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Zambia try to break Cameroon jinx

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The Zambia Under 23 national team’s character comes under test on Thursday when they face defending All Africa Games champions Cameroon tomorrow afternoon in a semifinal clash at Boumerdes.

Tomorrows meeting will be the two team’s third successive face-off at an All Africa Games football tournament and will be second successive time they will clash at the penultimate stage of the same event.

Zambia has lost both their last two times they have faced Cameroon.

At the 1999 finals in South Africa, Zambia lost 4-3 on post-match penalties after their match ended scoreless to win silver under Ben Bamfuchile.

And at the 2003 games in Nigeria, Cameroon won 2-1 in the semifinals with Zambia this time under the helm of Peter Kaumba whose team finished 4th after losing 4-1 post-match penalties to Ghana in the 3rd and 4th place playoff at the end of a 2-2 draw.

Kaumba has a big task ahead to win hearts with a team not many observers thought would not go far.

His team has been labeled as a squad without the pedigree of the class of 2003 that had the likes of Christopher Katongo and Collins Mbesuma in Nigeria and was later joined by Jacob Mulenga during the 2004 Olympic qualifiers.

Despite the skeptics, this Under 23 team is unbeaten in all their nine competitive games played to date since the squad was constituted in October last year with three draws and six victories.

The major highlights of the six wins include a 2-0 victory over much fancied Cote d’Ivoire in their opening Olympic Games Group B qualifier on June 3 including crushing Egypt 3-1 last Friday on July 13 in Group B tie at the tournament.

Kaumba’s team faces Cameroon tomorrow without first-choice goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje.

Kakonje is suspended following a red card sustained in their dramatic come-from-behind 1-1 draw against Algeria in the final Group B game on July 16 when Zambia rallied thanks to a stoppage time equalizer from striker Christopher Musonda to see the 10-man team book its semifinal berth.

And so Power Dynamos goalkeeper Rabson Muchelen’ nganga will take Kakonje’s place in-between the posts, who incidentally was the latter’s understudy at the club two seasons ago.

Kaumba will however be relieved to have key striker Given Singuluma back to the fold who returns after the missing the Algeria game due to suspension.

Furthermore, Kaumba will be hoping the same spirit from their come from behind draw against Algeria will return against Cameroon to end their jinx against the defending champions ton help carry Zambia to the finals.

Meanwhile, the winner will face victor of the other semifinal match between Guinea and Tunisa on July 23 while the battle for Bronze will take place 24 hours earlier.

Plane carrying Djibouti leader fails to take off

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THE plane carrying visiting Djibouti President, Ismail Guelleh, yesterday failed to take off at the Livingstone International Airport, causing panic among security staff.

The Zambia Air force (ZAF) aircraft, which had carried the visiting leader from Lusaka, could not start as panic gripped senior military, security and Government officials who were all over the airport apron.

Following the failure, senior officials instructed protocol staff to lay the red carpet, which had been removed after the President had boarded, for him to use as he was about to be evacuated from the aircraft.

The panic became more apparent among the security personnel, while airport staff also waited for a solution from the ZAF crew.

The motorcade that had been parked a short distance away was driven closer to the plane to carry the President who was about to be evacuated from the plane.


The aircraft which was scheduled to leave at 14:25 hours for Lusaka, only took off after 20 minutes.This was after it was attended to. It was not clear what caused the failure.

Security personnel stopped journalists from taking pictures and threatened to grab the camera from Times bureau chief, Edward Mulenga, after noticing he was taking shots of the plane.

Speaking earlier in an interview, Mr Guelleh said Zambia was blessed to have the Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world.

Mr Guelleh said Djibouti would work closely with Zambia to prop up tourism.

The President who was impressed by the falls assured that apart from tourism, his government would work with Zambia in telecommunications and advance the two nations’ technology.

He praised the people of Zambia for the warm welcome and urged them to continue with their warm spirit.

