
ZAMBIA’S mining industry is projected to earn over US$1.3 billion next year, Minister of Labour and Social Security Fackson Shamenda has said.
Mr Shamenda said the mining industry’s contribution to the gross domestic product is anticipated to grow to US$1.35 billion in 2015.
He said the mining sector’s contribution to the economy is significant.
Speaking at the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) 13th quadrennial conference, Mr Shamenda said Government will ensure it creates a conducive environment for mining activities to thrive.
“Government is committed to diversifying the economy away from mining to sectors like agriculture and tourism. We still recognise the important role of mining to our economy,” he said.
Earlier, MUZ president Chishimba Nkole said the country is now seeing the dawn of a mining industry that has absorbed over US$2 billion in recapitalisation and refurbishment of old mine infrastructure and opening of new mining projects.
Mr Nkole said the new mining projects at Kansanshi, Kalumbila and Syncrinolium at Mopani copper mine continue to contribute to the extension of the life span and production capacities of the existing mining operations.
“The new set-up of mining activities, however, poses new challenges to the union’s drives and strategies for membership recruitment, union organisation and growth in light of trade union rivalry and competition in the mining industry,” he said.
He said it is crucial that the conference focuses on challenges facing MUZ and come up with an effective plan for the unions growth and strategies for better salaries, improved conditions of service, health and job security for members.
Mr Nkole said there is need for Government to come up with a clear poverty datum line which should be official and reliable. He also called on Government and mining companies to create a framework or policy to strengthen corporate social responsibility (CSR) to help monitor spending and measure results.
“This way, our country will truly benefit from its mineral wealth. We would like to see a CSR programme that involves all stakeholders and not just mining management deciding on their own what to do for the host communities,” he said.
Mr Nkole said when Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines was unbundled and privatised, Copperbelt towns saw the advent of high revenue collections by the city and municipal councils in property and land rates not only from actual mine premises but from many residential areas.
He said it is important that the public takes a keen interest in understanding the levels of revenue collections that the councils achieve from the mines as those are public funds that should contribute meaningfully to enhance CSR.
#BRING BACK OUR KCM
Trade Union leader! always dreaming!
We are not very particular about how big the mining industry will grow but rather how much we stand to benefit as a nation.
If not tell us how much we stand to lose as is the case with the KCM gate scandal
If not give back our Mines to the Zambian people
It is strange how PF supporters cannot see the PF failure. The Kwacha is now confirmed to be the worst currency on earth among the monitored ones. Effectively what that means soon the kwacha will be removed from the monitored currencies, implying a complete vote of no confidence in PF both at home and abroad. I know PF supporters you will say so what? The so what question is answered through increased fuel price beyond what is prevailing now, increased cost of doing business, reduced purchase power of your salaries or money, more poverty as opposed to more money in the pockets and finally if nothing is done a failed state will follow.
BUT THATS POCKET MONEY FOR Anil Agarwal. OR IS IT THE MONEY THAT WILL COME TO THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE?
Levy Mwanawasa was a dog and the most corrupt person and let him rot in hell, KITWE, CHINGOLA and CHILILABOMWE KCM IBUs for only $25m when in that same year real madrid football club bought David Beckam from manchester united for 25m pounds. PF today should take a bold step like they did to zamtel and give us back our KCM
“ZAMBIA’S mining industry is projected to earn over US$1.3 billion next year, Minister of Labour and Social Security Fackson Shamenda has said“.
is that money going o the Anil Agarwal of this world??,,,because the man claims 500m plus 1 billion (1.5billion) and thats just revenue earnigs from one mine
And we all know where that $1.5b is going: India. Thanks to the mockery video!
Out of that money $ 1Bn goes to Agarwal as an addition to his profits. So you still owe Agarwal $ 200M from your projections! Please shave that hair off your face so that you can see properly, make realistic projections, start thinking about collecting windfall taxes NOW!
Yaba…ala kwena suntwe taumfwa…
But what sort of nonsense is this? Does Shamenda even know what he is talking about? Zambia produced well over 700 00 tonnes of copper last year. The average price of copper last year was $7000 per tonne. So the mining industry earned an estimated $4.9 billion in 2013. Is Shamenda telling us that the Zambian mining industry is going to collapse next year in 2015? No wonder the Guptas are laughing at Zambians! The level of economic illiteracy amongst Zambian leaders is frightening!
I thought so too,spot on Goncalves.
It could be that the writer of the story miss represented the facts. Yes the figure does not make sense. Unless the figure quoted will be annual profits.
It’s amazing the cowardice of this government and sad to see fellow zambians selling us out. I can safely say we are fu.cked
Zambians – please get these monkeys out!!!! For those who supported Mwanawasa and Chiluba – do you see now what poor managers they were!!! This is what happens when people rig and steal the vote of the people!! Ubufi bulabwela! How can our money be given to Mwenyes on a silver plate. Shame to you f00lish MPs – just theere to fill your big bellies!!!
Very little in earnings for the country yet mining employs very few Zambians in comparison to our underappreciated agriculture industry.
Mr Shame(nda), how is this gonna happen when You P.F. guys are “All talk no action”???
Surely if you told us You are going after “Anil the KCM fraudster”, we would be inclined to half believe you. But Zambians know You guys are in the pockets of Fraudsters like KCM Anil.
