Friday, March 29, 2024

State, ZRA seek truth over SA bound Mopani assets

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Minister of Mines and Mineral Developments Maxwell Mwale says government is working with the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to establish the truth about two foreign trucks that were impounded in Kitwe last week, laden with equipment suspected to have been stripped from Mopani Copper Mines (MCM).

Mr Mwale said in an interview yesterday that although MCM had indicated that the equipment were drilling bore raising machines belonging to a contractor, Master Drill, based in South Africa, it was important to ascertain the information.

He said Government wanted to establish whether Master Drill enjoyed any capital allowances and were exempted from duty when bringing in the machinery and that it was also important to establish whether the company was registered in Zambia.

“What has to be understood is that some mines have been closed while others have been put on care and maintenance and naturally, this raises security concerns.

“Any moving of assets will have to be treated with suspicion, that is why as Government, we have taken an interest in this matter, “he said.

Mr Mwale recently directed all mining companies that intended to put their mines on care and maintenance to surrender all their assets to the State before leaving the country.

He said he expected every mining company to be responsible by adhering to directives given for the sake of harmony.

On Thursday last week, police on the Copperbelt impounded a truck suspected to have been carrying assets allegedly stripped from MCM.

Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima travelled to Kitwe last Thursday after being informed by the Mine Workers Union of Zambia that mine assets had been stripped and were being transported to South Africa.

Mr Mbulakulima said MCM management told him that the drilling equipment was being transported to South Africa following the termination of the contract with Master Drill, but that export papers allegedly showed that the machines were being transported to South Africa for repairs and were supposed to be returned to Zambia after being repaired.

He accused MCM of allegedly being insincere and wondered why Government was not informed about the moving of the mine assets.

“MCM knows that moving of such equipment is very sensitive especially with the current status of the mining sector in the country,” Mr Mbulakulima said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

6 COMMENTS

  1. let the trucks go as you have shown us this before, Mwanaumo, he is free, the maize laden trucks, they are in congo. what else? unless you also tell us that the machines that have gone under at KGP and ZAMHORT are nothing but toys. tell us how zamhort and kgp were stripped of there machines which were in very good condition

  2. Good job!.These Infestors are dirty and stinking.In good times(when thereis copper boom),its lovey-dovey,In bad times,they part company(Just like the song Diya lelo).Govt should now re-visit the privitisation contracts they signed with these insencere South Africans so as to include stiff and hefty penalties if they violate the laws of our land.

  3. This is Zambia were where foreigners rule. I have no words but to watch the drama pa Zed. Its govt to blame coz it treats these infesters like angels. Let them take their assets for as Zambia you dont have assets. Zambia our belovd country where things are just in a mess, Who shall save us ?

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