Mr Guelleh said Livingstone was a well known city in his country and felt he should visit it.

He was accompanied by Health Minister, Brian Chituwo. The visiting President is expected to leave for his country today. President Mwanawasa last night hosted a State dinner for Mr Guelleh in Lusaka.

Levy projects Zambia’s agro revolution

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PRESIDENT Mwanawasa says Zambia will be turned into a major exporter of agricultural and food products by the year 2015.

The President said to this effect, Government had embarked on the promotion of the production of a wide variety of crops so that agriculture could become the mainstay of the country’s economy in the near future.

Mr Mwanawasa said this in Lusaka last night at State banquet hosted for visiting Djibouti President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, at Hotel Intercontinental.

“In the agricultural sector, my Government wishes to turn the country into a major exporter of agricultural and food products by the year 2015.

Already, the country has achieved self-sufficiency in the production of maize, the staple food of the Zambian people,” Mr Mwanawasa said.

He said in its endeavour to achieve economic development, Government had elected to prioritise agriculture, mining and tourism.

He said Zambia was offering incentives to local and foreign investors with a view to increasing the production of wealth that would help raise the living standards of the people.

In the mining sector, the President said the attractive incentives Government had offered had triggered tremendous expansion of the industry across the nation.

“The investment incentives have also contributed to a remarkable expansion in the tourism sector.

Your Excellency has been afforded a chance to sample one of our most spectacular tourist attractions just outside the city of Livingstone: the Mosi-O-Tunya – the smoke that thunders.”

He also said Government strongly believed that the interaction between Zambia and Djibouti should transcend the political sphere and trickle down into trade and culture.

The President said such interactions would enable the two countries strengthen longstanding political relations and bonds of friendship at all levels.

“My Government strongly believes that your visit to Zambia will constitute a turning point in the political relations of our two countries,” President Mwanawasa said.

He said Mr Guelleh’s visit to Zambia went beyond fostering a better understanding between the two Governments and providing an insight into the developments to closer cooperation in the cultural and economic fields.

President Mwanawasa also appreciated the Djibouti Government’s great interest in the establishment of an African Union Government at the Accra, Ghana, African Union summit held about two weeks ago.

Mr Mwanawasa said his Government fully understood Djibouti’s advocacy for the consolidation of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law as prerequisites to the formation of a continental government.

And Mr Guelleh said President Mwanawasa’s good leadership since he headed Government in 2002, deserved international support and emulation because Zambia had made many economic strides which the local people should be proud of.

He said his visit to Zambia was mainly dedicated to sharing Djibouti’s experiences on how it had struggled in fighting poverty and the way it had contributed to the restoration of peace and security in the Common Market for East and Southern Africa and other regions.

Mr Guelleh urged Africans to ensure that the continent no longer depended on other developed nations’ support.

Kalusha to feature in a special FIFA football match in honour of Mandela

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A FIFA delegation is expected to arrive in Cape Town this afternoon, ahead of the soccer spectacle to be held in celebration of former President Nelson Mandela’s 89th birthday on Wednesday.

The delegation, led by Acting President Jack Warner, will grace the Newlands
stadium on Wednesday to witness a soccer match featuring some of the finest former
football legends from both the African continent and the rest of the world.

The players include multi-African footballer of the year winner, Samuel Etoo,
retired Bafana Bafana Captain, Lucas Radebe, former Zambian International Kalusha
Bwalya, Doctor Khumalo and Philemon Masinga, whose only goal gave Bafana a ticket
to participate in the 1998 World Cup for the first time.

As part of the festivities to mark the 89th birthday of Mr Mandela, FIFA President
Sepp Blatter will confer honorary membership status on the Makana Football
Association (FA).

The association was formed by a group of political prisoners held on Robben Island
during the apartheid era.

While in confinement on the island, political prisoners played organised football
matches as members of the Makana FA, adhering strictly to the FIFA statutes.

