Opposition National Restoration party (NAREP) President Elias Chipimo says it is too dangerous to suggest that government takes over the running of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM)in view of the company’s decision to lay off over 1,500 workers.
Mr. Chipimo told QFM News in an interview that things might get worse than the current situation is at the mine if government continues to interfere.
Mr. Chipimo has advised government to sit down with key stakeholders and see how best they can improve the operations at KCM.
He noted that the PF government has no money and capacity to take over the operations of KCM.
Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) President Chishimba Nkole has suggested that government takes over KCM until it finds a suitable investor to run the mine.
[QFM]
These are they people who should be running the country. Not communists. Please your excellency stop being mentored by communists. They will bring your down faster than you came.
WE TOOK OVER ZAMTEL AND ALL IS WELL WHAT CAN STOP US FROM TAKING OVER KCM ? THOSE INDIANS HAVE BEEN A THORN IN OUR FLESH FOR ALONG TIME. GO TO CHINGOLA AND U WILL HEAR STORIES OF HOW THEY ARE MISTREATING ZAMBIANS, HOW THEY BROUGHT SCHOOL LEAVERS FROM INDIA, ACCOMODATED THEM AND GAVE THEM GOOD SALARIES COMPARED TO ZAMBIAN GRADUATES WHO ARE EVEN MORE EXPERIENCED
*Groan* @ Fake whatever, listen carefully, am going to say this once and very slow: the cost structure of a communications company and that of a mine are in two different galaxies? Ok child? Run along now, mummy has cooked porridge for 16hrs.
You’ve cracked my ribs….but then do you think these Indians and I mean them that bought KCM have the ability to run that ‘different’ cost structure you’ve alluded to? I mean the government seem to have done a better job even when the copper prices were at their lowest. We’re now hearing of miners working unpaid for 3 months…how’s that possible when the firm is making a profit and its owned by one of the world’s filthy rich families? Isn’t this just a result of the greed that Indians practice on none Indians? I personally want them off KCM for Chilabombwe and Chingola are now a far cry from what these guys found. They’ve failed and should face a hostile take over from wherever, GRZ included.
Take over and run the mine???DREAM ON…
Actually it’s take over and RUIN the mine
Chipimo, now we know that that you are not material to rule this Nation. We need to takeover the mines to create employment.
*Grooooaaaannnn* *Migraine* How the heck did u find yourself in the States????? Where you even born when Government was running the mines under ZCCM and the disaster that turned out to be? How the heck old are you? I try as much as possible not to comment where a 90’s child has been.
young man when some one talks sense please even if you are in opposition be objective the Presido has spoken well on this one whats your problem
mr chipimo shut up , u r speaking from a very ignorant side of the happening s at kcm.
Chipimo is right.., things can get worse than the said 1,529 employees .
The government doesn’t ve the capacity to run the mines.
KCM has been Zambia’s 2nd largest employer only 2nd to GRZ .
The Indians ve the financial muscle but they might need some moulding . A dialogue would do,other than scaring off Investors when we need them.
moulding – yes.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
We should cease to be docile! Indians have never run a Copper mine bigger than Nchanga/Konkola before it they were offered it for a song. We have some of the best mining engineers in the World mark my word. What do I mean when I say docile? People,Zambians should be ready and brave to come together and seek the funds they need both locally -Africa and Abroad. I am getting more and more convinced that we as Zambians and Africans should begin to look inwardly for the solutions to our problems. Donors or foreigners will not and never will develop this country or continent. The time for investors who are always complaining at the detriment of the locals etc must end . We as Zambians are very capable people. We do not need condescending investors. They need us just as we need them.
You too can be investors, put the Money together and invest. You have been to University but you still think that Umukuwa is the only one who can do things. who is working in the mines any way? They Cheat you that Copper is finished and you shiver, you guys and your muzungu’s and you think when you are in United States then you are anything. you are just an economical refugee. Copper here is even in Maize fields.
