Socialist Party (S.P) Copperbelt Provincial Vice Chairperson and spokesperson Reagan Kashinga says the delay to pay Suppliers and Contractors by Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines is an indication that the planned revival of the two mines has flopped.
And Mr. Kashinga has condemned Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe for speaking against local contractors and suppliers in Parliament.
Local Suppliers and Contractors have been protesting over delayed payments, inadequate business opportunities for locals and favoritism in the awarding of contracts at KCM and Mopani.
Mr. Kashinga said the bringing back of Vedanta to run KCM and the arrival of the Saudi investor at Mopani has not yielded good results.
“We need to remind the people that money from the mines reaches the lowest person on the economic chain through suppliers and contractors. It is a fact that mining companies in particular Konkola Copper Mines and Mopani Copper Mines owe scores of contractors and suppliers money. We are aware that mines owe suppliers and contractors from as far back as 2021. Therefore, it was unfortunate to hear Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe trivialize the issues of suppliers and contractors in Parliament. Instead of speaking for the people through vulnerable suppliers and contractors, Mr. Kabuswe was busy siding with the Investors,” he said.
Mr. Kashinga charged that the much publicised unlocking of Mopani and KCM by the Government is a failed project.
On March 17, 2025, the Copperbelt Energy Corporation sued KCM – seeking to recover K338,910,012.82 months after the mining firm proposed a debt repayment scheme of arrangement for about 676 creditors.
“It is high time Mr. Kabuswe and his UPND Government admitted that the so-called unlocking of Mopani and KCM has flopped. We said earlier that Vedanta return won’t yield results because the investor has no capacity to run the mine. Where is the million dollars investment Vedanta promised to inject in KCM? Where is the money the Saudi investor promised to invest in Mopani? UPND should know that talk is cheap,” he said.
Mr. Kashinga said the UPND regime has betrayed the people of the Copperbelt on Mopani and KCM deals.
“We repeat our earlier warning to UPND that failure to manage the mining sector effectively will cost them votes on the Copperbelt Province in 2026. Don’t play with the minds of the people of the Copperbelt Province. We demand that Mopani and KCM quickly pay suppliers without further delay. It is a pity that Mr. Kabuswe is behaving like a spokesperson for the Chamber of Mines instead of speaking for the people who voted for him. Mr. Kabuswe is betraying his fellow Zambians by siding with the failed investors in KCM and Mopani,” Mr. Kashinga added.
KCM has been insisting that it is fully committed to paying creditors as per the court-approved payment plan, called the Scheme of Arrangement.
Saudi Arabia and UAE are different countries, Mr. Kashinga! And Vedanta was not given back KCM willy-nilly; the government was on the verge of losing in court. Actually, Vedanta was 2-0 up when government was left with no choice but to settle outta court and cut costs.
The KCM issue had some undercurrents at work. Vedanta had backing within ourselves. Remember the liquidation of the mine was after complaints from the entire community. But unfortunately politically ambitious people took advantage and turned the tide against the then government.
As for Mopani, let’s wait until there’s a change of government. Remember Kabuswe has failed to explain the status… but he actually knows more than he’s showing.
No comment apart from He is already overweight so i suggest he quit politics now
He needs Gift’s jacket! In politics they never quit
Remember when i said that these Saudi Arabia investors are bogus…..HH was blowing his trumpet and running around declaring victory with his usual photo shoots….now it has come to pass…..And we haven’t heard anything from these fake Saudi investors…
That’s what investors do as they are in a hurry
To reap their investment as fast as they can.
It’s unfortunate that opposition see joy in mines failing………
So this SP mouthpiece wanted those mines to remain inactive ???……
As for mopani and KCM………
Mining is a serious undertaking, it’s not like a kantemba where you see money every day………..
Some mines take years to normalise and realise any profit
FWD2031
We need to be patriotic about how we deal with mines. Getting excited about failures of different govts should be avoided at all cost and find lasting solutions. There is a lot of global turbulence in the world: tariff wars, wars, climate change… Its not getting get easy, every loop is becoming complicated. Mind you others are looking for alternatives minerals and materials to substitute what we produce.
The big question I have is, what is the IMPACT of Trump’s tariffs and withdrawal of donor funding?
But you Upnd rejoiced too while in opposition and actually took advantage of the prevailing state of affairs. So don’t cry. Just do the right thing.
@Spaka
As for me i really want things to improve in Zambia but what i don’t like is deception and lying…..HH might have very good intentions but i think he is surrounded by vultures…the fact that he can’t fire Masebo..Chikota and Kabuswe means HH is condoning theft and corruption and his term is almost over with zero progress
Anonymous
I can safely tell you the every politician makes promises, only……….
To find things different than expected……..
The world , the country is dynamic and changes every day……….
The problems HH encountered were the drought and very very poor work ethic of our country men…….
Those serving go into service to enrich themselves………
You can watch them for 2 , 3 months, as soon as you take your eye off the ball……..
Laziness , shoddy work and stealing crepe in……..
It will take a brave GRZ to try to change this mindset with primary school indoctrination, Chinese style……..
FWD2031
Spaka=HH’s Chief defender
Repeat!
Spaka=HH’s Chief Excuser
Repeat!
Spaka=HH’s Chief Excuser
Repeat…..
So that story of 61 containers just died a natural death just like 48 houses….UPND are serious jokers
Just like loadshedding improving ? 7 hrs HH told us not long ago, it now appears it’s with us another year +
everyone yearns for better days but that wont happen under HH even a good a man he is
Zero leadership qualities
Zambia has so much potential but we are let down by our leaders
Completely no leadership! Some of them are now saying we should lead ourselves…Why do we hold elections for leadership then? To hoodwink us while they steal national resources?
From today, I would like that when any opposition party condemns the UPND policies, the next sentence must be followed by probable solutions. It is not a secret any more that HH and the UPND have worsened the economic fortunes of our country by far and failed lamentably, but where are, or what the alternatives
Ask M’membe and Sean Tembo