GOVERNMENT has reinstated the Collum Coal Mine licence and issued the colliery with a large-scale operations permit, a decision that is expected to save over 600 jobs and create an additional 200.
And Collum Coal Mining Industries Limited has appointed Lusaka business executive Suzyo Nyika as board chairman of the Sinazongwe-based mine in Southern Province.
The mining company has since been directed to ensure strict adherence to safety, health and environmental standards as it resumes operations early this month.
In a letter dated March 30 this year addressed to Mr Nyika and copied to the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development, Geological Survey department and head of mining cadastre, director of mines development Mooya Lumamba informed the company that a decision had been made to reinstate the cancelled licence.
Mr Lumamba advised the company’s new management team in liaison with the Mines Safety Department to conduct a thorough audit of the mine and come up with a checklist of activities that need to be undertaken to ensure adherence to all mining regulations.
“The Mines Safety department shall also develop new guidelines on safety, health and environmental standards that you will be expected to adhere to. Please contact ZCCM-IH over the matter and ensure a smooth handover of the management of the mine,” Mr Lumamba states in the letter.
This follows Collum Coal Mining Industries’ successful appeal to President Lungu over its cancelled licence.
The 12,000 tonnes per annum producer of the heating substance chiefly used by the mines for production of various metals was shut down in February 2013.
Among concerns at the mine were alleged flouting of labour laws, poor safety and sanitary record at place of work and failure to remit taxes.
The mining licence was cancelled due to a number of unresolved disputes involving owners of the mine and the workers.
Collum Coal Mine director Xu Jianglin has announced that the mining company had appointed Mr Nyika and hopes all stakeholders will give him and his team support as they endeavor to resume operations and contribute to the economy of Sinazongwe and Zambia as a whole.
“We hope the new chairman will be given all the support by stakeholders to steer the mine to progress that will impact the people of Sinazongwe positively,” Mr Xu said.
In October 2010, two Chinese supervisors allegedly shot at protesting workers and injured 11 of them. The two supervisors were arrested and charged with appropriate offences but the matter was discontinued in the courts of law through a nolle prosequi.
In 2006, the then provincial minister Alice Simango openly wept after seeing miners during emerge semi-naked and barefoot from the tunnel.
Ms Simango, who was blocked from entering the mine by the mine owners, later recommended that it be closed to protect human life.
Ba airtel I want my talk time back,ninshi ifyabupuba? Why do u like stealin from your clients imwe ba fikalaa?
“This follows ……appeal to President Lungu” a decision made in less than 90 days? Hard working indeed. Is it as a result of the China trip? What is the guarantee that these Chinese will now offer better facilities, pay, conditions of service as can be judged from the performance at other Chinese owned mines and contracts? On another post commenting on Kambwili’s tantrum on reinstatement of retrenched workers at Kansashi, somebody commented that we should get our mines back and run them our-selves. We took Collum Mine back for gross negligence of workers welfare and low pay and not paying taxes; genuine reasons, and we hand it back because the President intervened. Technocrats in the Civil Service what do you advise the powers that be? Or is it the “ni ba kateka syndrome” as usual?
I was born and grew up in Zambia for 21 yrs before i moved to Europe and become a EU Citizen. Why is it that when i wanted to come back and settle in Zambia i was asked if i had 250, 000 US$ to invest, meanwhile Chinese who are non Zambian by birth or origin are allowed to come and settle with nothing and sell Ziwaya?
What is the real story behind this story? Did ZCCM-IH fail to run this coal mine since it was given to them by govt? Or is it because govt failed to compensate the Chinese the tens of millions of dollars they were demanding for the loss and therefore gave it back – after persuasion and suitable inducement? Is it a coincidence that this is happening soon after Lungu comes back from China on a state visit?
It is not persuasion but inducement. Blatant corruption. Another trending story is that another Chinese company has been given Phase II of the communication towers construction contract despite a serious reservations on sub-standard work on Phase I of the Project by the same company. Who intervened and was exchanging an MOU with the CEO of the Company? Our own ECL, how demeaning a CEO of a Country cowering to a CEO of a Company! Where is our pride? Is it hunger and a-Kalilo? No wonder these Chinese treat the local employees without respect!
ZCCM-IH is listed. Events around ZCCM-IH need a lot of transparency. Was the board of ZCCM-IH involved/consulted on this? ZCCM-IH was responsible from the time the license was cancelled to now. Therefore it goes without saying that ZCCM-IH must have spent a lot of money on managing/maintaining the mine. Can the nation be told how much ZCCM-IH has spent so far? What happens to this money, will it be refunded to ZCCM-IH, if so by whom or it will just be written off? Bear in mind this is taxpayers’ money, our money! The next ZCCM-IH financial report will be interesting to read!