DC stuns Kagem

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 13:25:42 +0000

By ROGERS KALERO

 KAGEM Mining Limited is shocked that Lufwanyama District Commissioner Miniver Mutesa attacked the company over road rehabilitation works despite knowing that it was spending a lot of money on its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs in the area.

In an interview, Kagem board chairman William Nyirenda said it was disappointing and shocking that Ms Mutesa, who was in a better position to highlight the company’s CSR programs in Lufwanyama, attacked the firm at an event organized by Gemcanton Emerald Mine.

Mr. Nyirenda was reacting to Ms. Mutesa’s claim that Kagem did not want to participate in rehabilitation of roads in the district.

“Normally, as Kagem, we don’t like to blow our own trumpet especially regarding corporate social responsibility projects because we believe successes will talk for themselves. We don’t need to stand on an anthill to say Kagem has done this, Kagem has done that.

“We are disappointed and shocked that the DC had decided to attack us in the media,” Mr. Nyirenda said.

He said the emerald mining giant had done a number of CSR projects in Lufwanyama, which included construction of Nkana hospital and Chapula modern secondary school at a total cost of K20.5million.

He said Kagem built the hospital and the school because health and education were key to any nation’s progress.

Mr. Nyirenda said besides, the company had Blessings Farms; an out-grower scheme which supported women and youths in agriculture and poultry.

He said Kagem would also continue with its chiefs’ sustainability programs and would keep on urging to mobilize their subjects into cooperatives.

On February 6, 2018, Ms Mutesa criticized Kagem for its alleged negative response to her request for the company’s participation in road rehabilitation. This was when Gemcanton Investments Limited donated more than 500 litres of pesticides to farmers whose fields were ravaged by army worms.