Friday, March 29, 2024

FQM’s intention to lay off 500 workers unacceptable – Mubukwanu

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FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) Copper Mine in Solwezi
FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) Copper Mine in Solwezi

Government says the intentions by First Quantum Minerals (FQM) to lay off 500 workers under its Kalumbila Mine Projects is unacceptable.

And Musele community Taskforce Vice Chairperson Morris Sankisa urged government not to lift the protection order issued to FQM to stop the construction of Chisoal Dam by ZEMA under political expediency.

On the other hand, Senior Chief Musele appealed to government to consider revising the constitution and give powers to traditional leaders to have absolute authority even on land with minerals.

Northwestern Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu says government deeply regrets the development and will not succumb to such decisions which are tantamount to blackmail.

ZANIS reports Mr. Mubukwanu was speaking in Solwezi when he graced this year’s Nkisu Ya Nzambi Traditional ceremony of the Lunda speaking people in Senior Chief Musele chiefdom in Solwezi District , yesterday.

He said this intention by the mining company aimed at exerting undue pressure on government to make a rush decision is unacceptable.

“We learnt with deep regret the intention by FQM to lay off 500 workers at its Trident project as a result of the protection order issued by Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA)stopping the construction of the Chisola Dam because the company did not get appropriate approval such as acquiring the water rights, ”he said.

He said that government is aware of many gaps that have negatively affected both the implementation of the Kalumbila mining project and the livelihood of the local community and assured the community that it is doing everything possible to resolve the matter.

Speaking at the same event, Musele community Taskforce Vice Chairperson Morris Sankisa urged government not to lift the protection order issued to FQM to stop the construction of Chisoal Dam by ZEMA under political expediency.

“We strongly commend government through ZEMA’s protection order to FQM under its Kalumbila Mining project to stop their bid to build another dam across Chisola Dam River,” he said.

Mr. Sankisa said the people of Musele have no doubt that government under the leadership of President Michael Sata will protect their interest as a matter of priority.

“Your active engagement as government in this matter gives us hope that justice shall prevail and our rights as citizens of Zambia shall be adequately protected”. He added.

Mr. Sankisa appealed to government to quickly resolve the issue of the mining surface rights between FQM and the Musele community which he said has raised a lot of anxiety and speculation among the people.

“We want government to quickly intervene and resolve this issue so that the people will know what next step to take to normalize their livelihood. Our identify as people is bound to the land. The survival and continuity of present and future generation is dependent upon our land, this is an undisputable fact that is proven by our cultural history. “He noted.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief Musele appealed to government to consider revising the constitution and give powers to traditional leaders to have absolute authority even on land with minerals.

Senior Chief Musele said owners of the land are stakeholders in whichever way of activities that take place in their God given Land and that such should reviewed as the initial capital for investment to partner with would be inventors.

He said this through his representative pastor Gilly Kakunta.

Senior Chief Musele also appealed to government to consider connecting his chiefdom to the national grid and, give Musele a district status following an increase in population in the area.

ZANIS

12 COMMENTS

  1. It is acceptable why should a company be refused to rid of employees who probably can not speak a word of English

    What a pathetic backward country , zambia is

    To go back there is a serial crime in my opinion

    Thanks

    • mushota…go through what you have just posted if you are not going to notice that you are one and the same with those guys.your english is pathetic.

    • mushota…go through what you have
      just posted,you will notice that their
      are irregularities in your writting.To me
      you are just one and the same with the
      guys you are insulting.

  2. Mushota,u right my friend.Most of my Brothers and sisters find it difficult to construct words in English but very gud at speaking vernacular

  3. Mr Minister, don’t blame FQM but ZEMA, the interministerial team & the Zambian psyche. Why should a company keep workers for doing nothing? I remember how RB in the midst of 2011 campaign period went to commission the Kalumbila project without full ZEMA approval effectively giving FQM a go ahead. The PF govt discovered anomalies in land issues over a year ago and promised to fix the anomaly. 18 months later FQM is being told to keep 500 workers on payroll for doing nothing because ZEMA and the interministerial team cannot sort out a legal glitch carried over from MMD! ZEMA and some tin pot environmentalists who would like to see Zambia/Africa in perpetual poverty and forever asking for alms from Europe have tendency to frustrate well intended projects that would employ many people…

  4. Mr Minister, don’t blame FQM but ZEMA, the interministerial team & the Zambian psyche. Why should a company keep workers for doing nothing? I remember how RB in the midst of 2011 campaign period went to commission the Kalumbila project without full ZEMA approval effectively giving FQM a go ahead. The PF govt discovered anomalies in land issues over a year ago and promised to fix the anomaly. 18 months later FQM is being told to keep 500 workers on payroll for doing nothing because ZEMA and the interministerial team cannot sort out a legal glitch carried over from MMD!

  5. Former CEEC chairman Jacob Sikazwe’s Legacy Holdings wanted to build a hotel in Mosi o tunya park and hell broke loose for him, yet Sun hotels has hotels built in the park(or at least very near the park! Another of his projects in Lusaka/Boabab was sabotaged by our own people. Zambezi resources has been blocked from starting up a copper mine in Feira/Luangwa which locals desperately want for jobs!

  6. Meanwhile tourism savvy SA has hotels in Kruger park and North Mara park in Tanzania has a uranium mine! And now a dam for company that wants not only to develop a mine but an entirely new town has become an issue! Let’s learn from China’s determination over the 5 gorges dam, development prevailed despite massive outside pressure. FQM is not citing external factors such as the copper price over which we have no control but our own laws and community based issues which a fully within our grasp. Do we really know what we want? This makes me think Zambians enjoy poverty and begging for alms from the West.

    • Imwe ba Guy very inteligent ka HAHA! greedy people make me laugh go and leave in China and see the price they are paying for development they can’t even breath. We don’t need to kill ourselves to progress. Mining is false economic progress if not managed correctly can’t you see the damage in Kabwe and Copperbelt.

  7. GRZ should not blame FQM for laying off 500 workers but rather take responsbility for suspending the project instead of allowing ZEMA to give to give approval to the project on condition that FQM confirms it legal rights asap.

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