Fri, 01 Sep 2017 11:36:31 +0000
By Rogers Kalero
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said he will not allow Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) or any other investor in the mining sector to arm twist his government and force it to do things which were not in the interest of Zambians and the country’s economy.
President Lungu said Government was ready to part company with MCM or any other investor which was not ready to abide by it’s policies aimed at improving the country’s economy.
The President was speaking yesterday at the Kitwe City Council Chambers when he addressed leaders of mine workers unions, suppliers and contractors following the resolution of the power impasse between MCM and Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC).
President Lungu said he had decided to meet the union leaders, suppliers and contractors to re-assure them that the stand-off between CEC and MCM had been resolved and that everything was expected to return to normal.
He, however said that arm-twisting tactics like the threats to retrench workers would not be tolerated by Government and that if MCM or any other mining investors was not happy in Zambia, they were free to go.
“As Republican President, I will not allow my government to be arm-twisted by MCM or any other investors. If they are not happy, they can go. There are so many people who want to invest in Zambia.
He said despite MCM signing an agreement with CEC earlier, MCM was expected to pay the new cost reflective tariff because of the new development, saying electricity was being generated at a much higher cost.
President Lungu revealed that he was angered by media statements that MCM was set to retrench 4,700 miners because of the stand-off between the mining company and CEC to the extent that he almost deported MCM Chief Executive Officer Johan Jansen.
“During the meeting, I told them about the stand-off between MCM and CEC, but they said they have been operating in Zambia for 17 years, but they have never made any profits, they have just been making losses.
The meeting was attended by Zambia Congress of Trade Unions and Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Nkole Chishimba, MUZ general secretary Joseph Chewe, National Union of Miners and Allied Workers Union president James Chansa and others.
And speaking in a vote of thanks, Mr Chishimba commended President Lungu for meeting the union leaders to discuss issues affecting the mining industry.
Earlier in Ndola, President Lungu assured marketeers that Government would build a new market to replace the gutted one.
Addressing marketeers after a site tour with other government officials, President Lungu consoled the affected marketeers and encouraged them not to lose hope but seek God for comfort.
