Government says it will not be pressurized to hastily announce the new investor for Luanshya mine.

Labour Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba says this is because government wants to secure a credible investor.

Mr. Kachimba was speaking in Luanshya today after touring Mpelembe Drilling Company (MDC) and Metal Fabricators of Zambia (ZAMEFA).

He said government would proceed cautiously in finding an investor for the mine in a bid to ensure job security at the mining firm.

Mr. Kachimba, who is also Luanshya Member of Parliament, said government was concerned about the job losses in the mining sector.

He said that government was doing everything possible to attract new investment to counter job losses in the mining sector adding that the wavering of the windfall taxes was one such initiative.

And Mpelembe Drilling Company Managing Director Ian Milward said the global economic turn down had adversely affected his company.

He said the economic crisis led the company to lay off 900 workers and put the remaining 300 idle workers on half salary.

He said the company was also grappling with the challenge of finding K4billion to pay the retrenches.

And ZAMEFA human resources manager Albert Chilufya said his firm had maintained its 350 workforce adding that the company had no intention of retrenching any employee.

President Rupiah Banda has appointed Samuel Chibuye as director-general for the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA).

Mr Chibuye has taken over from David Kapitolo, who served in the same capacity under the abolished Zambia National Tender Board.

This follows the recent enactment of the Public Procurement Act Number 12 of 2008, which repealed the Zambia National Tender Board Act.

In a statement released to media in Lusaka today, President Banda has also appointed new board members for ZPPA.

The appointed board members include Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, who would serve as the board chairperson, Works and Supply Minister, Mike Mulongoti, Energy and Water Development Minister, Kenneth Konga, and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Dr Brian Chituwo.

Others include Local Government and Housing Minister, Benny Tetamashimba, Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganja, Bank of Zambia Governor, Caleb Fundanga, and Works and Supply Ministry Permanent Secretary, Lt Col Bizwayo Nkunika.

The President has also included on the board Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Dr. James Mulungushi, including Lusaka based businessman and woman Edward Sefuke and Martha Akapelwa.

The President has also thanked all the board members and the Director General, who served under the Zambia National Tender Board, for their contribution to the nation.

ZANIS/ENDS/MP/EB

Zambians in the Diaspora have overwhelmingly responded towards the on-going constitution making process by submitting their input through the recently launched National Constitution Conference (NCC) website.

NCC spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis says the website has helped Zambians living abroad to participate in the constitution making process.

Mrs. Zaloumis said  in an interview that Zambians in Diaspora have since contributed meaningfully towards the making of a people driven constitution.

She noted that from the eagerness shown by Zambians living abroad, Zambians in the Diaspora are determined to see to it that Zambia has a constitution that will stand the test of time.

Mrs. Zaloumis further said the website will help to enhance the interaction between the public and the NCC secretariat.

She said the general public has responded well to the website and have been making positive contributions towards the constitution making process.

The NCC spokesperson said the website has come at a right time when there is rejuvenated interest in the constitution making process.

Mrs. Zaloumis has since encouraged the general public to access the website and enter into interaction with delegates in order to have a better understanding of the NCC proceedings.

The website which was launched on February 23 this year was meant to create a platform where members of the public could engage NCC delegates in the process of coming up with a people driven constitution.

About 12 000 job losses in the mining sector have been recorded following the closure of Luanshya Copper Mines and operation adjustments at Mopani Copper Mines.

Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane however says government is determined to save as many jobs as possible in the sector.

Dr. Musokotwane said government has in the 2009 national budget taken fiscal measures aimed at saving job losses.

He said government had this year lowered some taxes in some aspects of the mining sector so as to curb job losses.

The minister was speaking yesterday in Washington DC at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) media conference for African Finance Ministers.

He observed that the current economic crisis that had not only affected Africa but the entire world economy would not last forever.

Dr. Musokotwane said the global economic crunch presented an opportunity for African countries to diversify their economies and create conducive conditions for the private sector investment to thrive.

He however noted that the current global economic crunch was almost reversing the recorded economic gains attained as the crisis came at a time when some countries in Africa had taken broad measures to transform their economies.

At the same occasion, Tanzania’s Finance Minister Mustafa Mkulo said efforts being implemented by African countries aimed at curbing effects of the crisis needed assistance of the international community.

He said the crisis was serious and that it needed global solutions to cushion the negative impact.

ZANIS/MP/AM/ENDS