GOVERNMENT through the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is facilitating the setting up of a processing plant for copper and related industries in Mufulira district, Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Stanford Msichili has said.
Mr Msichili said in Mufulira that the earmarked processing plant was to be setup under ZDA’s programme of channelling foreign direct investment (FDI) to various localities in the country.
He said this on Tuesday when he ushered into office newly appointed Mufulira District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe at a ceremony held at the civic centre and attended by heads of Government departments in the district.
President Michael Sata a week ago appointed Mr Chanda to replace late Mufulira District Commissioner Beatrice Mithi.
The permanent secretary said ZDA, a government institution entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating investment in the country, had embarked on a mission to ensuring that there was evenly distribution of FDI.
“ZDA has come through to the Copperbelt to make sure there is evenly distribution of investment and the first place the agency has picked is Mufulira where they have proposed the setting up of a processing plant for copper and related industries probably because of the sulphur-dioxide emission,” he said.
Mr Msichili said ZDA had already requested Mufulira Municipal Council (MMC) to provide land for the investment of this processing plant and that the council had since submitted all needed statistics.
He urged other districts in the province to be on alert for these initiatives by ZDA by ensuring that land for such investments was secured well in advance.
Meanwhile, Mr Msichili called for cooperation and coordination between Mr Chanda and all heads of Government departments in order to ensure effective implementation of development programmes in the district.
He called on the heads of Government departments to give maximum cooperation and respect to Mr Chanda as a direct presidential appointee in charge of Government’s line ministries in the district.
And Mr Chanda said his office was open to advice and called for team work in championing the development agenda for Mufulira.
“The programme for bringing development to Mufulira is a collective one which we all need to actively participate,” Mr Chanda said.
good initiative for my love town.
The last time i checked ZDA was not an investor but a government body which promotes FDI investment. Who is the shareholder in the plant who is putting up the capital? Who will operate the plant? If its a processing plant where is the copper being processed coming from?
Until i get clear answers… am afraid this is just some noise from an empty tin.
The heading of the story is wrong. It suggests that government is building this plant using money from the fiscus, but thanks for the initiative!
@The Engineer, had the same question. ZDA facilitates investments, it does not invest itself. Perhaps, the law has changed?
copper processing plant into what?
THIS IS A BRILLIANT IDEA. COPPER AND OTHER MINERALS, INCLUDING OTHER RESOURCES SHOULDN’T BE LEAVING ZAMBIA WITH NO VALUE ADDED TO THEM. IT’S WASTEFUL TO LET RESOURCES LEAVE THE COUNTRY WITHOUT BEING PROCESSED. THUMBS UP FOR THIS PLAN BA PF.
…BUT I THOUGHT THIS COULD HAVE COME UNDER THE NEWLY TO BE FORMED IDC (OR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION) RATHER THAN ZDA.
This is good initiative instead of exporting soil to South Africa and enrich Jacob Zuma polygamous life style.
Good initiative for Development thumb up
This is a flop. I would rather the government invested in infrastructure development like energy, rail/road transportation and the formulation of good investment policy to enable entrepreneurs to succeed. Emphasis should be on promoting local participation by indegenous Zambians in every project initiated and funded by foreign companies. No foreign company whether registered in Zambia or not should for example be given an investment licence withould Zambian participation. I dont believe in governments running businesses, let alone mineral processing plants which are energy intensity.
Its good to hear but my worry is, were is the money? Political pronouncements won’t take us anywhere, what we need is pragmatic and strategic planning through the national budget. Today I also read that NATSAVE will open 30 branches this year through out the country. The other day it was INDECO, last month it was stadiums and universities. Are these politicians living in real time or day dreaming, hence making pronouncements to appease and dupe the masses. Give us the policy statement that will distinctively out line your programme for the next 5-10 years, now that is what we call proper planning not yapping all the time.
ZCCM is back, I mean the REAL ZCCM, not IH
It sounds a good a idea, we really need smelters in the country.
LEKA TUBOMBEKO
This is a good project as it will create employment, the plant will depend mainly on the mines from DR.Congo thus, Frontier in Sakanya and Kinsevere from Lubumbashi.
THE ENGINEER AUSTRALIA IS RIGHT ON. POLICIANS TALK WITHOUT SUBSTANCE MOST OF THE TIME.
WHAT MINERAL RESOURCE IS BEING TARGETED HERE AND WHERE IS IT?
MINING AND MINERAL PROCESSING IS NOT LIKE FORMING A POLITICAL PARTY.
A POLITICAL PARTY CAN BE FORMED ANYWHERE BY ANYONE. NOT MINING.
Ukwalinsoke, you are ill-informed because the plant will help Lubembe mine, Frontier , Kinsevere and Tenke Fungulume. The current plant in Mufurila is the best in Central Africa. Due to poor management of energy in DR.Congo, the mines have found shelter in Zambian processing plants. A doubtful mind is unsettled as the wave of the sea that is tossed and driven by the wind. The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.
@Bamwine baisa you must be dying slowly with envy hmm…. seeing Sata in action everywhere. keep your PHD in Pull Him Down Management Studies from Mapatizya University to yourself shaaa!
@cozmokaojr, I don’t think I wrote anything to offend anyone, if I did my apologies. However, what I endeavoured to outline if at all you comprehend strategic planning is that; can you give us your policy statement, or maybe this language is too much for you, simply put your plan which is on outlay of resources and budget that this project will gobble. Remember not so long ago you promised us new electric trains and tunnels, the questions is where are they. Open your eyes instead of being a cheap cadre acting like headless chicken without direction. And by the way am a strategist.
ZDA/msichili how do you promise based on other people’s money.get serious.even people who are thought to be educated are behaving like cadres now.who told you that there is an investor anywhere in the world who wants to put up such a massive investment particularly in mufulira.this just politicking.
Thanks PIO.
Tell me from the article what type of copper processing plant this will be to process inputs from the sites you have mentioned.
I have been to all the mines you have mentioned and I now wait for your response.
We have processing plants that go in stages.one can end at crushing. Most indians and chinese have crushing plants and are selling our own stones and making so much money.You can also have a processing plant that can end at milling, or tbat can end at concentration like one in chingola.so the goverment is just taking up a niche in the market. Its quite expensive for most zambian to set up such a plant. What we need govt to do is to add “Operate and transfer clauses to would be users
The Picture is wrong that is not Copper concetrates they are road aggregates , please correct the SAME