“They are a strong symbol of FIFA’s fight to eradicate racism and all forms of
discrimination from football and sport, and it is only fitting that their efforts
be recognised with this honorary membership,” said Mr Blatter in a statement.

The event will also underline the commitment of the former inmates of Robben
Island, who used the power of football as an instrument of resistance against the
apartheid regime.

“We are happy that the game and FIFA’s conferring of honorary membership status on
the Makana FA will be recognition of the contribution of the freedom fighters led
by Nelson Mandela on Robben Island.

“Those political prisoners defied the apartheid rules, but adhered strictly to
FIFA’s rules on the island,” said Tokyo Sexwale, a high commissioner of FIFA’s “Say
No to Racism” campaign.

Mr Sexwale is also a former Robben Island political prisoner himself. 

The event on Robben Island precedes the star-studded “90 Minutes for Mandela” game
between the Africa XI and the Rest of the World XI at the Newlands Stadium with
kick-off time set at 8pm.

Tickets for the game are available at Computicket and are priced at R30 for general
admission, R50 for grandstand seats and R120 for suite tickets.

The proceeds of the match are earmarked for social programmes including Mr
Mandela’s “46664” global HIV and AIDS campaign.

During the game, players will feature Mr Mandela’s “46664” prison number on their
football jerseys to indicate their support for the awareness campaign to stop the
spread of HIV and AIDS.

“FIFA’s tribute to a great leader who symbolises humanity’s ability to triumph over
adversity, injustice and discrimination is very timely. In a divided world, sport
can play a critical role in overcoming divisions between people.

“During their incarceration on Robben Island, sport, and the beautiful game of
football in particular, kept the prisoners physically, mentally and spiritually fit
and able to continue their heroic struggle for equality and freedom,” said Achmat
Dangor, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

The delegation arriving this afternoon also includes South Africa’s 2010 Local
Organising Committee’s Chief Executive Officer, Danny Jordaan who is on a chartered
flight.

Mr Jordaan said the all-star game at Newlands was “a celebration of the life of one
of the great African icons”.

“As we move towards preparing for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we celebrate Nelson
Mandela’s birthday in recognition of his personal contribution and sacrifices to
help South Africa and Africa host its first World Cup, and this event demonstrates
the values and importance of the game of football as a vehicle of hope.” –

BuaNews/ZANIS

Slow pace on Santa Maria project irks Irish Aid

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Irish Aid Northern Province Development Programme has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace at which Santa Maria Health project in Chilubi District was moving.

Development Programme Advisor Fackson Nyanga said although a lot has been done, the organisation was not impressed with the pace at which the project which started in
2004 was progressing.

Mr. Nyanga said delays to complete the project in Chilubi which involved among
others construction of a theater and rehabilitation of a maternity block was
delaying the start of a similar project in Kaputa district.

He disclosed that the Irish Aid had so far committed over K2 billion towards the two
projects and was anxious to see them completed so that they could contribute to the
improvement of reproductive health in the province.

Mr. Nyanga observed that Chilubi and Kaputa districts were identified to have the
worst reproductive health statistics in the province due to lack of adequate health
facilities.

So far, one of the components in the project, the theater block has been completed
and fitted with modern equipment sourced under the Oret programme, a joint programme
between the Zambian and Netherlands Governments.

Construction of two staff houses and the rehabilitation of the maternity block was
almost completed.

Mr. Nyanga who attributed the delay to complete the Santa Maria project partly to
tendering procedures also disclosed that they were currently holding talks with the
office of the Provincial Health Director on possibilities of constructing another
staff house suitable for the doctor.

He said the organisation’s initial plan was that one of the two houses which has
been built would accommodate a medical doctor but it was small.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nyanga has said there was need for Government experts in construction to look into possibilities of using local materials to put up structures in a bid to reduce on the high cost of construction on the Island.

