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(STICKY) Miners urge Sata to start fulfilling promise on jobs

COMMENT - The mining sector is not there to 'create jobs', only 40,000 people out of 5.3 million are employed in mining, they are there to generate wealth for the State, either through taxation or direct ownership. The State can then use that money to create infrastructure projects, make cheap credit available to entrepreneurs, or decentralize the government. All of which WILL create jobs. Direct employment from the mining sector is always going to be a losing proposition. And jobs in mining are completely dependent on international copper and other commodities prices, something over which the government has no control at all. So create jobs, tax the mines.

Miners urge Sata to start fulfilling promise on jobs
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Tue 13 Mar. 2012, 13:57 CAT

SMALL-Scale Miners Association of Zambia say they expect President Michael Sata to start fulfilling his campaign promise of ending joblessness among the youth through the mining sector.

In an interview, association president Simon Njovu said young people were still waiting upon the PF government to compel mining companies to end the tendency of externalising all proceeds from the mines. Njovu said if well utilised, the mining sector could create the much needed jobs for young people.

He said the high levels of illicit behaviour among young people such as alcohol abuse, prostitution and theft could come to an end if young people had meaningful activities that would enhance their well-being in society.

"If you look at the population of young people today on the Copperbelt, it is going up every day. Recently more than 13,000 young people who completed grade 12 are on the streets with nothing to do. A society where young people have nothing meaningful to do is a dead one and something serious needs to be done," Njovu said.

He said the government must give opportunities of growth to associations like small scale mining as a way of protecting the country from extreme poverty and creating jobs for young people.

Njovu said about 4,000 people on the Copperbelt depended on small-scale mining for survival and it was imperative that government considers revamping the sector.

"We believe we share the common goal with the PF government of reducing poverty and creating the much-needed employment. Many young people depend on small scale mining for survival and if given opportunity the ripple effects would be enormous in terms of social and economic transformation," Njovu said.

Labels: JOBS, MICHAEL SATA, NEOLIBERALISM, PF, WINDFALL TAX

posted by MrK @ 5:01 PM