Mopani mines agrees settlement of K249,500 to Bwalya’s family, as damages for loss of life

Mopani Copper Mines PLC has agreed to compensate the family of late miner, Mathews Bwalya, who died while on duty, K249,500 in damages for loss of life.

It will also pay legal costs incurred by the family in the sum of K60,000.

This is according to a consent order dated November 29, 2023 sealed by Judge Gaudentia Salasini.

This is a matter in which Mwamona Engineering and Technical Services Limited, a company owned by senior Patriotic Front official, Chishimba Kambwili’s wife, Carol Chansa, and son Mwamba Kambwili, was sued together with Mopani Copper Mines for allegedly causing the death of Bwalya.

Bwalya, died on October 4, 2022, when he was assigned as a dump truck operator to work at 3960 meters level on an elevated site, driving a dump truck loaded with Copper ore.

Bwalya in the process of executing the said assignment, experienced mechanical faults, leading to loss of control, hitting against the mines walls and consequently getting trapped.

Acording to documents filed in court, Bwalya was aged 45 and a father of eight (aged between 23 and 2) earning a monthly net pay of K4,200 at SOB, Nkana Mine.

Administrators of his estate, Cecilia Chama and Charles Bwalya said in a statement of claim that their relative died due to negligence by the defendants and was demanding K500,000 compensation.

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