The Mining sector is a failed sector under Hon Paul Kabuswe, it’s sad that the Minister behaves like Zambia has only Mopani Copper mine and Konkola copper mine, the 2022 and 2023 National budget speaks of growing production to 3 million metric tonnes per annual but from the time we formed government we are still on less than 800 000 metric tones per annual which has stagnated for more than 5 years and this is the evidence that the ministry of mines has underperformed.
It’s very sad that the Minister of mines has failed to use the Miners patience to motivate them with serious forms that can address the challenges that few miners who are still in employment after liquidation program of KCM and going of Grenco from Mopani copper mine are facing.
The two giant mining companies, KCM and Mopani copper mine issues cannot be the reason for failure to reform the compensation act, the Labour laws, the sectorial minimum wage, national pensions act, the shareholding in other mines and the weak mining value chain.
Development in the domestic economy in 2023 has badly reduced to 2.7 from 4.7 mainly because of the reduction in the output in the mining sector and declining copper exportation by 6.7
2022 and 2023 National budget talks about see Kitumba copper project in Mumbwa, Kashime copper mine in Mkushi and Mwekela copper mine in Ndola to come in full production which the minister has failed to achieve. The much talked about Sugilite in Luapula province, the Emerald mines in Lufanyama, kasensele gold mines and many illegal mining activities which the minister has failed to give politics direction in developing these mines only prove that the office is too big for him.
It’s a betrayal on the miners and the mining Province to be given a minister who cannot sympathize with the suffering miners who are going to bed on empty stomach even those in his constituency.
It bleeds my heart to see miners have 6 months contractors, no job security, working in very unhealthy environment, getting k 700 basis pay, going months without being paid and we have a minister that has failed to address this. Youths are not just looking for jobs but better paying jobs with better conditions of services.
Mopani copper mine and Konkola copper mine issues are long overdue and it’s time the government should attach the seriousness these issues deserves, people cannot continue living on promises of very soon, before the end of this week or month end the issue will be sorted out. It’s to early to forget that miners and the people of Copperbelt voted on the trust that upnd with resolve this issue in a better way and bring sanity in the mining sector.
Bring vendata resources back is the only best and fast way of solving the KCM issue but after not on the same shareholding structure of Vendata resources 80% and Zccm-IH 20%, a serious review on the contractual obligations is needed and government needs to review the contractual obligations and conditions that will be signed for vendata to come back to the people. Miners interest is not about who is coming back what he is bringing on the table.
Mopani copper mine is a brown mine which only need $ 1.5 billion for ZCCM-IH to completely own it and manage it, Mopani was supposed to be a litmus test for our Zambian mining engineers and experts to manage this mine and maximize the profits and mining value chains. We cannot continue putting all mining companies in the hands of investors if we are going to have a predictable, stable and effectively economy.
Geoffrey Luchele
Former UPND Aspiring MP for Mufulira Central Constituency
