By ROGERS KALERO
IF government decides to put Mopani and Konkola Copper Mines in private hands it must ensure that it finds investors with a reputable track record to re-capitalise the operations of the two giant mines,’ the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) has said.
NUMAW National Treasurer Saul Simujika said, apart from re-capitalising the operations of the two mines, the investors should also look at improving the conditions of service for the miners to motivate them to increase production.
In an interview at the weekend regarding the unions’ expectations in this year, MrSimujika said the mine workers’ unions were hoping the two mining companies will be back on track and resume production at full capacity.
Mr Simujika said NUMAW and other mine workers unions were expecting a clear cut position from the new dawn government regarding the future of the two mining companies.
“What we are hoping for or expecting in the new year is to see Mopani and Konkola Copper Mines to be back on track. We want Government to state its position on the matter because right now, there is a lot of uncertainty among the miners.
“Yes, a lot of uncertainty because they don’t know what will happen tomorrow. If government decides to put the two giant mines in private hands, it must ensure that it finds investors with a reputable track record to re-capitalise the operations of the two mines,” Mr Simujika said.
And Mr Simujika has described 2021 as the most difficult year which was further worsened by the Covid-19 which did not spare the mining sector.
He said, Zambia recorded its first Covid-19 cases in March 2020 and since then, the country has been hit by different variants of the pandemic, claiming lives of many people among them workers.
Mr Simujika said Covid-19 has had a negative impact on the economy due to loss of employment , income, business and lives, saying as the full impact of the pandemic was unfolding the country also came to the grim realisation that this health crisis would certainly reverse the economic and social achievements scored in previous years.
“You cannot talk about 2021 without the mention of Covid-19 because the pandemic ravaged various sectors of the economy and achievements made in various sectors were threatened.
“The impact of the Covid-19 on livelihoods of the majority of the people has been devastating. The scale of economic disruptions and social distress have been staggering,” he said.