Mr. Nyanga observed that it was more expensive to put up buildings on the Island
because building materials such as sand were not available and required to be
transported by water.

Most political leaders are not conversant with the decentralisation policy

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Director of Decentralization Alfred sakwiya says most political leaders ushered into office after last year’s tripartite and general elections are not conversant with Government’s decentralization policy.

Mr. Sakwiya said this when he presented a paper at the ongoing Local Government
Association of Zambia 51st Annual Conference at New Fairmount hotel in Livingstone
today.

And Mr. Sakwiya said most chiefs in the country were apprehensive about the
2006-2010 decentralization policy as  they doubted the local authorities capacity
ability to handle additional responsibilities considering their generally poor
financial status.

Mr. Sakwiya said once the general public understood the whole concept of
decentralization they would support it wholeheartedly because of its numerous
benefits.

Settle chieftaincy matters amicably

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Chairman of the House of  Chiefs, Chief Mumena has called on the Shibuchinga Royal Establishment in Lufwanyama on the Copperbelt to learn to sit down and reconcile on matters of chieftainship.

Chief Mumena also advised the Shibuchinga Royal Establishment to desist from
dragging each other to the courts of law as it painted a bad picture to the
subjects.

Commenting on the election of Peter Chisanka as new Chief  Shibuchinga, Chief Mumena
said he was delighted that the succession wrangles that had long characterized the
Shibuchinga royal establishment was now over.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Ndola that it has been a burden for the House of
Chiefs to find someone to represent the people in the area in the House because the
matter had been taken to court.

Chief mumena called for peace among the community and avoid finger-pointing, and
gossip over the succession matters.

On Sunday, Peter Chisanka was elected as new Chief Shibuchinga after beating his
only rival James Mutembo.

Government devises measures to eradicate cattle diseases

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Government says it is devising a long term  programme to eradicate cattle diseases in some parts of the country.

Agriculture and Co-operatives Minister Ben Kapita told Parliament that Cabinet is
considering the plan which he presented for consideration.

He said   government would target the most affected areas that include Southern,
Northern, North-Western and Western Provinces.

Mr Kapita said government will not lift the ban on cattle movement until the
diseases are eradicated.

He stated money was available for the  cattle restocking  but that government would
only embark on the exercise after it has lifted the on cattle movement.

The agriculture minister was responding to Choma Central Mp George Chazangwe who
wanted to know what measures the ministry has  taken to  eradicate and contain
cattle diseases in Southern Province .

Senenga Mp Clement Sinyinda asked government to declare the cattle disease a
national  disaster saying the diseases were spreading at an alarming rate .

Monze Mp Jack Mwiimbu asked government to explain why it was restocking cattle in
places where farmers have not lost animals.

Meanwhile,  Energy deputy Minister Gaston Sichilima says government will not connect
rural areas to the  national hydro-lectricity grid  because the of doing so is
prohibitive.

Mr Sichilima said  government will instead encourage the electricification of rural
areas using solar energy.

UPND disassociates itself from the ZCID constitution roadmap

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Opposition United Party for National Development, UPND, has disassociated itself from the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue ZCID’s roadmap as published in the post newspaper of July 16, 2007.

UPND chairperson for information and publicity Charles Kakoma said the Zambia ZCID
committed the UPND to a programme and  roadmap without consulting the party
leadership.

Mr Kakoma said the UPND’s official position on the constitution reform process is
to support the adoption of the constitution through a Constitutional Conference
based on the understanding that the  Constitutional  Conference will function as
the Constituent Assembly.

He said the UPND does not  therefore agree with the ZCID’s position that the
Constitution Conference is different from the Constituent Assembly.

Mr Kakoma noted that there was no roadmap which was discussed and agreed  upon at
the summit of  political party presidents recently.

He said the only agreement reached during the party presidents summit was to the
effect that government presents a Constitutional Conference Bill to parliament .

