By NATION REPORTER
MINES and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe has disclosed that the government is in the process of introducing mines local content law.
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Mr Kabuswe said the law would restrict contracts of certain value to local contractors and suppliers. He was speaking when he held a meeting with mine unions and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) employees yesterday,
He said contracts with the value of K25 million would be awarded to local contractors and suppliers.
“We are going to put it into law and not just a word of mouth. And as unions encourage contractors and suppliers to do the right thing because K25 million is not little money.
We need to up our game and make sure that we do the right thing and also don’t disappoint us as Government,” Mr Kabuswe said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kabuswe said he will continue mounting pressure on lawyers so that the KCM deal was concluded.
He said right now he cannot call lawyers because he would be cited of jeopardising the processing.
“I came here (KCM) so that I mount some pressure on the lawyers handling this process, I want this mine to start running as quickly as possible. So, you the unions assure the miners that this mine will get back as soon as we complete the process. Between you and me, you may wish to know that I have been more under pressure to have this asset running. Today (yesterday) I was on a call with the Solicitor General and Vedanta just to know where we are,” Mr Kabuswe said.
He indicated that it was his desire that lawyers expedited the process so that all uncertainties regarding the mines were settled.
“What is happening right now, Government has done it’s processes and right now as minister my job is to ask the lawyers to find a way to be quick. The way the court processes are, you can’t go and point a gun on a Judge and say run fast, they will run the processes according to the legal requirements,” Mr Kabuswe said.
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