By ROGERS KALERO
MINE workers unions have urged government to avail them with the list of investors prospecting to invest in Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) to know their reputation and capacity to move the Zambian mining industry from its operational doldrums.
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National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) president Saul Simujika said mine workers unions have information about various prospecting mining investors and would be able to tell which investor would recapitalise the two giant mines, secure jobs of the miners and give contracts to local businesses and suppliers
Mr Simujika was reacting to a report by Reuters that Sibanye Stillwater remained in the hunt for MCM as the sale process stretches beyond the completion date envisaged by Zambia’s government
The Johannesburg-based, precious metals producer is on the investor shortlist of potential buyers of the State-owned Copper mines and the Zambian government had expected to have chosen the winning bidder by the end of July
Mr Simujika said, apart from Sibanye Still Water, mine workers needed to know which other investors were still interested in the two giant mining companies so that they could know how reputable they were and their capacity to take the Zambian mining industry to better levels.
“Some mining companies like those in North-Western Province may be doing fine, but as long as KCM and MCM are not revived, the Copperbelt economy will not be the same. This is why we want the equity partner for the two giant mines like yesterday. So, as mine workers, we would like to be availed of the list of investors who are still in interested in the two giant mines.”
“We need a reputable investor who will recapitalise the two giant mines and put them up and running. An investor who will not only recapitalise the mines, but also secure the jobs of the miners and also give contracts to local contractors and suppliers. With such an investor, the economy of the Copperbelt will be revived,’’ Mr Simujika said
Mr Simujika said mining firms such as First Quantum Mines (FQM) and Mimbula had been ‘Torch Bearers’ in terms of looking after their employees hence mine workers unions were hoping that government would find equity partners for the two mines who would match or even surpass the two mines
He said the unions wanted to see credible investors such as FQM and Mimbula in the two giant mines that would be able to invest in the operations and make the miners happy through proper remuneration and better conditions of service
Mr Simujika said his Union was grateful to the government and President Hakainde Hichilema for their tireless efforts to find a lasting solution for the problems at for both MCM and Konkola Copper Mines (MCM), and was sure that the government will come up with the best solution to the giant mining companies
“As a union, we have hope that the problems facing MCM and KCM will one day come to an end. So finding an investor to recapitalise MCM is one step towards finding a solution to the problem. However, the most important of all is to pick up an investor with a good track record of running the mine and looking after its employees,’’ he said
And Mr Simujika has said the good mining policies of the New Dawn administration have contributed to the creating of an enabling environment for the expansion of existing mines and investment in new mines.
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