By LUCY PHIRI
A CONSORTIUM of civil society organisations has appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to engage his Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane to sign the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM)-Vedanta Resources shareholder agreement.
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The consortium is pleased with President Hichilema for demonstrating commitment to revamp the mining sector by ensuring an investor was found to take over the operations of the mine. Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, consortium lead member Samuel Banda said the CSOs had taken note of a number of progressive reforms being undertaken under President Hichilema’s administration among which was the handing over of KCM to Vedanta Resources, a global mining giant is another progressive development.
Mr Banda, who is also Advocates for National Development and Democracy (ANDD) executive director has urged President Hichilema to continue on the path as the mining sector is headed for greater benefit to the nation. “We want to put it on record that the government through the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development in September this year officially handed over Konkola Copper Mines – (KCM) to Vedanta Resources who are the legal owners with 80 percent shares in the mine. After that progressive move by the government, we are now at the transition period stage and of course we trust this process will go successfully so that the nation can begin to benefit optimally from the mining firm,’’ Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda said the working conditions for employees at KCM have remained static because the mining firm was facing huge financial constraints.
“The Copperbelt economy is an intensive care unit, the people of Copperbelt are suffering due to the non-functionality status of KCM. We recall that during the announcement of the takeover of KCM by Vedanta, Mines Minister, Paul Kabuswe in September indicated that the transition process will take about three months.”
“We want to indicate to the public that we are shocked that up to date from the time the government in September officially agreed and handed over KCM to Vedanta Resources has not yet signed the shareholder agreement that will ensure that Vedanta takes full control of the mining asset,” Mr Banda stated.
He implored the government to be proactive in dealing with the very important matter that borders on national development.
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