The UPND spokesperson said the issues of the roadmap and contents of the draft
constitution were supposed to to be referred to various political parties for
scrutiny before the are  presented to  the second summit of party presidents.

Mr Kakoma further said UPND is opposed to piecemeal amendments of the constitution
as suggested in the ZCID roadmap.

This is contained in a statement  received by Zanis in Lusaka today

Mr Kakoma further said the UPND’s position is that the contents of the new
constitution should be agreed upon  and adopted by the Constitutional Conferenc, and
later be subjected to a National Referendum  before presentation to parliament for
enactment in total.

Mr Kakoma  said the party is opposed to the amendment of the constitution because
that is what has been done to the constitution reviews  since independence
resulting in the current constitution that is not acceptable to the majority of
Zambians in a  multi party democratic dispensation .

He  said the  Constitutional Conference Bill should be published  and distributed
to all stakeholders including ZCID, political parties  and Oasis Forum who should
agree on its content ,before it is presented to parliament.

Mr.Kakoma said the party does not agree with ZCID ‘s programmes of sensitising
people countrywide before the contents of the proposed Constitutional Conference
Bill are known and agreed upon.

He said his party is committed to an inclusive constitution making process that is
accepted to all stakeholders.

Mr Kakoma however assured that the UPND will continue to participate in the ZCID
activities current happenings nowithstanding.

Patrick Phiri names five new faces to Zambia team

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Patrick Phiri has named five new call-ups to the Zambia national team that will play Botswana in an international friendly away on Saturday July 21.

The five new faces in the team include Zambia Under 17 left-sided midfielder Tom Bakala, young brother of the Angolan-based playmaker Ian Bakala.

The young Bakala is the first player from Wedson Nyirenda’s Under 17 national team to leap straight into the senior team.

Bakala got Phiri’s nod after some impressive displays for Dynamos this season.

Other new call-ups are Roan United goalkeeper Makasa Mufwaya and Young Arrows midfielder Kruger Mwansa.

Phiri has also called-up little-known Mufulira Wanderers left winger Allan Mukuka.

Bakala’s Dynamos club mate and defender Gilbert Kalusa also gets a chance to receive his first cap this weekend away to Botswana.

Phiri has also handed recalls to two players.

Power Dynamos striker Elson Mukandawire returns a year after receiving his first and last cap came against Botswana on May 14, 2006 in a 0-0 draw played in Gaborone but was decided on post-match penalties that the Zebra’s won 5-4.

Also back is Roan striker Ben Mwanza who returns to the fold after a three-year hiatus.

Defender Clive Hachilensa of South African club Free State Stars is the only foreign-based player in the team.

Regular call-up Zanaco striker Ignatius Lwipa has been over looked after a rather poor season this year.

And returning for a possible third cap is Zesco United’s prolific striker Enoch Sakala who has scored 8 goals for the current league leaders this season.

Phiri has for the time being resisted calling up any of the Under 20 players who impressed at the Fifa Under 20 World Cup to give them a breather after being away from home for the last two and a half months.

The team gathers in Lusaka tomorrow Wednesday and leaves for Botswana on Friday on a charter flight for the all-expenses paid for friendly match.

TEAM:

Goalkeepers: George Kolala (Zanaco), Makasa Mufwaya (Roan United).

Defenders: Willy Chinyama (Zesco United), Evans Chisulo, Kennedy Nkethani (Both Zanaco), Clive Hachilensa (Free State Stars, South Africa), Patrick Masosa (Green Buffaloes), Gilbert Kalusa (Lusaka Dynamos).

Midfielders: Tom Bakala (Lusaka Dynamos), Jack Chileshe, Lameck Njovu (Both Zanaco), Kruger Mwansa (Young Arrows), Allan Mukuka (Mufulira Wanderers), Mark Sinyangwe (Nkana FC).

Strikers: Enoch Sakala, Jonah Sakuwaha (Both Zesco United), Elson Mukandawire (Power Dynamos), Ben Mwanza (Roan United).

