BY SYLVIA MWEETWA –

THE MINE Workers  Union of Zambia (MUZ)  has  added  its  voice  on the  importance  of  Zambians  to uphold peace and unity  ahead of  elections  if the country  is to  maintain investor  confidence  in the mining and other  sectors.
MUZ General Secretary Joseph Chewe said there was need to  uphold    peace  the country has  enjoyed  over  the  years  if  it  was to continue to attract  investors  in the mining and other  areas  needed to grow the  economy.
Speaking in an interview  yesterday in Kitwe, Mr Chewe  said the union was  concerned  with  the  violence some  areas   had experienced  in the  run-up to the  elections.
He  said  there  was  need  to  protect  the  investment  the  country has  recorded  and  that,   if  violence  is  not stopped,  it may scare away potential  investors.
“We  want  to  add  our  voice  to  the  happenings  in the country seeing that  we have  recorded   pockets  of violence. We  wish  to state that if  the  violence  is not stopped it has the potential of scaring  away  the  investors and our  appeal is that,  political parties  should  stop  the acts, ”he said.
He said  that  this was  not  the first  or last  elections to  be held and  Zambia  would  still  exist  after the elections hence the need  to guard the peace jealously.
The mining  industry  had  of late  seen  some positive mining activity and  should  be not be  disturbed  so as  to allow  job creation in  the  sector  and  be  able to  contribute to the country’s development.