Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Copperbelt Provincial Chairman and former Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda Bwalya has expressed worry that over 1000 miners are losing their jobs as Baluba Mine Shaft closes.

Chinese run CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines has announced plans to close its Baluba Mine Shaft in Luanshya.

The process to de-commission Baluba Mine Shaft in Luanshya has commenced with the mining firm notifying the Government through the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.

Experts from the Ministry of Mine have already visited Baluba Mine Shaft in Luanshya to assess whether or not it is no longer viable.

Commenting on the latest developments at Baluba Mine Shaft, Mr. Chanda said he sympathizes with the over 1000 miners who have lost Jobs at Baluba Mine.

He said when serving as Luanshya Mayor he did everything possible to see to it that miners did not lose jobs at China Luanshya Copper Mines.

Mr. Chanda has challenged current leaders to find solutions to the impact of job losses at Luanshya Copper Mines.

He observed that sending over 1000 miners on the streets will have negative effects on the economy of Luanshya District.

“I sympathize with over 1000 miners who have lost Jobs at Baluba Mine. When Baluba Mine was put on care and maintenance l did all I could and fought for power from CEC.When miners were on one year contracts l did everything possible to see to it that it came to end. Two to Three years contracts were offered on permanent jobs. Wherever negotiations started we worked very well with all parties involved to see to it that something was done not enough but something was done with my little influence in a win-win situation. When Baluba was opened my enemies told people lies that l brought people from Chambeshi, Mufulira, Chililabombwe and Kalulushi to come and get jobs here in Luanshya. The truth is the opposite like they say “lies have short legs.” After the closure of Baluba Mine it’s our own brothers in Luanshya who have lost jobs and l doesn’t support this move because it is not only painful but will adversely affect the economy of Luanshya and will bring poverty because of the multiplier effect,” Mr. Chanda said.

“I appeal to the leadership to sit down with the management to try and look at the plight of miners and plan on how they can be helped in the near future with Job and other empowerment opportunities. I know money will or has been paid but that’s not enough. JCHX has many contracts with other mines and can be told to relocate some miners elsewhere and others can be taken by the parent company in a phased approach whenever vacancies are available and rooming opening of 28 shafts and in other new sites including upgrading our brothers at 15 MCC. Leadership is about Influence and engagement,” he said.

Meanwhile, CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines says it is investing in mineral exploration in order to sustain the life of the mine.

Mine spokesperson Sydney Chileya said the Chinese run mine has allocated $3 million toward exploration.

Mr. Chileya said the mine in Luanshya has a bright future despite concerns from the public.

And Mr. Chileya has told Radio Icengelo News that the process to close Baluba Shaft is yet to be completed.

CNMC acquired an 85% stake in Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) in 2009 for US$ 50 million from Enya Holdings BV (Enya) following the suspension of operations at Baluba Centre Mine in the advent of the Global Financial Crisis.

Immediately post-acquisition, CNMC changed the name of the mine to CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines (CNMC-LCM), and it initially held an 85% shareholding stake in CNMC-LCM, and later transferred a 5% stake to ZCCM-IH to achieve a 80 %: 20% shareholding structure per the terms of the acquisition.

Therefore, ZCCM-IH currently holds a 20% stake whilst CNMC holds an 80% stake.

A group of cabinet ministers have condemned tribalism in its strongest terms saying it is against the spirit of unity in the country.

The Ministers are Minister of Information and Media Chushi Kasanda, Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati, Minister of Commerce Chipoka Mulenga and Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts Elvis Nkandu.

The Ministers says propagating tribalism has the potential to set the country on fire.

Others were Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Elias Mubanga, Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Paul Kabuswe and Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Chief Government Spokesperson Chushi Kasanda said the current administration is serious about uniting Zambia citing the fair distribution of constituency development fund to all constituencies in the country.

Ms Kasanda who is also Minister of Information and Media said Government is committed to enhancing unity in diversity.

She said President Hakainde Hichilema has put in place a cabinet representative of all the regions across the country which is testimony to the current administration being inclusive.

“Cabinet Ministers have been appointed even from provinces where they have no single Member of Parliament. The case in point is Luapula and Muchinga provinces, this is a clear demonstration that our President, your President, wants to unite the country,” Ms Kasanda said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce Chipoka Mulenga said development can never take place if there is tribalism in the country.

Mr Mulenga said tribalism needs to be addressed because it has the potential to cause unrest in the country.

“We need to work collectively, diversity in tribes doesn’t have to be a reason why we should be separated, it should bring us together,” he said.

Speaking at the same event Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts Elvis Nkandu says the gains Zambia has made since independence risk going to waste if tribalism is condoned.

Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati urged President Hichilema not to listen to detractors but focus on continuing to develop the country.

Mr Mutati also said UPND alliance partners have 25 percent of the eight nominated seats in Parliament.

PF presidential aspirant Chishimba Kambwili is quoted in some sections of the media accusing the Government of tribalism following the redeployment of presidential spokesperson Anthony Bwalya as Deputy High Commissioner to Tanzania.

Wynter Kabimba, leader of the Economic Front party, has accused Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema of putting business interests before the well-being of the citizens. In an interview, Kabimba accused Hichilema of having “a fetishism, religious belief” that money should be made at all costs, even if it means hurting the people. Kabimba pointed to Hichilema’s response to the Millers Association of Zambia’s complaints about the regulatory framework on the export of mealie meal, as evidence of his belief. Kabimba also criticized Hichilema for not understanding the importance of mealie meal and maize to the national security of the country.

