Zambian Police Arrest Six Labor Leaders for Rioting

Zambian police in the copper mining city of Kitwe have arrested six branch labor leaders on allegations of inciting violent protests at the Chinese owned Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS), the General Secretary of the National Union of Mine and Allied Workers (NUMAW) Alfred Mando confirmed to journalists on Wednesday.

Mando said the six were arrested on Tuesday night and are detained at Kitwe Central Police station.

More than five hundred workers at the CCS staged protests on Monday and Tuesday to press for better working conditions from their Chinese employers.

However, the situation got out of hand when the workers turned violent, stoning and setting fire to buildings to register their anger at stalled negotiations for better pay.

The workers, who receive a meager average of US$50.00 each per month are demanding a raise of up to US$400 each monthly.

Armed police were called in to restore order at the company, where apart from the acts of violence, the Chinese management were locked in their offices by the angry workers.

The workers have all been sent home by the Chinese managers who say work at the multi million US dollar smelter will only begin once order has been restored.

Source African Press Agency

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