The Gemstone and Allied Workers Union has advised government to rescind its decision to revoke mining licences from non-performing mining companies.
Mines Deputy Minister Richard Musukwa recently revealed that government had since written to the affected mining firms notifying them of the intention to repose their mining rights.
Mr. Musukwa observed that many licence holders who have failed to develop their mine are slowing down the pace of development.
But Gemstone and Allied Workers Union President Sifuniso Nyumbu said in an interview that revoking the licences would not be the best solution.
“What we need is to sit down and examine why these mining rights holders are not developing their mines. You will find that the majority affected are small scale miners who are mostly Zambians,” Mr. Nyumbu observed.
“If government goes ahead and grabs these licences, they would be acting against the spirit of local economic empowerment. We need Zambians to participate in the mining sector and grabbing their licences would be a draw back,” he added.
Mr. Nyumbu said the Ministry of Mines needs to understand that the mere fact that somebody went as far as getting a licence, it shows great commitment on the part of the licence holder.
“I believe government should play a more positive role by supporting such initiatives by such bold entrepreneurs. Mining is expensive and government should infact step in and provide financing opportunities for these small time mining investors,” Nyumbu said.
He said government needs to encourage the participation of indigenous mining companies by structuring various types of support.
Nyumbu,,,walasa,,,u arite mate!!!!
Local participation in economic activity must be encouraged but being inactive after procuring mining licenses goes against the very fundamental economic empowerment spirit with which these licenses were issued. Come on
guys, you can’t have it both ways.
Much do we appreciate that mining need a lot of investment, we need more Zambians to take part and participate in national development. The Gemstone license let them be for 5 years and not one year. Correct me if lam wrong.
Some chaps have sat on these licences for more than 20 years and all they do is cry to government for “help”. Gemstone mining is a serious business not a hobby! You do not go into mining if you do not have the capacity. It is like a castrated man marrying a woman and asking government to help him make his wife pregnant! If you cant mine let other Zambian have a go at it instead of just pissing on the gemstone bearing ground for more than twenty years! The principle of “Use it or lose it” should be strictly enforced. That ground belongs to all Zambians not just you!
The thing is we must not sympathetic to indiscipline and lax attitude. People must be made (even if its by government) to work. They must have a work ethic for the nation’s industries to be productive…and for the nation to progress. Africans have a laissez faire attitude that makes the continent very sluggish in most what we do.
I wanted to say: we must not be sympathetic to indiscipline and lax attitude….. Africans have a laissez faire attitude that makes the continent very sluggish in most of what we do.
Revoke the licences and give them to serious Zambians. People what jobs and these people are holding the licences for speculation only.
Persons claim that there needs to be a set excessive-hindfoot boots and shoes within a lady’s clothing collection