You would do best to keep quiet, & let Zambian’s make a decision in 2016.
With ALL thieving by the Mwenyes, why on earth did f00lish RB, musokotwane and George Kunda cancel the windfall tax??? Imwe bantu ma Zambians please – why do we have such useless and clueless leaders. Although they sold mine for a song tried to get a bit of money back. Now these PF guys – think they are better? Look at the Tswanas across the border and learns: their leaders put their people first!!!!
Does MUZ even know actual figures they are talking about? The Indian investor is busy looting whilst you are keep estimating fake figures, geeeeeeeeeeeee.
PF’s timing is out of synch – either they’re complaining about the past, or talking about a glorious future; projected bumper harvest, more money in your pockets in 90 days.
What about right now? What about the present?
#OneZambia
I think the president should be commended by saying that most of this guys are useless. Which school did he go to for him to say this? What now they need and are required to do is to answer and give policy direction on how we are going to benefit from the mines. He is talking about Agriculture bra,bra,bra. How is he going to develop agriculture without the capital? I think this ministers should start realizing that the greatest capital we have in Zambia are the minerals and hence we have to use them to develop other sectors. If its not benefiting as then lets close the mines and concentrate on agriculture kabili we just borrow money for the same. Shame on us if we are thinking that we wil develop other sectors by borrowing rather than getting money from the already developed sectors like m
@chibwana; you are spot on, they are useless. How can a president tick with such minds as advisers to the head of state. Completely useless
@Zed@crossroad
Who appointed the useless ministers? was it not your useless president? He is the one who is doubly useless!!!
Sata is fighting HH and Chitimukulu instead of dealing with the plunderers at KCM.
Spot on!!
I almost jumped when i saw that figure but alas its not what i thought. Surely when there is all this contraversey surrounding the operations of KCM and the owners having mentioned some figures one would expect someone to come up with figures that will inspire and put hope in us.Surely that $1.35 bilion should have been TAX going to our cofers and not what is being talked about. VERY SAD INDEED..!!!
BRING BACK OUR CHINGOLA !
Ba Minister, if I were Bemba I would have said “kabepeni imbwa shinenu”, but since I’m not Bemba I will not say it!
Ba Minister, if I were Bemba I would have said “kabepeni imbwa shinenu”, but since I’m not, I won’t say it!
One chilli eating baboon says he makes your ignorantly projected amount in one month, does it make any sense for you to open that unshaved mouth and prophesy nothing but nonsense when you have so many mines in the country? If you have nothing to say, just make sure you glue your dirty mouth.
kikiki you have made my day!!!
Forgive Papa smirf he doesn’t know what he is talking about, let him anticipate on his own.
These are the selfsame empty tins who rushed to KCM last year to give them more concessions when they threatened the gov’t with laying off 1500 workers…no wonder they are still laughing all the way to the bank. In all honesty our can you anticipate 1 billion dollars from the whole sector when one mine alone makes half that in profit alone.
Ulebeya nemyemfu iwe mambala,always dreaming.
OOPs! I missed this year’s(2014) projection. Yes Ba Fackson we have needed to diversify our economy but tell us what plans your Govt has to make this a reality. We have heard this 1001 times before please give the nation an outline of the activities that your Govt has put in place to diversify the economy.
Lack of proper education is a curse. thats why Anil is laughing at Zambians. thats why i like uncle Bob
@ Matipa It is not about education, I should believe some of the most educated people have disappointed us. Look at People who called themselves “young turks” they are the guys who sold this nation at a song price. How in this world can a person sell a mine at $25 million. Its just this luck of critical analyzing of issues that is eating on us.
I can assure you even people like HH since he help sold this nation at a song price will just now come and sell all the things we have remained with. Let HH and every one who will stand in 2016 tell us how, not by speaking only, but by written documents tell us how we will benefit from the raw materials
This is what baffles me…such statements are supposed to be issued or pronounced by either ABC, Mines minister or the VP. Irrespective of what revenue the govt expect, labour movements are interested to hear labour projection figures other than what he is yapping about…..
We have heard minister of Agriculture commenting on windfall tax, minister of gender commenting on farm inputs, minister sport dealing with land issues…that sums up to confused and disorganised house.
Anyway, as of now nothing is of more expectant and interesting than a govt comment on Agarwal revelation video
thats very true its really buffling, policy direction is a pipe dream. Just the other day on ZNBC we see the minister of sports in Ghana inspecting recycling plants. I ask myself is he the right man or is he there in his own capacity as Chishimba to diversify his investment portfolio. Its puzzling and worrying to say the least!!
Mr Shamenda, am a PF Cadre, please convey this message to HEMCS windfall tax is the answer for us to recover the stolen money by AGANIWAL the mwenye, do not waste time to implement it on KCM alone, no mercy sir.
Bla bla bla.Stop deviating our attention from the KCM saga.Talk of $1.3 b when just one mine is raking in $500 m profits.Shame!
This government has really dissapointed the majority of the voters that thought a messiah had landed in Zambia, i guess we were all wrong. Next time we need to depend on the lord to avoid what happened with the isrealites when the demanded for Saul and forsaking God as their leader