Leader of the opposition NAREP Elias Chipimo has revealed that Konkola Copper Mines has started winding down some of its operations in Chingola.
Mr Chipimo has since warned that Chingola will soon be turned into a ghost town as the mining giant has started transferring some of its workers to its other operations in Nampundwe and Chililabombwe.
He said KCM commenced its secret operation recently and that a number of miners have since been affected.
Mr Chipimo said Government as a shareholder in KCM should intervene and force the company to stop decommissioning the mine plants.
He also appealed to the two Members of Parliament in the area to take a keen interest in the matter and safeguard the livelihoods of the affected people.
‘We call upon Hon. Katema and Hon. Simuusa to step up and stop this closure of KCM mine plants in Chingola before the town is turned into a ghost town,’ Mr Chipimo said.
Efforts to get a response from KCM proved futile.
Chipimo is making sense. Where is the government not see what is happening in Chingola/ Lungu has to be careful if he wants to win next years elections.
ZWD carried this story a few days ago. Some of us who read the ZWD know exactly whats happening with KCM.
KCM has threatened to close the mine until its VAT refund is given to them to pay off debts it owes locally and internationally. PF was given upto the end of May to find the money.
Unfortunately PF does not have the money to foot the bill, as it has recklessly spent and shared all the money raised out of VAT and shipped it abroad.
If some of the plants in Chingola are not profitable for the company it is better to decommission. KCM is not a charity company, it is in business to make a profit. That’s why ZESCO is performing poorly because it has over employed engineers, technologists and technicians and the government keep eating profit seeds. Now Zesco and the government is blaming God for the less rainfall we had this year. The Acting MD for Zesco is just too dull or is just covering the gov for its failures and lack of being honest. The MD has just exposed his dullness because the current water can generate 5000 MW. He should do logic studies or apply common sense. He has men under him who can supply him with proper answers and solutions, thus using common sense, because I do not expect him to know all things.
eyaa.. ekutemwa… and people are saying 2016.. ifintu ni edgar.. how…?..the noose has stared tightening…MUZATEMBENUKA?? HH FOR PRESIDENT COME 2016
chombela,
Workers are unaffected as they are taken where their services are needed. They have changed their work stations. One would ask as to ‘what noose has stared (started) tightening..
We know hh will stand -BUT to lose again. Before you comment, you should think if you have a conflicting comment and try and compare.
2016.. ifintu ni Edgar Lungu
Akulileni fye lyonse.
I guess you have not read the story of how Chingola will become a ghost town. Do you even understand what that means? You chumbu munshololwa that just says ifintu ni Edgar when masses of people are getting worse by the day in poverty. For your education don’t think when they close the plant all workers will be relocated to other places. Also note that even if you withdraw those workers other businesses will suffer in Chingola because there will be very few that can spend money within that town. Ask people of luanshya about a ghost town. Typical cadre failing to understand issues and just saying ifintu ni ponyo
@black woman not……
Very dull chap you are
Uli cipuba 7×700, and walitipwa..
KCM will be surprised to find that other investors with better mining methodologies will fill the vacuum unless of course if the reason for closing some plants is because copper has been fully exhausted.If this is the reason then all that is required is to determine what other industries can be located to Chingola.
Nchanga was sold to the Indians by whom you call the best president. There has been no peace at this mine. People with balanced brains will confirm that the mine has been changing posts. Don’t blame Edgar!
Totally with you @Ndanje khaks! When KCM was being sold at $65million, government had been running it profitably as a “lone” shareholder after Anglo-American walked away! A good number of people including PF protested the sale of the mine at such a give away price and to Vedanta Resources who have had a controversial record! The so called best President (who found mining projects in NW Province and debt cancelling processes commenced by FTJ maturing. A Lawyer who failed to deliver a good constitution in 7 years to replace the one he rubbished on his first inauguration) went ahead with sale! He did a similar thing with Luanshya mine where he brought in J & W to buy the Mine from Anglovaal who ran it after RAMCOZ. Yes PF must solve the problem left by that corrupt, cunning person!!
