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.

Mrs Mwanakatwe was speaking in an interview with ZNBC Sylvia Kabala, ahead of the UK-Zambia Investment Forum which opens in London.

Mrs Mwanakatwe said that the Forum was targeting investors from the United Kingdom and beyond, to invest in sectors such as Agriculture, Energy, Tourism, Mining and the extractive industries.

She said that half of the investors expected to attend the forum are interested in exploring the potential for investment in Zambia’s Energy and extractives sectors.

The Vice President who is already in London, will give a keynote address to the Forum, at which about 500 businesses have now confirmed participation.

Several other stakeholders from the private and public, in Zambia, are also expected at the forum, called to market Zambia’s investment potential.

The forum has been organized by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, in collaboration with the Developing Markets Association of London.

Speaking when she held bilateral talks with UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, the Vice President called on British investors to consider investing in Zambia’s energy sector.

UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, urged UK businesses to take advantage of abundant natural resources and peace in Zambia to invest in the country. Mr Duddridge said the energy deficit that Zambia is facing is of concern to government but should be treated as an opportunity for foreign investors to grow their businesses.

Mrs Wina said that British businesses should take advantage of the current energy deficit in Zambia, to identify opportunities to grow their businesses and contribute to Zambia’s development, adding that, like other southern African countries, Zambia is facing an energy deficit which requires the active involvement of both the private and public sectors to address.

Mr Duddridge says the UK government will work to ensure that the strong bilateral relations between the two countries extend to improving economic ties.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Dora Siliya has said that government is working towards removing stumbling blocks hampering private sector investments in renewable energy.

Ms Siliya said that the PF administration is ready to support private sector led investments in renewable energy sources in a quest to address the power deficit. The Minister has since challenged the private sector to closely work with technocrats in identifying bottlenecks.

Ms Siliya was speaking in Lusaka, at a Stakeholders Consultative meeting on promotion of renewable energy jointly hosted by her Ministry and a local contracting firm, Tomorrow Investments.

The consultative forum attracted scores of investors and energy experts drawn from various parts of the country.

Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has reaffirmed its commitment towards Zambia’s development agenda despite the current challenges it is facing that have affected its operations.

KCM Chief Executive Officer Steven Din says the company’s investment in the mines amounting to $3 billion dollars over the last eleven (11 years) is a clear demonstration of its commitment to this development agenda.

Mr. Din has said this in a statement in commemoration of the company’s 11th anniversary which falls today.

Mr. Din notes that despite the current challenges KCM is facing such as low copper prices and power deficits, the company’s 50 year vision will ensure that KCM still remains in operation for a long time to come through enhanced sustainable operations of its mines.

He adds that to achieve this agenda KCM is examining local economic development opportunities aimed building up the economic capacity of the communities around KCM’s operations to improve their economic futures and the quality of life for all.

He also highlighted the company’s commitment to its CSR programmes in the areas of rural livelihoods, education, health and sports. KCM has spent more than $160million on its CSR projects since Vedanta acquired its interests in the company.

He says the company aspires to use the KCM assets as a catalyst to secure economic activity in the Copperbelt and surrounding areas for the next fifty years and beyond, long after KCM has ceased mining.

“KCM is working a 50 year vision but this vision depends on the Copperbelt realizing its potential as an economic hub. Mining alone will not achieve this. Agriculture, tourism, logistics, services and trade will all need to make a contribution,” Mr. Din said.

The CEO is confident that with the right strategy, carefully executed in partnership with government, donors and civil society groups, KCM can add substantially to additional economic activity per year in non-mining sectors and create many jobs.

He further notes that generating employment beyond the life of the mines will be the single greatest economic legacy of KCM in the Copperbelt.