By ADRIAN MWANZA
THE US$20 million profit Mopan Copper Minesi has made is proof that locals can manage to operate the mines, says the Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ).
EAZ president Lubinda Haabazoka said he had been vindicated because Mopani which was solely run by Zambians had for the first time recorded a profit of US$20 million in the last 20 years.
Mr Haabazoka said that he had pushed for Zambians to own the mines and that the success of Mopani was evidence that it could be done.
“People called me names for pushing that Zambians should own mines because they thought it was not feasible but look at what is happening at Mopani which has made history in the last 20 years,” he said.
He said the mine failed to record such figures even when it was being operated by foreigners but locals managed to surpass records for the last 20 years.
Dr Haabazoka said if the same management method was applied to KCM there would be no need of even bringing back Vedanta.
He said that there was need to promote Zambian entrepreneurs to take over such roles as running of mines and not just depending on foreign entities.