Kabimba accused Hichilema of being “a danger as head of state” and criticized his administration’s attempts to resolve the high price of mealie meal, stating that they were telling the FRA to give cheaper maize to millers without considering the huge cost FRA had paid for it. He added that the UPND was not living up to their promises, as they had offered short term solutions to the people during their election campaign, but were now using the five-year mandate argument to justify their failure to resolve all the problems.

Kabimba also expressed concerns about the liberal economic explanations from economists and the recent increase in the cost of the monthly food basket, despite the drop in inflationary figures and the weakening of the Kwacha. He urged the President to consider the well-being of the citizens before making decisions that might hurt them.

Minister of Mines and Minerals, Paul Kabuswe, and former Cabinet Minister Chishimba Kambwili, have traded barbs against each other, with both calling the other a “fool.” The altercation began after Kambwili referred to Kabuswe as a “corrupt former pauper.” Kabuswe responded by stating that he does not respond to fools, to which Kambwili retorted that Kabuswe is the actual fool for having responded in the first place.

Kambwili went on to accuse Kabuswe of corruption, stating that he was “getting a lot of corruption from mining companies” and that he would eventually be locked up. Kabuswe, in turn, accused Kambwili of paying people to march to his house in protest against President Hakainde Hichilema’s demotion of Anthony Bwalya.

Kambwili denies the allegations of corruption and tribalism, stating that he does not practice tribal politics and that his record in politics speaks for itself. He also stated that if Kabuswe thinks he is a fool, “thank you very much.”

Kambwili, however, did not take any steps to report the alleged corruption, stating that many people have reported corruption against government officials but no action has been taken. He believes that only time will tell.

The exchange of accusations between the two politicians is a clear indication of the tension and division within the political landscape of Zambia. The public is left to wonder if these two leaders will ever be able to put their differences aside and work together for the good of the country.

Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba has issued a post on his Facebook page condemning the actions of President Hakainde Hichilema, pointing out various issues that have caused public concern in Zambia.

The first issue raised by Mwamba is the hiring of a private jet by the government to fly President Hichilema to a SADC meeting in Namibia. Despite promising to reduce the cost and frequency of travel, President Hichilema has taken over 30 international trips in 16 months. The use of a private jet has raised questions about the President’s commitment to his promises.

“The plane, registration ZS-SGC is a 1990 Bombardier Challenger was hired from ExecJet Lanseria, a private jet charter operating from South Africa. Zambia owns two presidential planes, A Challenger and a Gulfstream G650. President Hichilema has repeatedly claimed that he would reduce the cost and frequent of travel to the extent that he will use commercial flights. But he has since taken over 30 unrelenting international trips in 16 months, ” his post read

The second issue is the recent increase in the pump prices of petroleum products by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), which has caused a record hike in the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene and jet A-1 fuel. This is likely to impact the economy, as Zambia is an import-oriented country.

The third issue is the termination of the concession contract for the management of the Dry Port Facility at Walvis Bay by the government due to alleged poor performance and underutilization of the facility. This decision has raised questions about the government’s involvement in business interests, especially in light of their past actions and compensation payouts for canceled concession contracts.

Despite sinking $5 million into the development of the port facilities, office buildings, warehousing facilities, and harbor equipment, the government alleges poor performance and underutilization of the facility as the reason for termination.

It should be noted that the termination of the concession contract raises questions about the government’s ability to cancel agreements they are not a party to. The facility had been considered a key route for exporting from Zambia by organizations such as First Quantum Minerals, as alternative routes through Dar-es-Salaam, Durban, Lobito Bay, or Beira were more costly and complicated.

The cancelation of the concession contract appears to be politically motivated, with a perceived fall-out between Ndambo and President Hakainde Hichilema. The Brenthurst Foundation, a charity organization owned by the Oppenheimer family, known supporters and funders of Hichilema, had expressed interest in the Walvis Bay Port and the Zambian facilities. This cancelation is reminiscent of the cancelation of the Mpulungu Harbour Concession in 2008, which resulted in the government paying millions of dollars in compensation and damages.

The fourth issue is the announcement of record profits by ABSA Zambia, which has contributed to the treasury, but the Auditor General’s report has revealed irregularities and poor performance among parastatal bodies and statutory institutions. The report showed a total of K3.4 billion in irregularities, including failure to remit statutory obligations and failure to collect revenue.

The fifth issue is the continuous depreciation of the Kwacha against major currencies, which has lost value from K16 to K19.2 per U$1 in just three months and has become one of the worst-performing currencies in the world. This will further impact the economy negatively.

Finally, the rising mealie prices and the anticipation of a poor harvest and crop failure due to the late distribution of farming inputs and the outbreak of army worms, has led to concerns about food security and increased cases of hunger among vulnerable and rural communities. Vice President W.K. Mutale Nalumango’s advice to resort to roller meal, a cheaper but more nutritious option, has been criticized as reminding Zambians of remarks made by former Patriotic Front Chairperson, Ng’onga Mukupa, during a similar crisis.

The Facebook post by Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba has brought to light several pressing issues in Zambia, and it remains to be seen how the government will address these concerns.