Copper is now fetching US$6,200/Tonne (end May 2015) on LME, which is a rise from January 2015 when it was US$5,400/Tonne. To put it in context, at the time of ZCCM privatisation it was hovering around US$2,000/Tonne.
FACT – KCM’s threat to scale down has nothing to do with Copper demand on the Market. FACT – KCM knows PF Govt has no clue and no backbone in these matters, hence open for a sucker punch.
Elias Chipimo is a sellout. He is probably losing bribes when KCM moves out of town.
Time to nationalize KCM.
zambia niyatu stop lying.. i bet you where not born by then.. KCM was losing $1m a day to sustain its operations..i.e dewatering and plant maintenance such as melting furnaces.. copper prices had dropped to uneconomical levels..roughly $2,900/tonne.. levy and magande had to act fast else, the mine would have flooded.the mine with that price of copper 2 the time where un attractive to any reasonable prospective buyer iwee chimbwi, till vandeta stepped forwars with $25m and promised to recapitalise the company with a capital injection of $4bln..the offer was best ever, consider no investor was interested, but my president mwanawasa MHSRIP knew where to hit them hard before this corrupt big head RB come in,..Windfall tax… clever man..hey that man was a genius..yaba RB reversed.hh chabe
@7- Chombela,
Well spoken. Its amazing how so many armchair theoretical experts emerge from the woodwork to criticize on issues they clearly have no hands-on experience w.r.t. the pre-cursor to ZCCM privatization.
” copper prices had dropped to uneconomical levels..roughly $2,900/tonne.. ”
Actually closer to $2000 per tonne. However, today they are not, and have been as high as $10,000 per tonne.
Considering the massively inflationary environment (QE2, etc.) , raw materials prices are going to go up in the long term. And the only way to fully benefit from that, is to own them.
So let’s make use of this opportunity, and nationalize them.
I wonder how any sane person could state that Mwanawasa was a crook & a failure; even if it’s pf cadreship, let’s b level headed ladies & gentlemen. All economic indicators were excellent in Mwanawas’s era. Because of his proven intorelance to corruption & good governance record coupled with prudent economic management the country enjoyed the following: external debt stock-$0.00 (Zero), Xrate k2900_to_US$1 ( Aug 2007), inflation down to single digit, GDP US$44Bn, the list is endless. Comparatively, pf has been tolerant to corruption & country’s economic prospects are bleak due to lack of investor confidence. Ala muli ba Chagwa, kuwayawaya fye…
He will always be the best presidents we have had to date. We can’t compare all three after him. Our country was a right trajectory with Mwanawasa at the helm. We brought in thieves and people with no vision…..
Well spoken Chombela.
If these morons had any sense before opening their mouths, they would ask why Anglo American just got up and walked out if the mines were pumping cash.
The fact is even Anglo couldnt handle the losses and they are probably one of the largest conglomerates in the world.
Mwanawasa was indeed a cabbage. But one thing he wasnt was corrupt. He was the best presido Zambia will ever have. The investment boom RB inherited and a bit of what Sata and Lungu got was thanks to Mwanawasa and the stability and economic management he left behind.
K.k,and LPM indeed was the best presido Zambia had..the only mistake was people he appointed as number two.Ba lupando,ba mumba naba R.b.These never shared his vision of ‘Zero’ tolerance to corruption let alone fighting it.Only his FM. magande stood by his principles.Cry for mother Zambia ask yr self, where are we coming from? is the present status quo best for us?where we heading to?the choice for the best is in our mindset.
At times I dont understand some people who comment on things they done know. I ve been in the zambian mining industry for 28 years now and for some to start blaming the current leadership qboutm the problems being faced by the mines today must be very idiotic. From 1885 to date mines have been facing the same problem. Foolshness will notmdevelop this country. No wonder, we the only in the region whi h has got 90% ngwngwzis.
KCM Plc is sinking.
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