(LUSAKATIMES) PF MP against Chinese investor for LCM

PF MP against Chinese investor for LCM
January 26, 2009

Patriotic Front Roan Mp Chishimba Kambwili openly differed with Mineworkers Union of Zambia president Rayford Mbulu over courting Chinese investors for the troubled the Luanshya Copper Mine.

Speaking at the news forum of the Press freedom committee of the Post newspapers yesterday at Cholwa guest house, Kambwili said he will not allow government to bring in Chinese investors to run the LCM because they do not respect labour laws.

Kabwili said the Chinese were in the habit of paying Zambian workers low wages and salaries adding that they even go to the extent of bringing labourers from their country thereby disadvantaging Zambians.

The area MP warned former miners against entertaining Chinese investors adding that they will be left in the cold.

But Miners Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Rayford Mbulu said there was nothing wrong with the Chinese investors as they have proved to helpful in building economies globally.

Mr. Mbulu said Chinese investors were good adding that the Union would welcome such an investor as long as miners jobs are secured.

He said he had been to China and saw how the Chinese entrepreneurs were paying their workers handsomely adding that the country needs to negotiate with investors for better conditions of services.

ZANIS/OM/MKM/ENDS