400 abandoned workers finally paid

LINDA SOKO TEMBO write

@SunZambian     

MORE than 400 workers, earlier abandoned by Cooperativa Muratori Cementisti di Ravenna (CMC di Ravenna), a former Millennium Challenge Account Zambia (MCAZ) contractor in May, have finally been paid their dues.

Speaking to the Sun, Millennium Project Completion Agency (MPCA-Zambia), Director Communications, John Kunda, said they were happy that the workers had been paid their salaries, leave days and gratuity.

Dr Kunda said CMC used their own resources to pay the workers and not the money the MPCA-Zambia was holding on meant for specific elements like completing the 2 % works or repairing any damages.

“As MPCA-Zambia we are happy that CMC has finally paid their workers we had continued to engage them to ensure that the workers were not left in limbo,” he said.

 I do not think the workers understood when we told them to be patient because CMC had just abandoned the site and workers without telling us why,” Dr Kunda said.

Dr Kunda said the contractual provisions were very clear and all MPCA-Zambia needed was a clear guideline on how the CMC was going to pay the workers.

He also disclosed that MPCA-Zambia was working on a new mechanism of engaging a new contractor to complete the 2% remaining works that CMC had abandoned.

“We are still in discussion with CMC on the best mechanism for our divorce with them so that as they go away we have the means within which we can complete the remaining works and hire a new contractor,” he said.