Maravi

Priest warns govt on Chinese taking over LCM

Priest warns govt on Chinese taking over LCM
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 3:35:21 PM

FR Cletus Mutunu of Uganda Martyrs Catholic Parish in Luanshya has said the government should not be docile over the Chinese as the new owners of Luanshya Copper Mine (LCM).

In an interview yesterday, Fr Mutunu said the Chinese had a poor record of human rights and that some of them were also involved in scandals of copper theft.

"The opening of Luanshya mine is good news to the people of Luanshya and Zambia as a whole, it is an indication that we are heading to the right direction. But the government should not be docile, the Chinese have a poor record of human rights, in the theft of copper, it is the Chinese involved," Fr Mutunu said.

He said people working for the Chinese owned companies in Zambia were subjected to poor salaries and working conditions.

Fr Mutunu challenged Chinese investors to create better working conditions for their workers.

"It is a challenge to our Chinese investors to create better working conditions for their workers. We expect our investors to respect our people, we were all created by one God," Fr Mutunu said.

President Rupiah Banda last Saturday said the NFCA would take over 85 per cent shareholding in Luanshya mine and that the Chinese firm was expected to take over operations by the end of this month.

NFCA also runs the Chambishi Mine.

And UPND Copperbelt provincial trustee Kennedy Kalunga said the Chinese investor should not come and abuse the people of Luanshya but should respect labour laws.

Kalunga also said government should not have sold 85 per cent shares of the mine to NFCA, saying they should have instead taken 49 per cent and sold 51 per cent shares.

"The government should have learnt a lesson, it sold 85 per cent shares to Binani Group of Companies, who later abandoned the mine, then again 85 per cent to J&W, after the tax concession they decided to pull out. If government had taken 49 per cent shares in the mine, the control of the mine would have been 50-50, government would also have the political will to control the mine," he said.

Kalunga said government should also ensure that NFCA contracted local companies to ensure that employment was created for people.

Labels: CHINESE, CLETUS MUTUNU, LCM

posted by MrK @ 2:36 PM