Retrenchments were common under ZCCM so its not a new phenomenal to Zambia.
It’s a management technique of shedding off of employees who find themselves far away from the ” LINE OF BEST FIT” for either not being qualified for the job or rendered useless by Technology. KCM’s decision is purely business one not political or social because the CEO is expected to make profit for the shareholders or risk being fired.
Guys the equation X+Y=10 is very important. we should have avoided budgets over run if Lusaka were strictly using it but for political reasons they don’t use it and the result is only good to a politician not an economist/ Accountant like Khumar
ZCCM used to transfer people to much productive branches like from nampundwe to mufulira from bwana mukubwa to chibuluma , not retrenching bayama…no fighting BANE. if you live in thatched houses, don’t throw stones..
KCM workers have been reduced to beggers and are suffering at the expense aba bansamya.
” He noted that the PF government has no money and capacity to take over the operations of KCM “. This is the crap the riles me. You cannot tell me that I cannot achieve anything because am Zambian or Black. I hate defeatist, weak soled individuals who pass such comments.. How can somebody that wants to lead the proud, never say die, strong and ever persevering Zambian Nation talk like a bloody weakling. such are the types known dictators used to exterminate as the have no relevance to the future and confidence of the Zambia and its young. in fact they should not be allowed to procreate! a F%^&kin mine that we ran successfully for many years.. atase.. Talk for yourself only ka Chipimo. Never talk about Zambia like that again.
and you Digga, never talk for me a Zambian like that ever ever again.
Where Da FUQ did the statement say anything about the amount of melanin in your skin or the fact that the Luba-Lunda settled south of the river Congo?
It’s about economics Bozo!
You need to take your meds on time. Everyday.
Yeah! You tell em’ Black Mama!! Make daddy proud!!
The mines can easily be run by Zambian proffesionals as we did in ZCCM when the operating costs were higher than the copper price. I can tell you the price of copper is guaranted going by the Chinese 30 year development plan even without mentioning the plans of other emerging markets. One proffesor from uct mentioned that if the chinese had to build one bicycle per person in china, the world will run out of steel for other uses. The same goes for copper if the built a radio for each citizen. In actual fact they deliberately slowed down the economical growth to control the prices of metals and other raw materials.
Nationalization is a last resort. It is surgical, temporary and inevitable. It happens when political intrigue reaches catastrophic proportions. In Zambia, the goodwill generally supercedes negativity. Government needs encouragement to brave it and meet KCM squarely.
It is only in Zambia where a street kid rolling a flat used tyre can dream about becoming a head of state.
And when he achieves that dream, it becomes a nightmare for the rest of us.
Well said Peter.I`m with you on this issue.Running a mine is not as simple as running a toothpaste factory.It needs a lot of resources and expertise.It is the same reason why ZCCM went under because our government couldn’t take the pressure.Let them sit down together to find out why KCM has come up with this decision aswell as mapping out the way forward.This issue must be handled with extra caution.
Yes.
What benefits is Zambia getting from KCM apart from poor paying jobs?
As if that is not enough they want to export concentrate and deprive Zambia of the value and jobs in processing.
Who said Zambia cannot run the mines; look here in Saudi Arabia; government runs the show in oil industry and they getting max benefit.
Why do you have to baby KCM to exploit and blackmail Zambia
For once let’s change our thinking; let’s think outside the “box”
Chipimo come to kcm .there is no reinvestment.ati second largest employer.with 8 thousand when you are 15miliom
Indians must go they have failed us let the gvmt take and for a suitable investor than Indians,indians can not sing epilogy to our mine this a Zambian God given thing it shall be their for as long as the generations reign.
