A consortium of three unions in the mining sector has proposed a forensic investigation of the business at Konkola Copper Mines to determine the true status of the business.
The Mine Workers Union of Zambia, the United Mine Workers Union of Zambia and the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers want this to be done by the KCM’s experts and patriotic Zambians.
The unions have asked the government to increase shareholding in KCM. They have further advised that expatriate labour must be restricted because that expatriate can only be considered in areas where they are lacking skills.
And the unions have called on the government to ensure that investors observe strict adherence to the conditions set out.
They have also urged the government to expedite the process of investor engagement to serve KCM from total collapse which will be economically catastrophic to both the hosting communities and the country.
They have further recommended the recapitalization of the operations which include exploration, equipment replacement and operationalization of the Konkola Deeps Mining Project as well as improving conditions of services for the employers.
They are demanding that the would-be investor upon taking over must engage the unions for improved conditions of service.
Meanwhile Opposition New Heritage Party Leader, Chishala Kateka has said that as Government is trying to resolve the Konkola Copper Mines-KCM issue, it must bear in mind the fact that the mining firm is a critical national asset hence the need to put the interest of Zambians first and not rush into deals that keep disadvantaging them.
Ms Kateka said that if the government needs an equity partner; it must look for one that will be prepared to enter into an agreement that will ensure a win-win situation for them and the country.
She said that there is no need for the country to continue to bend over backwards, ending up disadvantaging itself in the process.
Ms Kateka said that the resolution of the KCM Saga seemed to be imminent with the President announcing that it is not possible to resolve the KCM impasse minus Vedanta as they are part of the shareholders.
Ms Kateka is of the view that the asset of KCM is so important that consideration of the appointment of a Joint Provisional Liquidator should be made.
On May, 5th 2022 Vedanta resources reached out government through a letter to the Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe also copied to the unions indicating the desire to return to Konkola Copper Mines where he outlined several conditions which will improve the business, considering the acrimonious relationship it has with the workforce and other stakeholders.
OK…………
When workers cried lamentably against Vedanta where were the Union then?…,……
They should have done this under ECL and the PF as well.
The issues with unpaid local suppliers and poor working conditions would have been resolved.
Unfortunately , the same unions were overtaken by PF cadres focused with winning the 2021 elections.
After the loss by the PF, the unions want us to believe that they mean well.
Very useless.
First, we have too many wanting to be Commanding Generals and none a Foot Soldier for the Cause. Why is miner representation fragmented with so many unions in the industry? One large union would leverage its size and speak with one powerful voice for all miners?
Second, where is the idea that collapse of KCM is imminent (expedite the process of investor engagement to serve KCM from total collapse ) coming from?
Effectively, since May 2019 KCM has been in Zambian hands. Is this not enough time for advocates of the idea that all mines be majority Zambian managed and owned to show what they are able to do with such an asset? If KCM is near collapse after 3 years, the same people and thinking is not going to turn things around in 10 or 20 years.
By now we’d have had a locally developed Development Plan for KCM. The Zambians that got involved with KCM, and that includes Unions, were only interested in lining their pockets. Milingo Lungu even profiled new suppliers and contractors who were mostly PF members or aligned. Many were paid large amounts of money before they could even do anything. Zambians were worse than Vedanta in some cases. We’re a country of people that can’t think properly
UNIONS ARE A CURSE
THEY SERVE NO REALLY PURPOSE APART FROM THEMSELVES
WHY IS NO AUDIT DONE ON THE UNIONS TO SEE WHERE ALL THE CONTRIBUTIOS GO
THIS WILL ENLIGHTEN THE WORKERS AS TO WHAT THERE SO CALLED LEADERS ARE UP TO
The unions have asked the government to increase shareholding in KCM. They have further advised that expatriate labour must be restricted because that expatriate can only be considered in areas where they are lacking skills. I quote
51% shares must go to government anything less ni get out…Full stop
This KCM thing is a thorn……….
This KCM thing is a thorn……….Vedanta again???
Comrades, there no area in the mining industry we don’t have Zambians who can the job. I was reporting to various white who apart from their white skins didn’t know as much as I did. Practically I did the job and they took the results to the CEO. I have former workmates who are doing well in the same countries where these expatriates come from.
Deja Vu – You say you took the results to the “CEO” now that’s where we are lacking ownership, you were a middle manager …rich people in Zambia are so narrowminded and backstabbing that they can not come together and invest in an entity. ARC Mining just invested mines in NW.Arc Minerals shares jumped 6.7% on Thursday after it announced an agreement under which Anglo American would take majority control of the junior exploration firm’s Zambia copper-cobalt licences.Under the deal, which was first reported by Reuters, Anglo will take 70% of a joint venture with Arc that will own licenses to explore Zambia’s copper-rich North-Western province, an area Anglo previously explored in the late 1990s. It would mark the first new investment by Anglo in Zambia in 20 years.
Deja Vu – You say you took the results to the “CEO” now that’s where we are lacking ownership, you were a middle manager …rich people in Zambia are so narrowminded and backstabbing that they can not come together and invest in an entity. ARC Mining just invested mines in NW.Arc Minerals shares jumped 6.7% on Thursday after it announced an agreement under which Anglo American would take majority control of the junior exploration firm’s Zambia copper-cobalt licences. Under the deal, Anglo will take 70% of a joint venture with Arc that will own licenses to explore Zambia’s copper-rich North-Western province, an area Anglo previously explored in the late 1990s. It would mark the first new investment by Anglo in Zambia in 20 years.
Deja Vu my response to you is awaiting moderation …this is what annoys me with this moderating it hinders a sober debate.
Deja Vu – You say you took the results to the “CEO” now that’s where we are lacking ownership, you were a middle manager …rich people in Zambia are so narrowminded and backstabbing that they can not come together and invest in an entity.
#11 I don’t know what system they use to filter offensive or libelous posts. Someone here daily and hourly posts nonsense which is readily published.. there are two of them one for PF and the other for Upnd.
ONE MANS POISON IS ANOTHER MANS SWEET
Our unions just waffle and very toothless, they can’t distinguish white from black
#17 Chiluba dribbled them…as the sole union for the miners the MUZ was able to take on Government both around the table and in battle. Chiluba knew the strength of the this union (ubukulu Bea nseba kwimina pamo). He saw that the weakness lay in those over ambitious individuals and came up with the idea of” ” liberalization of unions in the same industry”… and in no time people came up with NUMAWU and other nondescript unions in the mines.