The Commonwealth Parliamentarian Association (CPA) has commended Lumwana Mining Company in Solwezi for involving local people in the construction of the mine.
CPA Africa Regional Chairperson, Mninwa Mahlangu, said he was very impressed that the mining company was involving local people in the development of mine.
Mr. Mahlangu, who is also South African Member of Parliament and National Council of Provinces Chairperson, said the mining company’s initiative was very good.
He pointed out that most big companies’ had a habit of engaging expatriates at the expense of local people.
He was further impressed that the biggest copper mining company in Zambia has also taken companies from various African countries on board in its operations.
Mr. Mahlangu said that the Lumwana’s initiative to include other African countries in its operations would promote unity among Africans in fighting poverty, unemployment and diseases in the continent.
He said this after CPA parliamentarians toured Lumwana and Kansanshi mines in Solwezi district in North western province today.
He commended the Zambian government for cooperating with mining companies, adding that this would help stabilise the country’s economy.
Lumwana Mining Company has since sponsored 54 Zambians to the University of Zambia’s School of Mines to study various mining disciplines, among them mining engineering, geology, metallurgy, chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering.
The biggest single copper mine in Africa is scheduled to be commissioned and commence full scale mining later this year.
ZANIS/WEN/MM/KSH/ENDS
But lumwana is paying peanut to these villagers from chiefs Mukumbi,Mumena and Matebo.Now if you look at what the so called expatriate are getting,you cannot believe it.Employement to the locals should also go with good salaries if not better.Can you belive that a mwachusa from Tanzania without proper papers is well looked after than a highly qualified Zambia.They are busy bring in their former Ghanians operator who are working as supervisors and they donot know much compared to the Zccm trained personnel.No wonder Lumwana has failed to attract quality and experienced engineers from most zambian minie companies apart from fresh graduates who are going for anything as they do not have the nec
The have employed local people but how much are there paying the as their mouth earning the ans is peanut, so investors try to pay us what is du to us
Local people cant complain of merger salaries, thats they dont want to invole other people from urban areas
Why should we praise them for doing what they should to be doing?
Big mine but poor condition of services, Catjelly, i think u hv something to tell them. I also feel that the so called chiefs(thieves) ar also corrupted or bribed by the so called big Mine especially the Labour Law enforcers of Solwezi. so to sort out the mess, these two groups must visited by ACC.
Leave these guys alone . The Lumwana copper deposit has been known of since the 60’s. ZCCM and any other Zambian would have have commissioned it if ever they wanted to. The serious people have put in $1.1bn in this project. Zambians have been offered jobs which they woudnt have had if Equinox had not committed money to Lumwana. Remember they raised 3/4 of their capital from the financial markets. And to expect them to pay alot of money to the workers when they havent made a profit or cleared their heavy debt, I think in my opinion is stupid.They are already sponsoring 54 Zambians in technical mining fields what more do you want. Besides they are not there for charity!
#1 Catjelly Good points.
#1 Catjelly Good points.However, most zambian engineers geologists surveyors etc are too immobile. Majority get a job and it the job till death do us part like a marriage. Guys have clocked 20 – 30 yrs at one Division. You do so at your own peril/stagnation. No exposure to other cultures, systems, risk averse. So they are all stuck waiting for the next guy to retire or die in order to move up the ladder. It was said a rolling stone gathers no moss. Not anymore. The more companies you ve worked for the better the CV and negotiation leverage for better perks.
Money from the mines is developing Chipata, and Dora’s area! imagine