Maravi

No president has faced problems like me – Rupiah

No president has faced problems like me – Rupiah
Written by Zumani Katasefa and Abigail Chaponda in Luanshya
Sunday, December 14, 2008 10:15:10 AM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said he does not think that there has been a president in Zambia who has faced problems like him.

Speaking before he held private talks with members of the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) at Luanshya Copper Mines general offices, President Banda said Zambia was facing very serious problems specially with the massive job cuts in the mines following the global financial crisis and the fall in copper prices on the international market.

President Banda said his government was concerned about the problems the country was facing particularly on the Copperbelt.

"A lot of companies have been closed because we depend on each other, belong to a global village. What is happening is very serious," he said. "This is coming immediately after my election, I do not think there has been a president who has faced these problems I am facing."

President Banda said it was important for the press to help the people that there was a problem worldwide. He expressed concern that Luanshya town had experienced a lot of problems for some time, such as hunger and unemployment. He said he had rushed to Luanshya to hold meetings with the concerned stakeholders to try and find solutions to the problem resulting from the job cuts that have rocked mining firms.

"Most people thought I have come to watch football (CHAN match between Zambia and Angola in Chililabombwe). I would have loved to watch football but it is not time for me to watch football when we're facing problems," said President Banda.

He said Luanshya was known for problems adding that the people there were anxious over the future of Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM), the main economic lifeline of the town.

"I am sure you remember that in 2004, Luanshya Mine was handed over, ... when production resumed, Luanshya mine brought economic life back to Luanshya town. Employment at the mine then increased from about 600 at the beginning of 2004 to more 3,200 in 2007. This was all driven by this government's desire to support our people," President Banda said.

He said people should not be used by those who wanted to bring anarchy in the country because this might make development impossible.

"We have an obligation to ensure that this country remains a good destination for investment," he said.

President Banda said he was committed to ensuring that his government continued to attract strategic partners to invest in key sectors of the economy and that he would not allow any delay in the issuance of trading licenses.

President Banda's meeting was prompted by information that LCM was under threat of closure.

"We are not going to allow any bureaucratic delay in issuing licenses, we are not going to allow that. That is my position," he said.

President Banda arrived at the Ndola International Airport at about 08:00 hours and there were no MMD cadres to welcome him.

Some cadres who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were not allowed to go to the airport to receive the President.

President Banda was accompanied by finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and other government officials.

Labels: JOBLOSSES, MINING, MUZ, RECESSION, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 10:14 AM