MINES Minister Paul Kabuswe has suspended three manganese mining licences for non-compliance to safety and mining standards regulations in Central Province.
Mr Kabuswe has since directed the Mines Bureau to ensure all mining activities at the three sites are halted immediately until the situation is corrected to avoid loss of lives.
The minister announced the suspension yesterday after touring the two mining sites in Serenje and the other one in Mkushi, all operating under Sacko Mining Licence.
He said in a mining set-up, the safety of the personnel comes first and as much as the government needs money, it will not compromise on safety and mining standards regulations.
“Simply because some politicians allowed these illegalities, the new government will not condone that,” Mr Kabuswe said.
He described the prevailing situation at the condemned sites as a ticking time bomb that would explode anytime.
He reiterated that the mining sector has for a longtime been managed in a disorganised manner because of some corrupt political elements.
And speaking during the meeting with various mining entities at Chimetal Minerals Manganese Processing Company, Central Province Minister Credo Nanjuwa said the government wants to do transparent business where investors create jobs for the local people while contributing to the treasury.
“As a province we are committed to supporting our investors. We want to see these investments creating jobs and contributing to the national treasury,” Mr Nanjuwa said.
He said the provincial administration will support the investments but hoped the mother ministry will soon come up with informed policies to stop the illegalities that had marred the mining sector.
He observed that Central Province is rich with mineral resource deposits but that there is a need for security to be tightened to stop illegalities and bring an end to the influx of foreigners and illegal immigrants causing confusion in the mining sector.
And Mr Nanjuwa has challenged human resource officers at mining companies to correctly interpret the minimum wage for workers.
Mr Nanjuwa said the minimum wage provision should not be used to disadvantage workers by their employers.
He said it is not right that simply because the clause says the minimum wage for domestic workers is for instance, K1, 500 then mining companies should pay their employees the same amount. – ZANIS.
Govt suspends three mining licences