Indians must go they have failed us let the gvmt take ova and look for a suitable investor than Indians,indians can not sing epilogy to our mine this a Zambian God given thing it shall be their for as long as the generations reign.
dont cheat yourselves,you blacks have failed to run tazara what more the mines.muleke ifyakunya ifisushi
chipimo is not a patriotic Zambian he has such a short memory the indians bought the mine for a song. Mwanawasa is the one who sold the mine for $25 million on credit to the indian and by then Sata was in opposition. These indian later raised $75 million within 3 month of operations and fully paid the loan from the mine resources so the indians got the mine almost for nothing so even reposessing the mine won’t make any difference they ve already made their billion $. U also ve to know that wen copper is paid for all the money goes to india only a fraction tricles back in for operational cost. Nabaleya fye aba ba peri peri chee.
pantu musabaila baffikala, how long did it take mwanawasa to find a buyer for these mines? if these mines were a hot sale as you want to portray it why were credible buyers not coming forth? dont be misled by ukwa’s cheap tuntrums meant to bolster his diminishing popularity.KCM can close that mine tommorrow and lay everyone redundant ukwa can not take them anywhere
Ka kongonyoko ka chloroquin nangu malarone. Ukeseko kuno ukesamona ubuchushi fyaleta fi shetani finobe. Smart talk without facts is stupidity.
And boss ba Chipimo your sentiments are well placed but the people you’re talking about are are all misplaced.
ala ba Sata nobuteko bwabo nabafilwa ukututeeka…. efilyafine ababemba tutila, ukuteeka imbwa mano, lelo cilemoneka kwati ubutungulushu ubu nimbulwa mano icine cine. efilya fine umwaice H.H. abebela icishinka ati ba cimbwi no plan CNP
Ignorant people! Its not as easy as you think, let your president sit down and think twice before he makes a repeat of what happened in lwanshya. Wake up and face the reality, its not about politics, its about doing what will benefit both parties! Remember running of these mines have not been budgeted for. Ask ci chikwanda. Atase! Someone is making a blunder that can throw all KCM miners into the streets and you are busy praising him. I ll ask KCM to surrender the useless licence and see what happens to you uneducated dumb skulls!
DRC runs mines through its state-owned company GECAMINES… Why Zambia cannot do it ?
In 1990s, copper price was around $1,500/tonne and now $7,300…..
Chipimo has spoken, the rest of you should listen. Well done ECj
There is no harm for politicians like chipimo to visit KCM especially the workers and hear for himself. The situation is not as he views it from Lusaka QFM. Better for government to borrow and pump the money in profit yielding entities such as mining and agric than use the money wage bills.
Imwe Ba Chipimo. Mine yesu elyo ni wasting asset. They will deplete and go! Iye ama leaders!
For sure Mr Khumar has come to close the mine. It’s closing in 2017.
Ichipubafye echinga chita oppose to this.Just shut up if you dont have anything to say coz you dont know what we are going through in the hands of these indians.
Chipimo you cant rule Zambia. Even this time it us Zambian running the mine (KCM) we dont need money at the moment since copper is there already, we are ready to suspend negotiations for now. Chipimo do you how much money the expatriate are getting including the Zambian who are misleading the Indians ? Indians are getting KR150,000.00 per month and Zambian who are busy misleading Indians are getting KR60,000 per month while the Zambians who are putting effort is getting KR4,000.00. If we cut indians and Zambian managers salaries what can stop us to run KCM. Indians dont buy spares,equipments including vehicles, so you can see that we can run KCM with no problems.
I was supporting you but it appears you dont know how you can run the mines.
It is not everything you should oppose.
@ Chikwelete excellent analysis you are speaking like one of us from within , you have hammered the nail on the head its surprising that some bloggers have no idea of what’s happening on the ground worse for a politician like Chipimo whose vying for plot 1 but extremely clueless on matters affecting KCM…..
Okay, ba chikwelete thats very true. you should be among us. But in my view i wouldn’t like the zambians to run the mine coz they are more stupid than even these chaps paying us peanuts. For your information its the zambian top managers who make us even being paid peanuts. You should find out more. Maybe what we need is the whites to take over.