TEO questions role of mines PS on FQMO board
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe and Stuart Lisulo in Lusaka
Fri 08 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE Earth Organisation says it is a scandal for the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mines to sit on the boards of mining companies as a director.
In an interview yesterday, TEO executive director Lovemore Muma said the organisation would demand an explanation from the government and interested groups on why and
how the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mines was one of the directors at First Quantum Mineral Operations.
But mines permanent secretary Dr Victor Mutambo said only the Minister of Finance could explain his participation on the boards of mining companies as he was the one that appointed him to represent the government.
He is the one who appoints the government director to sit on these mining companies' boards, said Dr Mutambo, adding that the mines permanent secretary also sits on boards of other mining companies as a government representative.
However, Muma said other individuals and mining technocrats within the government through the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) could be appointed to serve as board members to protect the stakes of government in some mining giants, rather than the permanent secretary who is on the other hand the regulator of the mines and also has powers to issue operating licences.
He said TEO had no doubt that it was because of such irregularities that strange decisions that were not in the best interest of Zambians were being made on the mines in the recent past and "only the investor and few individuals have benefited, leaving people destitute in their own land".
"In a case where mines contravene the law like we have seen lately in North Western and other mines on the Copperbelt, how do you expect such a senior government official to protect the people? He cannot and it becomes difficult for the permanent secretary to exercise partiality because he sits on the board and he is a beneficiary from some mines and personal gains are attached.
The PS in this case has both his legs in government and in the mine so he cannot act in the interest of the nation. We want to see urgent remedial measures taken to address this serious scandal," said Muma.
Muma said such an irregularity was pure corruption and his organisation would want President Michael Sata to take serious action to correct the situation.TEO questions role of mines PS on FQMO board
Labels: FIRST QUANTUM MINING, LOVEMORE MUMA, PERMANENT SECRETARIES, TAX EVASION, VICTOR MUTAMBO
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FQM layoffs are meant to blackmail govt - SARW
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Mon 24 June 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE Earth Organisation says mining houses should not threaten the government with job losses in order for them to get away from their obligations regarding the environment.
And the Southern Africa Resources Watch says the intended mass lay-off of over 500 workers by First Quantum Minerals is merely meant to blackmail the government.
Commenting on reports that FQM will lay off 500 workers at its Sentinel Mine in Kalumbila in Solwezi which is under construction, The Earth Organisation executive director Lovemore Muma said the government should not be held at ransom by the company to disregard environmental requirements for fear of job losses.
"Development should be in the context of sustainable development, meaning that current needs should not compromise future generation needs. So the government should not just look at current worker needs but also future generations, that is our children and their children's children's jobs, because if we destroy the environment now the future generation will have no jobs. If we are going to lose 500 jobs and preserve the environment and create more sustainable jobs in the future so be it. Furthermore, before FQM started constructing the dam, they should have sought expert option from Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA)," Muma said.
He said the river where the mine intends to construct the dam was a source of water for several cattle farmers and villagers both up and down stream and according to ZEMA regulations, erection of any project of such a nature required the investor to seek necessary approval regarding environmental protection.
Muma wondered why FQM started building a dam on the river before seeking approval from the agency, adding that the mining company should not threaten the government with job losses for not following the requirement as set by ZEMA.
And SARW country coordinator Edward Lange said the government should not abandon the corrective process just for the purpose of satisfying the interest of the operator.
"As civil society, we are alert and adhering to the guidance given by the government, and as such any mishandling of the process will not give any sustainable business environment for the company. It has been three years now since the indigenous and host community started crying, the company has disregarded their concerns, and now that the government has come to the aid of people, it should be a win-win situation," Lange said.
"We also appeal to Zambians not to abuse their rights to acquire mining rights by selling the same at a later stage without due consideration of the welfare and rights of the host and indigenous people. The Kalumbila case is a very clear lesson for us in Zambia and the SADC region on how local people can disfranchise themselves. Such threats are baseless and temporal as what we appeal for is the consideration of the main concerns of the host community in the area," Lange said.
FQM spokesperson John Gladston was quoted saying that the company had been forced to lay off the workers because it could not sustain the current high workforce, while waiting for the ZEMA to lift a protection order that had prevented further construction of the Chisola dam.
Labels: EDWARD LANGE, FIRST QUANTUM MINING, JOBS, LOVEMORE MUMA, SARW
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