By JAMES KUNDA –

THE Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has urged management at Kalumbila Minerals Limited (KML) in Solwezi to reverse the dismissal of eleven miners who recently lost their jobs on allegations of fuelling industrial unrest.
Meanwhile, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) government relations manager John Gladston says KML will adhere to Zambian labour laws and ensure industrial harmony in its operations.
The eleven miners were dismissed last week after being tagged as architects of protests by 3000 KML employees, who were aggrieved that the family of their deceased colleague was denied a funeral grant by the company last month.
MUZ general secretary Joseph Chewe said in an interview yesterday that his union had engaged management at KML and Government to rescind the dismissal of the workers.
“We are confident that this will yield the desired result as we are confident that KML and Government have the best interests of the workers at heart,” he said.
Mr Gladston said in a separate interview yesterday that the company had engaged in close dialogue with the unions and Government over the dismissal of the miners including other issues related to FQM’s business in Zambia.
“We (FQM) are keen to do things properly and we have engaged Government and the unions to ensure that any issues related to our business in Zambia are resolved amicably,” he said.
Kalumbila mine is currently transitioning from its construction stage to the operational phase at a cost of US$2 billion and once operational, it is expected to process 300,000 tonnes of copper per annum.