By ROGERS KALERO
“MOPANI Copper Mines (MCM) is a national asset which the government must nurture, safeguard and use as a model to other mining companies in Zambia,” MCM Chief Executive Officer Charles Sakanya has said.
Mr Sakanya said, after Glencore PLC left, government, through ZCCM-IH took over the running of the giant mining company and managed to continue with some of the major expansion projects .
Mr Sakanya said on Thursday afternoon at MCM General offices when Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo visited the giant mining company to familiarise himself with the operations of the mining company ,that Zambia will only be developed by Zambians.
He said Glencore PLC had made it clear that the mine should be put on Care and Maintenance, but government refused to place the mine on care and maintenance and decided to take over the mine instead.
He said when Glencore PLC made it clear that it will put the mine on care and maintenance, no one wanted to do business with MCM, but now after realising that the giant mining company was under capable hands , banks were now eager to do business with the mining company.
“So Honourable Minister, I can tell you that MCM is your baby, it is a national asset which the government must nurture, safeguard and use it as a model to other mining companies in Zambia.
And speaking later, Copperbelt Elisha Matambo said with a well developed and productive mine like MCM, there would be no need to go and ask for financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Mr Matambo said he was impressed with the presentation from the MCM Charles Sakanya about the operations and plans of the giant mining company, adding that his office will always support the mining company in different ways.
“As Copperbelt minister, I must say Iam impressed with your presentation and if we had a mine like MCM, there would be no reason to go to IMF to look for money,’’ Mr Matambo said.
