The Copperbelt Environment Project (CEP) is to spend over $1.3 million to dispose 40,000 metric tonnes of uranium tailings dumped at TD 11 and TD 13 in Kitwe’s Mindolo Mine Township.

CEP Communications Speciality Mumbuna Kufekisa told ZANIS in an Interview in Kitwe today that CEP, in conjuction with ZCCM- Investment Holdings, has decided to dispose of the uranium tailings dumped at TD 11 and TD 13 from mining activities in the 1960s as they were a health and environmental hazard.

Mr Kufekisa said the uranium would be taken for storage where they would be buried in a disposal cell and covered with laterite and vegetation at a Mopani Copper Mines dump site.

He disclosed that the exercise, which was being undertaken by Copperfield Mining, would be done over a period of four months and at a cost of $1.3 million.

He further dislcosed that a new road had also been constructed by the project in the mine area which would be used by the local residents even after the exercise.

A public disclosure meeting with Armco residents has since been held on the movement of the uranium tailings dump in Kitwe to a deposal site at Mopani Copper Mines dump.

He added that the community in Mindolo’s Armco compound had been sensitised about the programme and what to expect and avoid increase of spillage.

ZANIS

THE opposition United Liberal Party (ULP) has advised government to handle the 75 per cent sale of Zamtel shares with cautious.

Party President, Sakwiba Sikota, says there is need for government to ensure that the matter is handled in a transparent and accountable way, adding that it attracts the interest of many people.

Mr Sikota, who was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, said before a strategic partner is found government needs to clearly explain to the pubic the benefits that the nation will have from the sale.

He said people in the country must understand the valuation process being carried and what kind of liabilities the company has.

He noted that government has also to be responsible enough to ensure that the welfare and interests of workers are well looked after.

Mr Sikota explained that government should put in place stringent measures aimed at making sure that there will be no unnecessary job cuts by the investor who will take over the operations of the company.

He stated that with the current global economic meltdown affecting many countries, people’s only sources of income, such as jobs, should be properly secured by he government.

He also challenged government to timely provide adequate information on the offer to both the public and trade unions for their evaluation and interventions.

Mr Sikota further charged that the prospects should also be made public, saying it is the only way Zambians will be given an opportunity to take part in such huge investment by bidding.

And in a separate interview the Committee of Citizens said it supports the decision by government to sale 75 percent of Zamtel shares, saying anything less will be unattractive to investors.

Committee Executive Director, Gregory Chifire, noted that the decision should be supported by all peace-loving Zambians as it aimed at bringing more investment in the country.

Mr Chifire disclosed that Zamtel has for a long time lagged behind, especially in infrastructural development, hence making it difficult for the company to compete favourably with other companies locally and internationally.

He advised government not to be arrogant but rather accommodate different views from various stakeholders on the matter before making a final decision.

Mr Chifire has also called on opposition political parties not to politicise the issue, adding that it is a national subject aimed at benefiting all Zambians.

President Rupiah Banda last week announced that government has resolved to sell 75 per cent shares of the Zambia Telecommunications Corporation (Zamtel) to a private equity partner and retain 25 per cent shares to enable the company operate profitably.

Speaking in Ndola when he addressed Zamtel management and employees, President Banda said the partial privatization of the company was the only way to resolve the financial problems the company was facing and enhance the viability of the company.

ZANIS

The Zambia Consolidate Copper Mine Investment Holding (ZCCM-IH) has suspended paying salaries for Maamba Collieries (MCL) employees.

According to the memo from the MCL Human Resource Department addressed to all employees, workers have been told to be patient as management source for money to pay their June and July salaries which they have not been paid so far.

The memo states that ZCCM-IH will no longer be in the position to pay the salaries to MCL employees and has told management to find money to pay them.

When contacted for a comment, ZCCM-IH Acting Chief Executive Officer, William Musama, said Maamba Collieries should explain the reasons why thousands tonnes of coal that has been mined was not being sold.

Mr Musama said he would only issue a comprehensive statement after the board meeting in Lusaka on Wednesday.

A check by ZANIS at the Maamba Collieries plant found heaps of coal that has not been sold.

Workers from the coal mine, who did not want to named, blamed management for their failure to find market for coal that was just heaped at the mine premises.

The workers said management was employing outdated methods of marketing and they needed to find a market immediately production of coal resumed.

The coal miners alleged that management has failed to pay Oriental, the contractor who is mining coal on their behalf, because there was no market for the coal that has been produced.

The workers said the contractor has threatened to pull out if management fails to pay them their money.

They said their families were suffering as a result of management’s failure to pay them their salaries.

“I tell you there is hunger in Maamba Township and there was no money in circulation,” the source said.

The source said the suspension of salaries by ZCCM-IH to MCL workers follows an article in the Post Newspaper that management had awarded themselves hefty salaries even when they were not selling the coal they had produced.

Efforts to get a comment from the Maamba Coallieries Limited Mine Manager, Alex Mutale, failed as there was no response from both his land phone and cell phone, while MCL Managing Director, Stephen Mutambo,was reported to be unwell.

ZANIS

The President has defended government decision to privatize ZAMTEL saying the move will help improve the status of technology in the Parastatal.President Banda said the institution was important to the country, hence the need to find investors with financial capacity to improve its operations.

President Banda told Zambians living in Uganda that government took a bold decision to private ZAMTEL while retaining 25 percent control of the institution.

He said government would in the process limit issuance of licenses to those wishing to set up mobile phone companies to enable ZAMTEL recover and operate competitively with other privately owned cellular companies.

“Government took bold steps to privatize ZAMTEL because of its strategic importance to the country,” he said.

He said ZAMTEL needs to play a crucial role in enhancing the access and utilization of Information communication and technology (ICT) by Zambians.

“We don’t have money as a government to pump into ZAMTEL but if there are others with the money to do so why not allow them?” he said.

President Banda is in the Ugandan capital, Kampala attending the 19th
Smart Partnership Dialogue which closes this evening.

ZANIS