ALL AFRICA GAMES FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL FIXTURES AND GROUP RESULTS

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ALGERIA 2007 ALL AFRICA GAMES FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT.

SEMIFINAL FIXTURES:

19/07/2007

Cameroon-Zambia

Guinea-Tunisia

RESULTS:

16/07/2007.

Group A.

Cameroon 2- South Africa 0

Tunisia 1 ((Ben Amar Karim 20″)-Ghana 1(Emmanuel Allan 23″)

Group B.

Zambia 1(Christopher Musonda (90″+)-Algeria 1 (Mohamed Amine’s 44″)

Egypt 2- Guinea 3

Maamba coal mine grounded again

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By Tovin Ngombe:-

Operation at Maamba Coal Mine has been suspended when the owner of the hired Dump Trucks they were using grabbed them.

The Bell Equipment Company of Kitwe grabbed its four Dump Trucks it hired to the mine for their failure to pay the money even when they have been using the equipment.
The company through its lawyers from William and Nyirenda Company of Kitwe saved Maamba Management with a court order to seize the equipment until the matter was addressed in the high court for their failure to pay the money.

The two dump trucks that were operating are packed at Maamba police.

Out of the four dump trucks that the Bell Equipment Company hired to Maamba mine only two were working, one got burnt, and the other one is on breakdown one miner said.

A Police officer who did not want to be identified said despite Maamba mine Management’s promises to pay they have failed to honour it prompting the Bell Equipment Company to issue a court order.

ZANIS could not get a comment from Maamba mine management because Zambia Consolidated Copper Mine (ZCCM) Investment Holdings has since gagged them from issuing any statement to the press.

However, sources from the mine said operation at the mine has been grounded to a halt as workers report for work merely to chat until knocking of time.

The miner said they were not even mining the little tones of coal they have been producing because work could not be done without the dump trucks.

The miner said without dump truck they could not transport coal from the pit to the washing plant.

He said workers report and knock of at any time they feel like because they have nothing to do.
A visit to the coal mine plant would immediately signal to the visitor that the mine is ‘dead’, the premises is always deserted with few workers loitering around.

He said management has assured them that they should not worry about the grabbed Dump Trucks because ZCCM-IH would soon buy their new equipment.

But despite their failure to produce coal for sale ZCCM-Investment holdings has been paying salaries to miners every month and they miners are not owed any salary arrears as it was in the past.

“The government is good despite not producing any coal we getting paid anyway it’s not our problem because ZCCM-Investment holdings is failing to bring the equipment on time,” one miner said.

Girl 14 defiled in Sinazongwe

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By Tovin Ngombe:-

A 40 year old man has defiled and infected a 14 year old girl with a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) in Sinazeze in Sinazongwe district.

The brother to the girl Steward Moono told ZANIS that Sinazeze police has failed to arrest the alleged defiler since the matter was reported to them.

He said the girl contracted STD after she was defiled and she is admitted to Maamba hospital’s children ward.

Moono who only identified the alleged defiler as Siamumbeze of Sinazeze said he eluded the police when they tried to arrest him.

He explained that the incident happened two months ago but Sinazeze police has failed to arrest the alleged defiler even when he resurfaced after he ran away.

“Right now he is moving freely in Sinazeze when my only sister is pain and started getting sick when she was defiled,” Moono bemoaned.

He said when Sinazeze police were delaying in arresting the alleged defiler he decided to report the matter to Sinazongwe police who assured him that they would handle the matter.
“Despite Sinazongwe police officer in-charge, giving a three days ultimatum to Sinazeze police to arrest the offender they not nabed him,” Moono said.

A check at Sinazongwe police revealed that they received the report and the officer-in-charge said they would ensure that the alleged defiler was arrested.

Defilement cases were at an increase in Sinazongwe district and most cases ends up being sorted outside the court and in most cases they are reported late to police.

