President Edgar Lungu has called for enhanced cooperation between government and the players in the mining sector.
President Lungu says it is vital for the government and the players in the industry to work together and improve the working conditions of miners in the subdivision.
He says that to this effect the government will support any initiative by the mine unions aimed at improving both the working and living standards of the mine workers.
President Lungu said this at State House in Lusaka today, when officials from the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) paid a courtesy call on him.
“As government we are going to make sure that we support you in your efforts to improve the lives of miners, because we share and serve some constituencies, your members are also our members, they are voters and we need to serve their interest and we will support you, “he said.
President Lungu encouraged the union-management to also engage relevant Ministries on specific issues that are affecting the industry.
He explained that due to the coronavirus pandemic and other economic challenges, the mining sector is among the industries that has been hit hard hence the need for collaborative efforts from government and the interest groups to find a lasting solution to the problem.
“There are a lot of issues that I may have and which you may also have so it is important that we meet regularly especially during these critical times when the situation is very difficult on account of the COVID-19,”he noted.
He added that there are issues that have been brought to his attention before and they are others that cannot wait for a long time such as issues to do with land for construction of housing units for mine workers among others.
“The issues you have raised, some of them have been tabled before me, in future ensure that the Ministry of Mines who are your partners are brought closer to you so that certain things are interrogated immediately with relevant Ministries and those that require consultations we shall consult other interest groups,” he explained.
Earlier, MUZ president Joseph Chewe praised President Lungu for the decision he took concerning Konkola Copper Mopani (KCM) and Chambeshi mines.
Mr Chewe noted that the decision which the Head of State took played a critical role in saving the mining sector in the country from collapsing.
“Your Excellency we want to thank for your intervention in the KCM, Mopani and Chambeshi issues without your interventions, the sector in the country would have grounded to a halt and all the blame would have been heaped on you, but the decision you made is unprecedented and will be appreciated even by the future generations, “he stressed.
He noted that both Vedanta resources and Glencore have failed to run KCM and Mopani effectively from the time they started running the two mines, adding that the decision was timely.
He further thanked the KCM liquidator for paying the workers promptly and handling other issues affecting the miners at the mine.
Have they arrested Milingo Lungu yet? What are they waiting for?
Look at my hard working boss. This is how we do it. Excellent development
Kaizer Zulu, educate us. Does your govt have a policy on broadcasting – like ethics of radio stations for example. What I note with private radios in Zambia, in terms of content, anything goes. Music played, anything these musicians produce is guaranteed air play. Radios in Zambia are playing songs encouraging & promoting drunkenness & blatant sex. Every radio is deep in songs about beer drinking & gumugumu. DJs are also on top even claiming that when they go quite for sometime without saying anything it means they were drinking one. DJs are even saying don’t do gumugumus in the car, there are rooms for K100. Songs are about wali lowa, ama tako, pili buka etc etc. This is the language & trend all day. Other radios even bring a group of women ati alangizi, describing men’s & women’s…
All these with your govt proclaiming a Christian nation. The only time we hear your govt chastise a TV or radio station is when its critizing your govt. Without that anything goes. What govt is this? Your president is zeee on everything exception if its about hh who he fears my grab power. Where are we going?
Normal govts regulate what can be shown on TVs & what can be played, promoted or said on radios. Today anything is a DJ in Zambia. Gone are the days when a radio or TV DJ should have a journalism qualification (because we assume as a professional qualification ethics are taught). Today any drop out that has managed to produce a song, regardless of content, qualifies to DJ. Most of the DJs can’t even differentiate in English were an R should go as opposed to an L. Can your govt please work on guidelines on what music qualifies for radio (not something meant for a bar), what language & subjects should be promoted on radio. Zambia radios have no content to educate young people on businesses & such opportunities. No content of teaching people about agriculture. All radios seem to be doing is…
That government is dysfunctional, look at absenteeism by PF ministers. Where the fvcck are they? They even shun the crowning the Bar Governor.
What do unions of today so?
Nothing really. Very shallow thinkers just interested in employee subs.
If you want to get PF government attention, just mention HH and every PF jim & jack will form a chorus of wild howls.
Twende go and educate your thick head. Don’t be lazy