• Minister of Mines should publicly disclose government’s position on the mine as it has been closed for over a year.
• The labour union might protest as the time government promised to get back to them has elapsed.
• Chambishi Metals was placed on care and maintenance last year citing lack of raw materials to run the refinery.

Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has called on government to publicly state its position on Chambishi Metals as the mine has been on care and maintenance for over a year.
In an interview with Money FM News, Union President, Joseph Chewe said the labour union believes foreign owners of the mining firm have held the Minister of Mines hostage as the time he promised to get back to the union over the status of the mine has elapsed.
‘‘We (MUZ) are receiving phone calls everyday from the workers on where government has reached with Chambishi metals , so as a union, we also want to find out from the mines minister on where talks with the investor have reached, ’’ he said.
‘‘We cannot allow a foreign entity to hold the Minister of Mines (Richard Musukwa) and Zambians hostage, as the idling of Chambishi Metals assets has adversely affected the workers and the community of Chambishi.’’
Mr. Chewe said that the union together with the miners are ready to stage a protest in order to demand for answers from the authorities.
‘‘With where we are now, we might consider holding a peaceful protest as the owners of Chambishi Metals have continued to hold government hostage,’’ he added.
Eurasia Resources Group (ERG), the owners of Chambishi Metals on the Copperbelt, placed the mine on care and maintenance and retrenched 229 workers in January last year, citing difficulties in sourcing for raw materials for its refinery.