain in the industry, MUZ President Joseph Chewe said.

Mr Chewe said apart from providing a voice to the few workers that will remain in the industry, the union had also embarked on a number of income generating projects to contribute to poverty alleviation through job creation and contribute to economic recovery and national development.

Mr Chewe was speaking at the weekend at Shebourne Hotel in Kitwe when he opened the MUZ/Industrial Global Union stakeholders engagement on Artisanal Small Scale Mining (ASM) which was attended by Emerald and Semi-Precious Minerals Association of Zambia (ESMAZ), Care for Nature and other Civil Society Organisations (CSO) whose activities were related to mining activities and Human Rights.

Mr Chewe said MUZ was also exploring options of owning shares in some major mining companies as a way of participating in the extractive industry and contributing to economic recovery and national development.

Among the income generating projects which MUZ has embarked on to create employment and ease poverty include the milling plant in Chambishi Township under the Shimaini Investment and was now looking at the option of establishing a mine in Zambia. “These projects and many other plans that we have, will help strengthen the union’s financial base to continue providing a voice to the few workers that will remain in the industry.

Mr Chewe said MUZ was also working with other cooperating partners and would like to help Artisanal and Small Scale Miners get organised and integrate them into the mainstream union for collective say in terms of workers’ rights, promotion of safe mining and the right to reasonable pricing on the market.