By Mercy Chewe
The North Western Province Development Council of Elders has bemoaned the lack of business opportunities for local suppliers at mining firms operating in the province.
Local suppliers in the North Western and Copperbelt Provinces have been complaining of foreign cartels that are disadvantageous to local suppliers and contractors at mining firms especially at Lumwana Mine.
The suppliers want the Government to move in and dismantle the alleged cartels that are said to be deliberately undermining local suppliers with the help of foreign investors.
In an interview, Council of Elders secretary and spokesperson Kenneth Kapata said his council knows that even sand is being supplied by South Africans to the mining firms in the North Western Province.
Mr. Kapata advocated the enactment of a law that would compel mine investors to give a fair share of business opportunities to the locals.
“Go to the mine you will find that most suppliers are South Africans. Even mare sand is being supplied by the South Africans to the mines. So I think local suppliers are right. There is a need to change the law to empower local suppliers,” Mr. Kapata said. “I am aware of the complaints by local suppliers and that is happening. That is why I feel that it should be written in the laws or agreements that suppliers will originate from the local people around the mine,” he said.
Mr. Kapata charged that the mining sector was doing little to meet people’s expectations because corporate social responsibility is not legally binding in Zambia.
