MINISTER’S DECISION TO SHELVE MINING SECTOR CONTENT BILL IRKS LOBBY GROUP

By SHERRY CHABALA
GOVERNMENT decision to shelve the mining sector local content Bill has upset the Indigenous Zambian Lobby Group.

The group is particularly disappointed with the Mines Ministers for taking this decision.
IZLG President, Lawrence Makumbi, said the Bill was drafted in consultation with major stakeholders and interest groups.

Mr Makumbi said the Cleaning, security, clearing and Transporters Associations came together and lobbied that Government made a law to ensure that simple businesses in the mining sector were given to the local people.

He said it was disappointing that the current Mines minister had seen it fit to give cleaning and security jobs at mines to foreigners.

Mr Makumbi said the document was already at the Ministry of Justice at draft stage waiting for correction and be presented to the President for signing.

He urged the Minister to reverse his decision as Zambians were capable of doing cleaning and security jobs.

He said giving such jobs to Zambians was the only way they could benefit from the country’s mineral resources.

He said the people of Zambia voted for the new dawn Government so that such businesses were given to the Zambian people.

Mr Makumbi added that giving foreigners to be doing businesses such as cleaning and stationary is a bad move that should not be encouraged.