United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia(UPPZ) leader Charles Chanda is worried that Zambian miners continue to suffer at the hands of foreign investors, despite voting for the Patriotic Front(PF) in the 2016 elections.

The UPPZ  leader expressed  concern at the poor working conditions of Zambian miners in the mining industry, the pain that has been  inflicted by Chinese investors.

Chanda said the mining investors are abusing workers at the watch of the  Patriotic Front(PF) leadership which has no capacity to sort out the mess created in the  industry  because they are beneficiary of corruption in the sector.

He said the people on the Copperbelt are bitter with the PF  and they have nothing to do with them anymore.

“The miners lamented that they are busy counting the cost of  supporting the PF  that has turned out to be a heaven for foreigners. They complained of how they were cheated in the last elections campaign.  They were promised to be given back the  Black Mountain which all over a sudden was taken over by the Chinese. The miners further complained that a portion of Kitwe- Chingola Cemetery has been sold to Chinese and Indians. The lack of care by the PF has made a number of Copperbelt residents  to vow never to support the PF seed whether in and out of Government. They said PF is PF whether inside or expelled,” he said.

According to Chanda, some ministers have contracts with mining giant so they are unable to correct the rot in the industry.

Speaking in an interview upon arrival from the Copperbelt where he had gone to meet miners, Chanda said UPPZ will correct the mistakes made by the Movement for Multiparty Democracy(MMD) and certain individuals who were involved in the privatization of mines in the 90s.

“The greatest error was to exclude social responsibility by new mine owners which UPPZ will enforce once in power,” Chanda said.

The opposition leader said UPPZ  will come up with reforms that will include job security for all miners.

“No miner will be on contract under our leadership. If miners become disagreeable to the new reforms, we will have no choice but to nationalize the mines because Zambia is our country,” Chanda warned.