The Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has demanded that Mopani Copper Mines plc cancels all letters given to miners when they placed the mine on care and maintenance as the mine owners seek dialogue with the government.
MUZ President Joseph Chewe has told ZNBC News in Kitwe that Glencore, the owners of Mopani Copper Mines have engaged President Edgar Lungu seeking dialogue in view of the happenings at the mine.
Mr. Chewe has also demanded that Mopani Copper Mines apologizes to all miners who received letters.
He said the petition sent to President Edgar Lungu by mine unions when they held a peaceful protest demanding the restoration of all workers or have Mopani Copper Mines license revoked has been received.
Mr. Chewe stated that from the dialogue, mine unions want all workers to get back to work and that Mopani Copper Mines be given strict conditions that will stop them from engaging in activities that put workers’ jobs at risk.
The Zambian government on Wednesday evening stopped Mopani Chief Executive Officer Nathan Bullock from leaving the country.
Glencore confirmed that said Mr. Bullock had been held at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in connection with its decision to place the Nkana and Mufulira shafts on care and maintenance for three months.
“Nathan has subsequently been released,” Glencore said in a statement, adding that Mr Bullock was en route home to spend time with his family in Australia when he was detained.
Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo also confirmed Mr Bullock’s detention saying the government could not allow him to leave the country when there are pending matters at the mine.
Mr Bullock’s detention came hours after Zambia threatened to strip Glencore of its licence to operate in the country and sharply escalates the increasingly bitter dispute over Mopani.
Glencore announced the closure of lossmaking Mopani for three months because of low commodity prices and the coronavirus pandemic.
That move that drew a furious response from Mines Minister Richard Musukwa, who called it unjustified and illegal.
In a letter dated April 14 to Mr Bullock, Zambia’s Mining Licensing Committee said it planned to revoke the company’s operating permits for the Nkana and Mufulira mines in seven days unless it could show why they should not be cancelled.
“The Mining Licensing Committee is in receipt of an investigation report by the Director of Mines which has established that you have proceeded to place the Nkana and Mufulira mines on care and maintenance without giving sufficient notice as required by law,” said the letter.
Glencore owns 73.1 per cent of Mopani.
The other shareholders are First Quantum Minerals with a 16.9 per cent stake and Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings, with 10 per cent.
Glencore said it was committed to engaging in a constructive dialogue with the Zambian authorities.
The Swiss-based company has invested more than $4bn in the country since 2000.
Reporters should stop this nonsense of saying they invested this and that. They should concentrate on how much they have exported and total value since taking over these units. people will be surprised its a 10% factor. They have made 40 billion before costs. Unfortunately another mess and stripping coming up. Its sad
@ Ba Cat Power a business is there to make money.
Your better off making noise on who accepts or offers these useless contracts.
@ Ba cat Power. A business I there to make money.
Your better off making noise on who accepts or offers these contrascts.
Just tell me they have made a loss for the last decade and tell me a business that hasn’t had a bad financial year. Then I will rest my case
Government should withdraw closure of primetv and must apologise to the owner and all the workers.
I cannot give a thorough comment as this would be in contempt of the ongoing discussion we government are having with mopani. I do not want to prejudice such sensitive negotiations. However all I can say is that for us we will put our people’s welfare before anything else. We are not like a well known leader in opposition who sold out his own country during privatisation era. For us we are the PATRIOTIC front. Kz
Ur reasoning is poor kaizar…tht opposition leader is wish ND clever…tell drug inforcment agancie to arressent him if he sold those mines for his benficites..
There are 96 reasons why PF should be deleted next year. But UPND sees only 1 reason: corruption.
There are 96 points UPND can use in campaign 2021, not only those 10 points.
HH is hardworking, but UPND is lazy.
It’s a tactical retreat.
Watch out for plan B!
Ati still awaiting results from Mopani’s engagement with President Lungu, atase! Bullock gave Lungu $100,000 and the mines will remain closed. Especially you miners, you voted for this foolish kleptomaniac *****, you now fry in your foolishness!
NATIONALISE. 10% TO Zambia honestly! It’s time to address the shares Zambia holds in it’s Mines. No wonder, we are not consulted when they decide to damage our economy.
Ine indeloleshafye
First in real business you close if you lose money, then the virus issue how are miners suppose to stay away from each other in a mine, if left open you would have miners catching the chinese virus and dieing like chickens as for giving the mine to chinese to mine where are the benifets to Zambia and jobs. as for nationalizing the mines KK did this and it was a disastor and the country was a mess. let the mine close foe 3 months, the virus will be almost gone and the price of copper may go up-supply and demand. private business dont run like the govt and then beg for funds to donours like zambia’s been doing for 55 years