Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has categorically denied claims in an article published by Bloomberg that Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) has been shut and operations halted.
In a statement issued to the media and signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Barnaby Mulenga, the Ministry said that the Ministry has consistently reported the production from quarter to quarter, and at no point has there been a halt or shut down as indicated in the report attributed to him
Mr.Mulenga called on Bloomberg tp retract what it described as a false story that misleads the public into thinking KCM operations are shut or halted until the arbitration is completed.
Below is the full statement
STATEMENT ON THE BLOOMBERG STORY CLAIMING THAT KCM HAS BEEN SHUT AS COPPER PRICES SOAR TOWARD RECORD
Lusaka 6th, May 2021
Government wants to categorically deny claims in an article published by Bloomberg that Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) has been shut and operations halted.
The Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development is responsible for updating the production levels at each mine and in relation to KCM, the Ministry has consistently reported the production from quarter to quarter and at no point has there been a halt or shut down as indicated in the report attributed to the Permanent Secretary.
The Journalist in question, Felix Njini called the Ministry through the PS to enquire on the outcome of the Mining Indaba and the Konkola Deep Project.
The Journalist was corrected twice to understand what the Konkola Deep Project was and he was specifically requested to follow up and obtain production figures for KCM.
We are surprised to see an article claiming that KCM has shut down until arbitration was complete published which is not true.
The production at KCM in the First Quarter was 14,898.61 Tonnes which clearly shows that Production has continued.
At no point has the Ministry ever said production was shut before and after the liquidation process.
The story further claims that Taonga Clifford Mitimingi was spoken to when the person has never spoken to the Ministry officials on the matters written about.
Bloomberg must retract the false story that misleads the public into thinking KCM operations are shut or halted until the arbitration is completed.
Barnaby Bwalya Mulenga
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development
No surprise here, such a denial was expected from the PiyeF00l. Often allergic to the truth!
LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE PFFFFFFFFF
YOU CAN HOODWINK US BUT NOT THE WORLD
Real journalism outlets like Bloomberg don’t publish brazen lies because they know they can be sued. They fact check stories and sources.
There is truth to this story and PF are just unhappy it came out before the election as they were busy spreading lies about the economy rebounding.
WELL STATED SARAH
If this minister has the balls he should sue bloomberg. Does he not know it’s owned by Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire whose reputation would be a blot on his character or his company.
Bloomberg would not report fake news unlike our media institutions
If and when KCM is shut down UPND celebrates. Bloomberg reported that KDMP has been closed because of arbitration. KCM owned 4 divisions: Konkola, Nchanga, Nampundwe and Nkana. How come only Konkola is reported abandoned owing to legal challenges? To sugarcoat the story they say we can’t fund the mine. Time you UPND became responsible instead of wantonly believing in foreign news because to you bazungu can’t report wrongly. What fallacy!
Ati real journalism outlets like Bloomberg. I’m sure you follow Fox news too. Malabish. We Zambians first need to love ourselves before ku lumba ba nzanu.
This is the work of that ugly bab00n looking f00l hh. The truth always comes out. He is busy selling lies to his whlte masters who he owes alot of money. F00lish people like him die early. We now hear he is in a coma. Chizafa
Everyone is asking where I am. I am busy preparing for elections. Am on the ground you people. This is my busiest time, when I work so hard to ensure PF victory for our people. Bare with me.
So what is that Q1 production ? So what did you tell him about Konkola Deep Mining Project? Truth is KCM has been vandalised by PF cadres, rampant tribalism at the mine and nepotism. The mine is not paying any taxes, can not pay suppliers so is not healthier than it was found by PF?
There is no smoke without fire!
How possible is it that KCM can produce 14,898.61 tons of copper in a quarter and be profitable?
Really laughable…you are disputing an article especially media house like Bloomberg without giving proof of this first quarter production 14,000…where have you sold it? Problem with lies is that they have short legs
Well said Sarah. And everybody knows it! That’s how far the corrupt PF government has sunk: nobody believes anything they say anymore. Worse, people believe the opposite: when they say LEFT we go right; when they say UP we go down, when they say RED we go green etc.
i dont know anyone who questions where the tr00L is
BELIEVING IN HIS OWN SELF IMPORTANCE AGAIN
I knew this was coming, I am just surprised it is from a PS this time. So when Bloomberg reports how you are earning well and things will you ask them to retract also? Economy ili monga kaswende. If you don’t treat it soon everyone will know. A mambala. Incenjenshi!
The truth is PF and lungu have been using KCM to fund their empowerment programmes of free money gifts to Zambians…………
Now they can not account for any money from KCM……..
That is why people are equating pf looting KCM coffers with breakdown in operations……
You bunch of liars…sue bloomberg so that more of your lies are exposed.
So much will be exposed after PF lose power, unimaginable scale!!!!
Have you ever found yourself telling the truth but in actual sense the truth has been hidden from you. We call that ignorance. Between these two, they may both be telling the truth but one of them is ignorant. Don’t blame either of them simply pick one other way you will be right.
Either way
You are asking Bloomberg to retract the true story using Zambian media? hehehehee. You Mountain Baboon dont you know that Bloomberg is in America. Why dont you jst pick up the phone,call them and tell them what you are lying to us? You jst want to scare us Zambians to refrain from talking abt you highly celebrated acquisition of the same mines recently, WE SHALL NOT BE SCARED OF YOU! *****!