Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) has announced that the mining firm would continue with its mining operations in the country.

Company Secretary, Kyansenga Chitoshi, said that MCM and its Board of Directors had reached an agreement with its shareholders to continue mining operations at both mining assets at Nkana Under Ground and Open Pit Mine as well as Mufulira Mine whose shafts would not be placed on care and maintenance as earlier suggested.

Mr Chitoshi said the mining company had carried out a detailed review of its mining processing and administrative operations and was expected to achieve a significant cost reduction through the implementation of a range of cost containment programmes.

He added that a slight increase in copper prices has also enabled the company to make decisions to continue with its mining operations at both Nkana and Mufulira rather than place the shafts on care and maintenance.

Mr Chitoshi further said the aging ore bodies currently being mined were now nearing the end of their productive lives, hence the decision by the Board of Directors to re-evaluate the potential of the synclinorium ore body, an as yet untapped resource of 100 million tonnes of copper bearing ore,located below the existing Nkana South Ore Body and Central Shaft Ore Body.

He observed that the Board of Directors was hopeful that the measures which have been put in place would significantly contribute to the profitability and sustainability of the operations, prolong the life span of the mines and secure a brighter future for the work force.

MCM has in the recent past retrenched more than 1000 employees in their quest to remain afloat following the fall in copper prices as the effects of the global economic crisis continue biting.

And government has commended Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) over its decision to continue with mining operations in the country at a time when copper prices were low and the global economic crisis biting.

Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister, Simon Kachimba, said MCM must be commended for deciding to continue with operations at Nkana and Mufulira Under ground and open pit mines when most of the investors in the sector were closing down.

Mr Kachimba, who was speaking when he met Mopani management at the MCM Nkana board room today, said the mining company will not place its facilities on care and maintenance as earlier suggested but would continue to downsize on labour and devise new production mechanisms to ensure that the mining company remained afloat and continued operating on profitable levels.

He said the company has also reduced its expatriate labour force from 125 to 50 by the end of this month to ensure that the company continued to operate on profitable levels.

He disclosed that the company has also decided to implement all developmental programmes that were shelved following a reduction on copper prices to ensure that the company became economically viable again.

Mr Kachimba, who was on a three day tour of mining companies on the Copperbelt, further disclosed that MCM which had a workforce of about 20,000 people has reduced to 7,264 Zambians while 50 were expatriates.

He said Government was interested and ready to partner with investors that were willing to create and save jobs for the Zambian people.

He added that Mopani’s decision to continue with operations was a clear indication of the company’s appreciating of Government’s policies which had seen a reduction in taxes to enable the mining companies revise their production costs and, in turn, remain afloat

Mr Kachimba observed that MCM was the largest employer of miners on the Copperbelt, hence they must be commended for taking such a bold decision.

ZANIS/ENDS/LK/EB

Government has disclosed that technical experts are scrutinizing the feasibility of establishing mobile hospitals in all the nine provinces of the country.

Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha explained that the idea of establishing mobile hospitals in the country is a suggestion that is still being processed by the relevant authorities.

Lt. Gen Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said in Lusaka today that government will only decide on the matter once the technocrats determine the feasibility of the initiative.

He also said that government will decide whether mobile hospitals are feasible or not based on the findings of the technical team that is looking into the issue.

Lt. Gen Shikapwasha said the nation will be informed in due course as soon as the evaluation is successfully completed.

He said government will also endeavor revamping rural roads around the country if the initiative is approved.

Lt. Gen Shikapwasha’s was responding to some media reports that government is in the process of acquiring a US $53 million loan for EX-IM Bank of China to facilitate the acquisition of the mobile hospitals from a Chinese firm called China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC).

ZANIS/CM/AM/ENDS

CHIEF Justice Ernest Sakala is awaiting a report from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding its investigations against former Finance and National Planning minister, Ng’andu Magande before he can consider constituting a tribunal to probe him.

Chongwe resident, Waziona Nkhwekwe, on March 23, 2009 petitioned Mr Justice Sakala to set up a tribunal to probe Mr Magande for allegedly abusing his authority in handling the Zambian Airways debt issue.

Justice Sakala said in response to Mr Nkhwekwe that he had been informed by the ACC that it was investigating Mr Magande in connection with his role in the defunct Zambian Airways and could, therefore, not appoint a tribunal.

Mr Nkhwekwe had in his letter to the chief justice said Mr Magande allegedly breached part two of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act, Cap 16 of the laws of Zambia.

In his response, through letters dated March 24 and 30, 2009, Justice Sakala said he was awaiting a report from the ACC who had informed him that they were investigating the former minister in connection with the Zambian Airways issue.

He said it had always been a practice that the matter brought up for a tribunal was supposed to be referred to the relevant law-enforcement agencies before the decision to either constitute the tribunal or not could be made.

Mr Justice Sakala said it was for that reason that he decided to refer the matter to the ACC and could only make a decision on whether to constitute the tribunal or not once the commission furnished him with the report.

A team of officers from the ACC, the Drug-Enforcement Commission and the police which was constituted to probe the Zambian Airways issue had concluded preliminary investigations and has since handed a docket to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

Warn and caution statements have been recorded from four Zambian Airways directors.

Justice Sakala said in response to the petitioner that Mr Nkhwekwe had correctly alluded to the fact that the law-enforcement agencies were investigating the Zambian Airways issue.

In his letter, Mr Nkhwekwe said he was aware that the investigative wings were investigating the affairs of Zambian Airways but the allegations against Mr Magande touched on his function as a former minister and member of Parliament now.

“My Lord will recall that in 2001, a tribunal was constituted to investigate honourable Messrs Katele Kalumba, Peter Machungwa and the late Godden Mandandi notwithstanding the fact that the Anti-Corruption Commission was investigating the matter,” he said.

But Mr Justice Sakala said that was not correct because in that instance, the tribunal was only constituted after the ACC had completed investigations and handed over a report to then chief justice.

“In your case, therefore, I will await a report on the matter by the ACC. It is only after that that I will consider setting up a tribunal,” he said in the letter dated March 24.

[Times of Zambia]

Government says Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) which has replaced the Zambia National Tender Board will be transformed into a fully fledged regulatory body in two years.

Financial Management and Administration Acting Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Finance, Daniel Bowasi said currently the Ministry of Justice was drafting the procurement regulations to be followed by the Authority.

Mr. Bowasi pointed out a framework to guide the procurement processes was receiving appropriate attention following wide consultation with other partners.

He was speaking in Lusaka today at the public procurement meeting held under the Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability (PEMFA) programme.

Mr. Bowasi further said that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PEMFA to commence the implementation of comprehensive public financial management reforms.

He said the transformation of the public procurement guidelines and procedures would promote transparency, accountability and efficiency in the public procurement system which would improve financial expenditure management.

Mr. Bowasi said the procurement reforms would also ensure prudent use of national resources thereby supporting poverty reduction and economic growth among other things.

He added that progress in the reform process had been recorded through the implementation of expenditure and budgeting policy based on the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP).

Mr. Bowasi said a computerized control system has also been implemented resulting in reduced expenditure arrears.

Mr. Bowasi also disclosed that government has instituted legal reforms to support on-going public financial management reforms.

ZANIS/MP/AM/ENDS