In a moment of high tension among the Chinese and foreign investor community in Zambia, a Catholic priest has lashed out in a radio interview, demanding that the owners of the Collum coal mine should face legal penalties despite the murder of one of their nationals during a minimum wage riot.
Catholic Priest Father Augustine Mwewa made the comments to Flava FM Radio, stating that there should be “equal application of the law.”
Father Mwewa expressed concern that the police may exercise bias by only going after those accused of the murder, instead of investigating the mine’s failure to hike wages for all workers by more than 100% as required by a new statutory instrument signed into law. Further he said, “the Chinese should learn to respect the labour laws of the country and not take advantage of the workers. They are known for flouting labour laws in the recent past and as such the recent happenings has caught up with their deeds.”
The religious leader also said that those who disagree with the new minimum wage law are “immoral” as every Zambian deserves a decent pay of above K500,000.
The death of the Chinese mine manager has opened up a rift in the country’s relations with Zambia, including several pointed demands from the Ambassador for the authorities to hold those responsible to account.