Scores of workers staged violent protests on Tuesday afternoon after the management at Chambeshi Mines failed to honour salary increments that were agreed in negotiations with workers' representatives, trade unionist Gillan Mubanga said.

"The police shot at the crowd in a bid to disperse them. Five workers were shot and wounded. They are currently admitted at the hospital," said Mubanga who is the local National Union for Miners and Allied Workers branch chairman.

The workers smashed vehicles and damaged mining equipment before they were dispersed by armed police officers who fired tear gas at the crowd and bullets into the air, eyewitnesses told AFP.

Police said a comprehensive report on the incident would be issued on Thursday.

Chambeshi Mines belongs to the Non-Ferrous Company (NFC) African Mining of China and is situated near Kitwe about 400 kilometres ( 248 miles) north of the capital Lusaka.

Last year about 50 people died in a mine blast at the same company in an accident widely blamed on the Chinese investors who have allegedly relaxed safety measures.

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