Several mining firms on the Copperbelt and North Western Provinces are threatening to scale down on their operations following the numerous challenges that the mining sector is facing.
Mine Workers Union of Zambia -MUZ- General Secretary Joseph Chewe has further disclosed that several jobs in the mining sector have been lost in the last few days as a result of operational challenges affecting mining houses.
Mr Chewe fears that more jobs in the sector will be lost if government does not engage mining firms to discuss the current operational challenges.
Mr Chewe has cited falling metal prices on the international market and the current power deficit as some of the challenges affecting mining firms.
He said the operational challenges might compel mining houses to reduce on their production capacities.
Mr Chewe has disclosed the development at a media briefing in Kitwe today.
He has further disclosed that First Quantum Minerals of Solwezi has since effected a number of job cuts at the mine.
Meanwhile, MUZ has asked President Edgar Lungu to engage mining firms on how best to save the hundreds of jobs that are on the line in the mining sector.
Mr Chewe has accused government of not showing political will in handling the challenges in the mining sector.
He has further revealed that NFCA mine in Chambishi on the Copperbelt has also informed the union on impending job cuts if problems in the sector are not addressed.
Mr Chewe could however not disclose the number of jobs that have been lost so far in the mining sector.
Meanwhile, Livingstone District Commissioner, Omar Munsanje, says government under President Edgar Lungu, is fully committed to alleviating poverty across the country especially among vulnerable women in rural areas.
Mr. Munsanje says government has put women empowerment and protection top on its agenda through various programmes in government ministries.
Speaking during the Southern Province business expo for women, Mr. Munsanje said government will continue supporting initiatives aimed at empowering women.
And Assistant Director-Planning at the Ministry of Gender and Child Development, Nobert Bukoka, says the ministry is committed to helping women and other vulnerable groups alleviate poverty.
Mr. Bukoka says the Ministry of Gender in partnership with the Ministry of Community Development has been giving out grants and hammer mills to women in a bid to reduce their suffering.
The Southern Province business Expo for women has attracted fifty women groups across the province.
Out of the fifty women groups, five have been selected to participate at the National Expo to be held in Lusaka later this year
What do these people in MUZ want the gov’t to engage the mines for when its external forces at play? Do they want they gov’t to offer more tax incentives, energy discounts to save a few 100 causal workers at the expense of tax payers?
Jay Jay. That’s how these Unions think! The fat cats like Chewe don’t care about the taxpayers. To them losing a 100 miners is loss of income.
Too much noise from these mining houses each time, the government tries to work out polices that entails fair payment such as tax and electricity. Can someone work out the cost benefit analysis of exporting their power consumption plus the mineral they are exporting against tax payment and salaries to the locals. May be it would be better to let them leave after all the minerals will not rot like tomatoes. Economists, where are you? May be Sinkamba from the Greens Party is correct, let us examine his options with some seriousness. Maybe we really need to think outside the box.