PATRIOTIC Front (PF) central committee member Frank Bwalya has appealed to Zambians to support President Lungu’s appeal to the mines not to fire workers unnecessarily.
Father Bwalya said in a statement yesterday that President Lungu must be supported for opposing the behaviour of some mining companies who are rushing to laying off workers when they experience operational challenges.
“President Lungu’s challenge to Mopani Copper Mines to hand over the mine to the government if they have failed to run it should be supported by all patriotic Zambians because it provides the right framework and philosophy in dealing with foreign investors,” Fr Bwalya said.
He said President Lungu’s position in opposing the behaviour of some mining companies is justified because they make huge profits when the price of copper is high.
When they make windfall profits, they cheat and refuse to share the benefits with the miners.
“We accept the reality that foreign investors come to our country to make money. But we should never accept a situation where they would reap huge profits but abandon our people at the sight of challenges triggered by trends in the global economy,” Fr Bwalya said.
He said mining companies should demonstrate loyalty to people who work hard to make them generate huge profits when the price of copper is good.
“When they make windfall profits, they cheat and refuse to share the benefits with the miners.
“It is against this background that President Lungu’s bold stance should be commended and supported so that foreign investors, especially mining companies, can learn to treat us fairly,” Fr Bwalya said.
great words fr Frank.
We’ll support him on this one.Why should they run when things are tough?They have made billions and don’t even pay taxes.We need to stand strong.A foreigner will never develop yo country.U can see what’s happening to the prices of mealie meal and cooking oil.Indians have taken advantage of govt decision to ban importation of oil.Immediately they banned they had a meeting and increased the price of edible oils by 100%.Govt should jst ban the importation of some goods if iZambians can supply.Never trust an Indian.The chaps are not Zambians and are just milking our country.Infact the pipo who used to import cooking are real indigenous Zambians than the ones making cooking oil.Indians have increase almost everything by more than 100% starting from packaging materials and finished…
And Hilda Malama is in full support of the President and Fr Bwalya
Why is that many PF central committee members and ministers (including president) have little basic understanding of doing business in a free market, capitalist economy? Why do they think that mining companies stock-pile their profits?
They are ‘Kaponyas’.
They are ‘Kaponyas’.
They either are school drop outs or went to night school. Those who went to day school like Lungu are drunks
Well said, Fr. Bwalya
Guys,
When copper price is high, and mining companies are raking in profits, they ought to set up a “sinking fund” for times like this….TO SEE THEM THROUGH!
I support the government on this.
Which business school did you go to?
That is true, I agree with you! But unfortunately, in the economic system that Zambia has embraced, no one can dictate how businesses use their profits (e.g. sinking funds). So the call by Frank Bwalya and the President is as good as shooting in the air. Sad reality.
Mr. Frank Bwalya, what ECL says and what ECL does are two different things. Rhetoric will solve the problems we have in the mining sector. Action not words.
What ECL said about Luanshya mine & Mopani are at variance with what is happening on the ground. For example, the Govt papers were telling us in screaming headlines that ECL “has saved 1,600 jobs in Luanshya Mine”. The reality is that ECL was telling the miners that their “allowances should be increased while they are laid off. This is the discussion I had with the owners of the mine”. ECL says Mopani should not lay off the 4,000 workers. Unfortunately, this is already happening and is on-going. He is just an empty gong. Whether we support empty rhetoric is neither here nor there. Just a waste of time.
My dear this Frank Bwalya you are trying to address is too much of a dunderhead to understand. Frank Bwalya tried to go and study theology, he failed. Frank Bwalya is just a good cadre not a business analyst.
I meant to say “Rhetoric WILL NOT solve the problems….”
As usual when people are seeking favours from appointing authority they are bound to say good things about the so called appointing authoritty. It not surprising to note that of late Fr Bwalya has got into a habit of praising E.Lungu on anything he says without checking whether what has been said has got true bearing to the situation on the ground. Every human needs a job to earn a living but not at the expence of giving fellow zambians false information. FACT:Lungu did not order the mines management to re employ miners instead he asked the union officials to negotiate the issue. If that goes through we may consider a pat on his shoulder–period.
Government through tata Bwalya are telling lies they the pf are chewing a lot of money from these mining investers and tata Bwalya is just one beneficially.try and chase these investers and see how much beans will go to waste thru spillage.Zambians why are pf only threatening the investers and no action taken.zambians GALAMUKANi or wakeup
I M DISAPPOINTED AND ASHAMED OF FR FRANK. POLITICS OF THE BELLY. GOD WILL TEACH YOU A LESSON TIME WILL TELL