Maravi

Poor mining policies
By Daaram Simakungwe, Durban Student
Tue 10 May 2011, 20:20 CAT

Editor,

The past weeks have seen the Europe-based NGOs challenge Kansanshi Mines and Mopani on tax and their defrauding schemes in Zambia.

Also, just last week, a UK-based newspaper reported how Glencore, the owners of Mopani mines, made income of 89 billion UK pounds from Mufulira resources. Just what Glencore made from Mufulira is the GDP figure for New Zealand for 2010.

This Saturday, our own finance minister stands up as though to disagree with everyone, and says the MMD government is actually comfortable with what it is getting from the mines.

Zimbabwe is readjusting its mining policy to benefit the local Zimbabweans. In South Africa, you cannot own a mine or any investment without a black empowernment plan which requires you to have at least 25 per cent local ownership and management. The Botswana economy also protects the locals. Angola is even worse for foreign investors.

In Zambia, it’s free business and Dr Situmbeko has the guts to say he is happy with getting $20 million taxes from revenues of over 89 billion UK pounds. The minister is happy that Zambia will get a paltry ZMK800 billion from US$7.8 billion sale of Lumwana shares.

Dr Situmbeko must be ashamed for fooling the Zambians as if he has been to Kankoyo township in Mufulira and seen the poverty levels and poor infrastructure there.

The whole Copperbelt has become run down because the investors are making money and doing nothing to develop the local infrastructure. The roads in Kitwe and traffic lights are disgraceful, to say the least.

The worse part is that the government is happy with the sufferings of the Copperbelt people and the criminal revelations going on in Europe don’t make any sense to MMD government.

After I read the PF Manifesto and specifically their policy on mine and minerals development on page 39, the assurance to "Promote ownership of large-scale mines by indigenous Zambians" is very welcome and I urge the Zambians to remove leaders who don’t want to develop Zambia.

posted by MrK @ 4:46 PM