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Mwale bemoans politicising of Luanshya Copper Mine

Mwale bemoans politicising of Luanshya Copper Mine
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Luanshya
Thursday, June 25, 2009 3:28:03 PM

MINES minister Maxwell Mwale has expressed disappointment that Luanshya has been turned into a political playfield by the opposition in an attempt to gain political mileage out of people's suffering.

During the official handover of Luanshya Copper Mine (LCM) from Enya Holdings to China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Company (CNMC) in Luanshya yesterday, Mwale said it was also disappointing how easily the affected miners had fallen prey to such politicians.

"What has been disappointing in the past six months is how Luanshya had been turned into a political field by the opposition in an attempt to gain political mileage out of the suffering of the people of Luanshya," Mwale said.

"Equally disappointing has been the ease with which some of our own people, mostly the affected ex-miners, had fallen prey to such politicians."

He said despite much pressure from the opposition, the government did not depart from its resolve of re-opening the mine.

"NFCA has set out a clear programme of operations for the resumption of Baluba mine and concentrator and also have a clear programme for the development of the new mine-Mulyashi," he said.

Mwale urged the would-be employees of LCM to work hard and be focused.

And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin urged CNMC to implement its investment plan as quickly as possible bearing in mind the plight of the unemployed former miners.

"The economic outlook world-wide is still gloomy and the current financial crisis shall deeply affect the global economy including Zambia and China for a long period of time," Ambassador Li said.

"CNMC has an exciting plan for the mine and the Luanshya community yet there are bound to be tangible difficulties ahead. Challenging as they are, we can only succeed through the close cooperation and joint effort by all stakeholders... I call upon the Zambian government and the local Luanshya government to continuously help CNMC grow without obstacles."

He also urged the Luanshya community to do all they could in supporting CNMC.

"In the hard time, CNMC committed itself not to reduce on investments nor to cut on production and not to lay off workers and we are glad to see that Chinese business people keep visiting Zambia and bringing foreign direct investment to Zambia," he said.

"In two weeks we are going to commission the Chambishi Copper Smelter with a total investment of over US $350 million and recently two large farming companies visited Zambia and showed great interest in large scale farming projects in Zambia."

And CNMC vice chairman Tao Xinghu, who is also NFCA Zambia president, said the investment in LCM was long term.

He thanked the Zambian government and its people for the trust they had shown in CNMC.

Tao said so far, US $520 million had been invested in the Chambishi economic zone and that 3,900 jobs had so far been created in the area.

Labour minister Austin Liato urged would-be employees of LCM to work hard and enhance their relationship with their new investor.

Former LCM chief executive officer Derrick Webbstock apologised to the government and the people for the problems that Enya Holdings created by putting the mine on care and maintenance and subsequently retrenching miners.

Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) LCM branch chairperson Stanslous Mwimbe advised parliamentarians to ensure that they introduced laws that would facilitate good conditions for workers countrywide.

Labels: LCM, LUANSHYA COPPER MINES, MAXWELL MWALE

posted by MrK @ 2:28 PM