Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Youths for Transparency and Integrity (YTI) has charged that unions supporting Mopani Copper Mines management’s directive for all workers at mining firm to use of English within the company premises are toothless.
Speaking in a telephone interview with QFM News, YTI Executive Director Bright Muchima says the new rule introduced by Mopani Copper Miners is draconian.
Mr. Muchima says Mopani management should not feel intimidated and uncomfortable when workers use their respective homeland languages in boardrooms, sites, and general communication.
Mr. Muchima says though English is the official language in Zambia, it does not mean people should be restrained from using their mother tongue.
He says the directive is infringes upon the workers rights to freedom of expression because they cannot express themselves freely.
Mr Muchima notes that not all people who work are able to express themselves freely in English hence the need to revisit the decision to ban the use of vernacular language at the mining firm.