SAVE JOBS

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 08:11:27 +0000

… nationalise CEC

By Mukosela Kasalwe

GOVERNMENT should nationalize Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) if it remains adamant in refusing to supply electricity to Mopani Copper Mines which is crippling the lifeblood of the economy, says 3^rd Liberation Movement president Enock Tonga.

Mr Tonga said the shutting down of power supply to MCM was not the solution and charged that there was a cartel aimed at making Zambia’s economy come to a halt.

Commenting on the reduced power supply at MCM by CEC, the opposition leader said it did not make economic business sense for CEC to minimise supply and cripple operations at the mining firm and disadvantage the government in terms of revenue collection and income through copper production.

“If CEC remains adamant to supply energy to Mopani Copper Mines then we will ask the Government to nationalise the energy firm. It does not make business sense for CEC to shut supply to Mopani and cripple the lifeblood of our economy,” he said.

He wondered how the mine was expected to pay for the power when its operations had been crippled following the reduction of power supplied to the mining firm.

Mr Tonga said both CEC and MCM needed to quickly come to a round table and find amicable solutions on the matter as it was citizens who would suffer economic and social loss.

And Zambia Republican Party president Wright Musoma said there was need for compromise by the two and ensure a win-win situation.

Mr Musoma said Government needed to intervene and ensure that MCM was operational so that it could begin making payments to CEC.

Meanwhile, Youth Aid chairperson, Kachenga Chungu has expressed regret that CEC has shut supply to MCM in the wake of attractive copper prices on the international market.

Mr Chungu called for dialogue between CEC and MCM and appealed to miners to remain calm.

With copper prices improving, the copper mine was expected to have increased production to take advantage of the good fortune.

The shutdown meant that miners could lose their jobs and the country’s economy would not benefit from the improved copper prices.