The prospect of getting educated, getting a decent job and having a feel of city life seemed only a mile away when Vincent Chenjela got a part-time job at a Chinese-run coal mine in Sinazeze, southern Zambia. But getting shot by his own foreign employers without any compensation has left him and his family crying for justice.
Poverty forced Chenjela, a grade eight pupil at Nkandabwe basic school, to get job to pay his way through secondary school but little did he know that his job, with all its promises of a better future, could turn up to be a curse in his life.
With a part time job as an underground miner, Chenjela was sure of a good life, away from the village where even safe drinking water is a luxury. It was not until October last year, when Chenjela´s seemingly ´decent´ future became blurred when his employers shot him twice in the stomach.
On the fateful day, the mine workers at the site downed tools and protested over poor working conditions.
Chenjela was not part of the protest and had not reported for work but passed through the mines to confirm his working shifts when he met his fate.
He found the miners protesting and it was at the time of his arrival that the two Chinese bosses allegedly fired live bullets at the workers wounding him and 10 of his colleagues.
Chenjela has no kind words for the investors.
“I don’t know what I will become,” Chenjela says with a cloud of tears forming in his eyes as he quickly looks away to control his emotions. Chenjela describes the working conditions at the mine as pathetic.
“I don’t know how I can describe that place, it’s horrible, working there is like committing suicide, the money is little and the working conditions are bad, but what can you do when you are desperate,” he bitterly says.
Chenjela, the youngest victim among the 11, was shot twice in the stomach with a third bullet piercing his chest.
He says after been shot, his employers never gave him any financial support for treatment and he was left stranded at the University Teaching Hospital in the capital, Lusaka, hundreds of miles from his hometown.
“Even when I was taken to the hospital there was no word from them (employers), they kept quiet, we had to beg for transport to come back here,” says Chenjela.
Chenjela says his employers earlier promised to help with school fees but says it will be impossible because the courts have ended the case. The court entered a nolle prosequi for the two Chinese nationals last month.
“I´m crippled, I can never work the way I used to, It’s like been dead, the most unfortunate thing is that the Chinese that crippled me are free,” complains Chenjela. He says his future is in jeopardy adding that he can never go back to mine.
“Just living near this mine is traumatizing enough, I can´t stand this place, I wish I could go far from this place, but where?,” he asks almost sobbing.
Chenjela complains that justice is not for the poor.
“If we were rich we would have received justice, but who has the time to fight for people like us, being poor is just as good as dead,” he complained.
Chenjela says he is unable to continue with school because he has no money to pay fees and he is unable to do any form of manual work to raise money. His old and ailing father Leonard has vowed to fight for his son´s rights.
“They have killed my son, look at him,” he complains.
Leonard a poor peasant farmer says no amount of money would bring back his son to “life.”
“Even if they pay us, the money can’t be compared to the life of my son, he can´t live like before. I will keep fighting to get justice,” says Leonard.
Chenjela believes justice will one day prevail.
With a part time job as an underground miner, Chenjela was sure of a good life, away from the village where even safe drinking water is a luxury. It was not until October last year, when Chenjela´s seemingly ´decent´ future became blurred when his employers shot him twice in the stomach.
On the fateful day, the mine workers at the site downed tools and protested over poor working conditions.
Chenjela was not part of the protest and had not reported for work but passed through the mines to confirm his working shifts when he met his fate.
He found the miners protesting and it was at the time of his arrival that the two Chinese bosses allegedly fired live bullets at the workers wounding him and 10 of his colleagues.
Chenjela has no kind words for the investors.
“I don’t know what I will become,” Chenjela says with a cloud of tears forming in his eyes as he quickly looks away to control his emotions. Chenjela describes the working conditions at the mine as pathetic.
“I don’t know how I can describe that place, it’s horrible, working there is like committing suicide, the money is little and the working conditions are bad, but what can you do when you are desperate,” he bitterly says.
Chenjela, the youngest victim among the 11, was shot twice in the stomach with a third bullet piercing his chest.
He says after been shot, his employers never gave him any financial support for treatment and he was left stranded at the University Teaching Hospital in the capital, Lusaka, hundreds of miles from his hometown.
“Even when I was taken to the hospital there was no word from them (employers), they kept quiet, we had to beg for transport to come back here,” says Chenjela.
Chenjela says his employers earlier promised to help with school fees but says it will be impossible because the courts have ended the case. The court entered a nolle prosequi for the two Chinese nationals last month.
“I´m crippled, I can never work the way I used to, It’s like been dead, the most unfortunate thing is that the Chinese that crippled me are free,” complains Chenjela. He says his future is in jeopardy adding that he can never go back to mine.
“Just living near this mine is traumatizing enough, I can´t stand this place, I wish I could go far from this place, but where?,” he asks almost sobbing.
Chenjela complains that justice is not for the poor.
“If we were rich we would have received justice, but who has the time to fight for people like us, being poor is just as good as dead,” he complained.
Chenjela says he is unable to continue with school because he has no money to pay fees and he is unable to do any form of manual work to raise money. His old and ailing father Leonard has vowed to fight for his son´s rights.
“They have killed my son, look at him,” he complains.
Leonard a poor peasant farmer says no amount of money would bring back his son to “life.”
“Even if they pay us, the money can’t be compared to the life of my son, he can´t live like before. I will keep fighting to get justice,” says Leonard.
Chenjela believes justice will one day prevail.
This article was copied from africanews.com
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