Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) will hold demonstrations on Wednesday to force government to fast track payment of pension funds for the ex-miners who worked in the South African mines under Teba.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Labour, the country has more than 49,000 registered ex-miners who have been pushing for their pension money.

Speaking to YFM, HRDC Southern Chapter vice chairperson, Henderson Mhango, said the Ministry of Labour has failed to assist the ex-miners hence they have decided to write President Lazarus Chakwera through a petition which will be delivered to the Blantyre City Council offices.

Mhango said: “Despite an outcry from these ex-miners but the Ministry of Labour has failed to address their issues and now we want the State President himself to tell them on the status of this long time standing issue.”

Mhango further said HRDC’s research has shown that the ex-miners are being duped by some people including lawyers who give them false promises that their issues will be resolved.

According to Mhango, the demonstrations, which will start from the upper stadium to Blantyre City Council (BCC) offices, will attract not more than 100 participants to ensure Covid-19 preventive measures are adhered to.

Initially, the demonstrations were planned to take place in six districts in the southern region, however, due to Covid-19 preventive measures, each district will send five representatives to Blantyre.