By ROGERS KALERO
THE UPND should resist the temptation of victimising contractors and suppliers, including Frank Zimba, commonly known as “Fimba Upoke” who have exposed the corruption and favouritism in the awarding of contracts at Mopani Copper Mines, Kitwe Mayor Mpasa Mwaya has said.
Ms Mwaya has said there should be no victimisation of suppliers who have spoken against unfavourable business conduct at Mopani where some State House officials and high-ranking government and party officials are allegedly determining which foreign company should be awarded contracts by Mopani.
Ms Mwaya said those who would decide to victimise mine suppliers and contractors for speaking against unfavourable business conduct at the giant mining company and please their masters would face the wrath of Zambians who were suffering because local entrepreneurs were being sidelined.
Ms Mwaya said Kitwe was a mining city and local mine suppliers and contractors should therefore benefit from the mining activities through being awarded reasonable contracts so that they also contribute to the city’s economy.
She said mine suppliers and contractors had not felt the revival of the mining sector on the Copperbelt because of the unfavourable business conduct which had reduced them to mere paupers from being financial giants and reputable businessmen and women.
“As Mayor of the great city of Kitwe, I feel so sad to see that most of the respected local suppliers and contractors who were financial giants have been reduced to paupers because of the unfavourable business conduct in the mines and also delayed payments of the money for services and goods supplied,” Ms Mwaya said.
“As a local authority, we are also affected by this situation because these contractors and suppliers are unable to pay their obligations to the council like land rates and others because they are not paid on time and business in the mines is for foreigners,” she said.
Apart from not being given business, Ms Mwaya said the suppliers and contractors were owed huge amounts of money for the services and goods supplied to the mine a long time ago Ms Mwaya said Mr Zimba, a UPND cadre should be supported for exposing corruption in the awarding of contracts at Mopani. “Let there be no victimisation on all those that have spoken and are yet to speak against the unfavourable conduct of business at MCM. Government must not be quick to silence people through victimisation, but must dialogue with people and find solutions to the problems,” Ms Mwaya said.
