Maravi

Zambians shouldn't be taken for granted - Scott

Zambians shouldn't be taken for granted - Scott
By Roy Habaalu
Sun 08 Jan. 2012, 14:00 CAT

VICE-President Guy Scott says Zambians should not be taken for granted. Speaking after a 30-minute closed door meeting with unions representatives and Kansanshi Mine management in Solwezi on Friday, Dr Scott said his appointment as Vice-President showed that Zambians could not be taken for granted.

"That's reason why they (Zambians) made a muzungu Vice-President, it sends a message that you Zambians cannot be taken for granted," he said.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Vice-President Scott said the management system at Kansanshi had broken down and urged management to reorganise itself.

Vice-President Scott, however, did not elaborate further the outcome of the meeting which was called to discuss workers' concerns over salaries and working conditions at Kansanshi Mine.

Kansanshi Mine is Zambia's largest producer of copper. It is majority owned by First Quantum Minerals while the Zambian government has retained 20 per cent shareholding in the mine.

Over 50 miners at the mine last week went on strike, demanding 100 per cent salary increase and other improved conditions of service.

They also demanded, among other things, the removal of some senior managers including public relations manager Godfrey Msiska.

Just after a closed-door meeting, foreign affairs minister Chishimba Kambwili warned Msiska of dismissal.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Scott, in an interview, said former MMD ministers under probe should know that times have changed.

Vice-president Scott said the government would continue investigating anyone alleged to have stolen public resources until they were recovered.

"I am warning them (MMD officials) that times have changed. In some cases some South African companies were donating bicycles to MMD so we have to keep investigating. Who knew we would find K2 billion buried?" asked Vice-President Scott.

"Some of them (investors) were making donations to the MMD in return for contracts, especially the Chinese. In some cases, they inflated contract prices so the investigations will continue until we are satisfied."

On foreign investment, Vice-President Scott said the PF government is investor friendly and expected investors to respect ordinary Zambians.

He said the PF government would not forget the poor and ordinary Zambians like the MMD did in 20 years of being in power.

"We're concerned because the MMD slipped into a disorderly situation.

They were only oiling their wheels without respect for unions and workers. Poor people remind us that they hired us to work for them," said Vice-President Scott.

Labels: GODFREY MSISKA, GUY SCOTT, KANSANSHI MINING PLC, LABOUR

posted by MrK @ 8:01 PM