By JOHN SAKALA
Lubambe Copper Mine has empowered the youths of Chingola and Chililabombwe with easy to do business venture.
The mine has signed a one-year contract with Lagom Multi-purpose cooperative for the procurement of its scrap metal.
The contract will enable the cooperative to procure scrap metal from Lubambe Mine and resale the items thereby giving them financial capacity.
Lubambe has also given Lagom comprising youths of Chingola and Chillabombwe a K100, 000 credit facility in which to get the scrap metal on credit and go and resale thereafter payback to the mine.
Speaking during the signing of the contract between Lubambe and Lagom at Lubambe mine today, Lubambe Communications Manager Loyce Saili said the signing of the contract with the youth cooperative is part of Lubambe’s youth empowerment programme.
Ms Saili said the signing of the contract will result in direct employment for 18 unemployed youths in the two mining towns as well as building the financial capacity of the cooperative.
“In addition, the mine has embarked on vendor evaluation exercise which will help in identifying Zambian suppliers and contractors to support its operations. This exercise entails gathering of information on products and services offered by local businesses in order to ascertain their capacities and support their participation in tenders being offered by the mine.
“Mine plans to increase business dealings with identified suppliers and contractors once the exercise has been completed,” she said.
And Lagom Secretary Kennedy Shalo thanked Lubambe for the empowerment.
Mr Shalo said with high unemployment levels, the gesture is a milestone more especially that it comes with the credit facility.
He said there are many cooperatives that are registered but they lack either capital or contracts like the one Lubambe has given Lagom.
“We give Lubambe an assurance that we will not disappoint the mining firm and we will deliver according to the expectation of the mine so that we can lead by example to other youths groups,” he said.
