By JOHN SAKALA
Mines Minister Richard Musukwa says there are six investors that are eyeing to take over Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) once the process of liquidation is over.
Mr Musukwa was responding to Chingola renowned politician Derricky Chilundika who confronted the minister not to date Chinese investor for KCM.
The duo were in attendance during the burial of late Chingola Lawyer Wilson Banda, where Mr Musukwa said that government will engage all stakeholders like Mr Chilundika in order to come up with the best investor.
“We don’t want to make the mistake previously made, hence we will engage all stakeholders like you Mr Chiludika for the best of the country. Currently we have six investors interested in investing in KCM,” he said.
He assured people that the liquidation taking at KCM will not affect any jobs, it will instead bring new hope KCM and its staff.
Mr Chilundika also implored the minister not to sale the refractory ore to the new investor saying the sale of refractory ore was the mistake which was made during the last sale of the mine.
“The refractory ore is for us jerabos (small scale miners) as the benefit of being in the mining town. During the last sale to Vedanta even the disused pits popularly known as dump sites were given to the mine thereby making them lazy to mine and resort to picking from the dump site.
“We want the new investor to be involved in primary mining so that production can be increased which in turn will reflect positively on the economy of Chingola and Chililabombwe,” he said.
