Workers Urge DRC Govt to Finalize CHEMAF Sale to Protect Jobs
DRC Mining: CHEMAF Workers Call on Government to Accelerate Sale and Safeguard Jobs
CHEMAF SA, a private mining company active in the copper and cobalt sector in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba, is facing a deep crisis marked by declining production, aging equipment, and stalled investment.
Workers are now appealing directly to President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi to accelerate the company’s sale and ensure the protection of jobs and social rights.
In a statement, employees demanded that the government guarantee in writing:
The safeguarding of jobs and social benefits
The establishment of permanent dialogue between the State, management, and workers’ representatives
According to workers, urgent action is needed to prevent the collapse of CHEMAF, which could trigger a social crisis in the mining hubs of Kolwezi and Lubumbashi, where the company plays a major economic role.
CHEMAF operates the Étoile mine in Lubumbashi, but its outdated equipment requires urgent renewal. Workers stress that only a finalized sale would allow a new investor to inject capital for modernization.
The company also owns the Mutoshi mine, considered its most promising asset. The site is rich in minerals, and its processing plant is already 90% complete. However, construction has stalled due to lack of funding. Once operational, the mine is expected to employ nearly 5,000 workers, making it central to CHEMAF’s long-term future.
Without swift intervention, workers warn of massive job losses and wider social instability. They are urging the government to act quickly to ensure the transition to new ownership and preserve both livelihoods and regional stability.
