By ROGERS KALERO
MINE Suppliers and Contractors are expecting Vedanta Resources Plc to be open to all stakeholders operating in the business community, be honest and transparent in its dealings in order to gain the lost confidence of the business community on the Copperbelt,’’ former Association of Mine Suppliers and Contractors (AMSC) president Augustine Mubanga has said.
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Mr. Mubanga said mine suppliers and contractors had lost a lot of business and most of them were owed a lot of money by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) during the time of Vedanta Resources Plc for the jobs done and goods supplied to the giant mining company.
Mr. Mubanga, who is also a Mining Expert and Business Consultant, said mine suppliers and contractors were now hoping for a better relationship between the Asian Investor and the business community on the Copperbelt.
“As a Mine supplier and contractor, I would like to advise Vedanta Resources Plc to be honest, truthful and transparent in its dealings. It should also be open to all stakeholders operating in the business community. Mine suppliers and contractors suffered a lot because they lost business and most of them were owed a lot of money for the goods supplied to KCM and for the jobs they did during the time of Vedanta Resources Plc. So we are hoping for something better,’’ Mr. Mubanga said.
Mr. Mubanga has urged the government to use the pledges made by Vedanta Resources Limited as prescriptions which it should closely monitored for it to undertake.
“Vedanta Resources has made a number of pledges. Government must use these pledges as prescriptions to change the fortunes of KCM. These prescriptions must be monitored closely in order for them to be undertaken,’’ he said.
Mr. Mubanga said KCM needed a serious investor who will recapitalize the giant mine and change its fortunes which would include increasing production, creating business opportunities for the local businessmen and women and most importantly better conditions of service for the miners and proper remuneration.
“At the stage where KCM is now, it requires serious recapitalization, therefore what Zambians are looking for is an investor who will put money into KCM and change its fortunes. This will include increasing production, creating business opportunities for local people and better conditions of service for miners,’’ he said.
Mr. Mubanga said, apart from increasing production, creating business opportunities for local people and better conditions of service for the miners, Vedanta Resources Plc should also accelerate significant Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) where it will be operating.
“The local people want an accelerated Corporate Social Responsibility to transform their lives and enjoy the benefits of living in a mining town,’’ he said.
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