KCM CEO Steven Din has invited industry peers and development partners to join hands and pool resources to scale up development in the Copperbelt.
Mr Din was speaking during a panel discussion around the theme ‘’Towards Developing the country mining vision – mainstreaming Zambia’s mineral resources for greater economic development’’ at the 7th Annual Zambia International Mining and Energy conference and exhibition (ZIMEC 2017).
Mr Din shared the platform with panelists Simon Njovu, President, Small Scale Miners Association of Zambia; Dr Wilfred Lombe, Independent Consultant; James Blewett, Team Leader, Private Enterprise Programme Zambia (UKAid); and Mayer Ngomesia, from the African Minerals Development Centre.
The session explored the role mining companies can play towards helping diversify Zambia’s economy. Around 70% of Zambia’s export earnings currently depend on copper mining while over 90% of electricity is generated from hydro. Zambia’s economic sustainability in these challenging times, lies in diversifying from copper and hydro, and attracting the necessary investments to strengthen and stabilise the mining sector and increase electricity capacity through alternative sources of renewable energy.
‘’Only in partnership can we realise the sort of scale required to build a vibrant and diversified economic hub in the Copperbelt. I think there’s much we can gain from working together in this effort. That’s why I’m a keen advocate for collaboration and why I think there’s great merit in convening a Copperbelt Initiative to pool resources with the specific aim of creating jobs and scaling up development in the region. We all have a role to play – industry, civil society groups, government and donors. That was the clear message delivered by H.E President Edgar Chagwa Lungu on Wednesday at the launch of the 7th National Development Plan. Together we can achieve more,’’ said Mr Din.
Mr Din also shared KCM’s 50-year vision for growing business in the Copperbelt. The vision extends well beyond mining, to agriculture, tourism, logistics and trade. He shared KCM’s commitment to creating more benefits and wealth for the people living in the region.
”We want to see the Copperbelt grow into a diversified and resilient economic hub. A hub that can sustain livelihoods even when copper prices are low. Our motives for this are not selfless. A thriving community provides us with a competitive edge, enabling us to thrive also,” he said.
In the recent past, KCM has launched several initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of industries and the creation of sustainable livelihoods around Chingola. Among these are the Copperbelt Leather Industry Cluster (CLIC), through which KCM is sponsoring the growth of a sustainable leather industry in the region by supplying entrepreneurs with access to materials, training and market linkages.
Other examples include the livestock programme, through which nearly 800 cattle and 3,000 goats have been given to communities over the past 5 years. A recent addition is Energy the recently launched biodiversity initiative, a pilot project underway with BetterWorld Energy to grow 2,000 Pongamia Pinnata trees on 4 hectares of land for environmental remediation and production of bio-diesel. The project has the potential to create 1,000 jobs as well as show the way in reclaiming mined sites.
Great call! The Copperbelt Province has potential to be a great developed place in Africa.
Only someone who is daft and does not understand why companies pay tax would ignorantly take joy from such utterance!!
What happened to Lusambo, just over land corruption is finished?
Something is very wrong here…imagine the Nissan CEO in England saying we need to develop Sunderland where their factory is based? What would the council and the govt think? Either the money from central govt is not trickling down or some rich companies are simply not paying their fair share.
Yes…we are not in Sunderland, so we should not expect the model that works in Sunderland to work in Copperbelt. Agreed, the public sector (central government and municipalities) have failed in delivering on their mandate, hence we have the likes of UKAid also involved. So why shouldn’t the private sector such as KCM also take a different approach to contributing to local development other than through the taxes that they pay? Businesses world over are taking a more holistic approach to sustainability by ensuring that the immediate community they operate in also benefits from their success. This might be a way of KCM achieving this. While the surrounding community of KCM is not direct beneficiaries of its products, they have a vested interest in seeing that these communities are vibrant…
There you are even mentioning a Charity company funded by British taxpayers without any shame whatsoever…this is the selfsame slave mentality I talk about. Why cant you not simply let them pay fair tax and you hold your govt to account expenditure; these companies keep signing development agreements with GRZ to keep energy discounts and tariffs as they were during Mwanawasa’s era. There is nothing sustainable here …if you are going to use such words at least know what they mean.
Next you are the selfsame people who will cheer when KCM says they want to oversee environmental issues on the Copperbelt.
Wake up!!
Mining companies play a pivotal role in the development of the areas they operate in other than the tax they pay even here in aussie. @jj is a lost cause never mind. Come here and condemn what RIO TINTO BHP FMG are doing and see where you will fit.
HH OVAL HEAD.
Yes the mines play a pivotal role in putting money in small villages in Switzerland and suburbs in India where they have never heard of Kitwe or Copperbelt…but then again I would be wasting my time explaining what I am alluding to especially to a cadre bum like you.
Good night!!
You are on the money Jay Jay.
Utter malabishi from this dirty company, good words but crappy in actual meaning.
10 goats ati we have helped farmers in chingola, CSR!
Comment:ati 10 goats !!!! please mwebantu wake up,kcm is simply a talk shop company. ask Augustine of mine suppliers association if he can share your myopic enthusiasm!? what good has kcm brought to the well being of chingola or Chililabombwe? NOTHING this is a crooked company
Increasing pollution and environmental damage!
Hh oval head as you are in australia tell everybody what those minjng companies are doing just dont make open ended statements. Elaborate my friend. Maybe we catchbup and share a cold one