In May a 14 year old girl in Sinazongwe was eloped and defiled.

Sinazongwe police arrested the defiler after the father to the girl Peter Simukande reported the incident.

But later the parents withdraw the case and sorted it outside the court.

Zambia to export 200,000 tonnes maize to DRC, Namibia

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The government will allow a farmers’ group and three other associations to export a total of 200,000 tonnes of white maize to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Namibia, an industry official said on Tuesday.

The Grain Traders of Zambia (GTA), the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), Millers Association of Zambia (Maz) and the state Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will be given permits to export 50,000 tonnes of surplus maize and ground maize each, Maz general secretary Allan Sakala said.

“Most of this maize will go to the Congo, although we have inquiries of maize requirements from Namibia as well. We are just making arrangements to start exports because the permission from the government is with immediate effect,” Sakala told Reuters.

The DRC continues to heavily on maize imports from Zambia as it rebuilds an agricultural sector that was devastated by decades of civil war. The need for maize is particularly dire in Lubumbashi, a city just across the DRC border with Zambia.

Sakala said the price of the exported maize would be determined by the market, though he noted that the Zambian government had slapped a $2 levy on each tonne of maize or ground maize meant for export.

Surplus from the 2005/06 maize crop will be used, he said.

The impending Zambian exports are less than what had been originally expected.

In June, Zambian Agriculture Minister Ben Kapita told Reuters that the government would allow farmers to export 350,000 tonnes of maize after the southern African nation recorded surpluses in the last three agricultural seasons.

But Zambia’s 2006/07 maize output declined 4.4 percent to 1.36 million tonnes from the previous growing season due to flooding that destroyed crops in a majority of the country’s 72 districts.

Kapita said Zambia would keep 250,000 tonnes of maize in strategic reserves compared with a surplus of 160,000 tonnes the previous year.

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KCM builds new mine, to boost output

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Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) is sinking shafts at a new deep-level mine, which together with other projects will more than double finished copper output by 2010, the firm said on Monday.

The new underground mine together with a smelter upgrade and tailings project would lift annual output at Zambia’s largest copper producer to 500,000 tonnes in 2010 from the projected 200,000 tonnes this year, KCM communications advisor Samuel Equamo said in an interview.
KCM had started sinking shafts at the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP), which is due to become Zambia’s largest single mine operation when it comes on stream in 2010, he said.

“KCM expects to produce 500,000 tonnes of finished copper per year when its key projects, the Konkola Deep Mining Project, the (Nkana) smelter project and the Chingola Refractory Ores project, are fully operational by 2010,” Equamo told Reuters in an interview.

Equamo said a technology known as heap-leach would be used to process waste from copper mining, which had accumulated for decades at the Chingola Open Pit mine.

Equamo said material at one of the KCM tailings dams was running out and the firm would start reclaiming copper from another dam to ramp up output.

KCM, majority-owned by London-based Vedanta Resources Plc , produces 150,000 tonnes of copper at the Nkana Smelter now being upgraded to double its output.

KCM operates the Chingola Open Pit, Konkola and Fitwaola copper mines, the Nkana Smelter and Nampunwe pyrite mine, which together account for nearly half of Zambia’s total copper output.

Equamo said the Konkola Deep Mining project, which is still budgeted to cost $400 million, would produce 180,000 tonnes of copper per year when it is fully operational in 2010.

Equamo said the pre-sinking of the main shaft at the new underground mine is already 90 metres deep. “Work is in progress to erect the head gear and sinking winders in order to allow for the deepening of the shaft to 1,490 metres,” he said.

Equamo said the engineers would then begin to sink supportive shafts for ventilation and dewatering and that this work would be completed in 2008. A new concentrator is also being built alongside the new underground mine.

Copper mining is Zambia economic lifeblood and the vast copper and cobalt mines are a major employer in this southern Africa country of 11.7 million people.

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