Calls are increasing on the need for the owners of Chambishi Metals on the Copperbelt – Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) to revamp the plant or surrender it to the Government.

ERG put Kalulushi District-based Chambishi Metals on care and maintenance in January 2020 when over 200 workers were sent home due to lack of feedstock to continue sustaining its operations.

Chambishi Metals is the country’s producer of cobalt and gypsum, a key ingredient in the manufacturing of cement.

Mine unions, contractors, the Church and residents of Chambishi have in the last two years continuously advocated for the re-opening of Chambishi Metals whose other operations include treatment of cobalt/copper sulphide/oxide concentrates, and cobalt carbonate/hydroxide materials.

Commenting on the dormancy of the plant, Chambishi based economist and politician Chikabala Kaleta said Chambishi Metals must be re-opened urgently.

Mr. Kaleta, the losing UPND candidate in the Kalulushi Constituency Parliamentary elections, said he also supports the proposal that ZCCM IH takes over the running of Chambishi Metals.

“These owners of Chambishi Metals, the ERG should take one thing into consideration that if they are really not willing to match up to the conditions given to them by the New Dawn Government they need to be out in the open and state their position. We want to know whether or not they can match up to the conditions so that our President can go ahead with the second step which is letting the plant run by ZCCM IH and make it public so that we can be generating money as a country as well. As things stand that plant is on care and maintenance so we are losing money. The Government is losing money through unpaid taxes; the government is losing money through other channels like Napsa contributions but on whose account? On ERG’s account, a foreign entity’s account which is something we are not going to allow in the new dawn Government,” Mr. Kaleta said.

Russian investors ERG Africa operate all of ERG’s assets on the African continent and have a workforce of around 3,500.

“We are here to repair the economy, we are here to make sure every Zambian has access to free education, health services and clean water but that is only going to come when the Government is making money. But how is the Government going to make money if ERG decides to close something that is not in their country of origin? That’s why in the few coming months, I am appealing to my brother, the Minister of Mines Paul Kabuswe to quicken talks with ERG so that we know their position as things stand in the next few months. If they are not willing to operate the plant let ZCCM take up the responsibility as stipulated by the President. When ZCCM takes up the running of Chambishi Metals I will be very glad that the company goes public and the company cannot close ever again,” Mr. Kaleta said.

He added:”We are sitting here as a country in a proper location where we have the Congolese who have been supplying this raw material to ERG and mind you Congo is the largest producer of the cobalt ore but they do not have a refinery plant so we should take advantage as Zambians. I am assuring all the miners, contactors and all employees who were retrenched that we the new dawn Government are coming in with or without the ERG. The ERG will respond to the Government in no time to state their final position.”

Mr. Kaleta expressed confidence that Chambishi Metals will be re-opened soon.

“When the final position has been stated we are going to see the way forward. If they will revamp it according to the conditions that have been given to them or if they will not revamp it, ZCCM IH will revamp it. Congolese are loading concentrate on their trucks, it is passing through Kasumbalesa, Chingola and it even passes Chambishi Metals refinery and it goes as far as South Africa and China to go and get refined but why should we be letting money pass on our fingertips that is why I am appealing to Honourable Kabuswe and also extending the appeal the President. I have full confidence in the President because he is a man of his words,” he said.

“To the people of Chambishi be rest assured that the Government is not sleeping over the issue of Chambishi Metals. The new dawn Government is working for you day and night. The closure of Chambishi Metals in Chambishi has brought very negative attributes to the community of which those Russians who own ERG don’t know about because they do not live here in Zambia,” he concluded.

President Hakainde Hichilema has charged that he will not relent in protecting public resources and anyone found wanting will be fired.

President Hichilema said that it is unfortunate that some contracts have continued to be pegged at a high cost thereby going against the UPND Policy on contracts which should be the right price, quality and timeliness.

Speaking when he swore in six permanent secretaries and chairperson for the Zambia Correctional Service at state house today, President Hichilema said such conducts show that some Permanent Secretaries are not monitoring the tender committees.

He said permanent secretaries should be the reflection of change that the Zambian people desire to see as they implement UPND policies.

President Hichilema expressed confidence that through taking certain measures, the country will rebuild the economy.

And, President Hichilema has urged the Chairperson of the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) to actualize the transformation of the Service by improving the welfare of both inmates and the staff.

He said government has already bought mattresses and blankets for inmates as a way to ensure they live in a decent environment.

President Hichilema urged the Chairperson to ensure the inmates are able to clean their environment.

He has since urged them to take their oaths seriously as they serve the Zambian people under the new dawn administration.

Among those sworn in are the ZCS Chairperson Everisto Kalonga , Dr Mutinta Musonda Permanent Secretary for Administration Cabinet office , Mervis Nkomesha Permanent Secretary Special duties Cabinet office, Angela Kawandami Special duties Cabinet Office and Lillian Kapusana who will serve as Permanent Secretary Office of the Vice President.

The Head of State also swore in Sebastian Akapelwa who is Western Province Permanent Secretary and Robert Kamalata as Permanent Secretary Lusaka Province.

Cabinet has approved the construction of the new Luangwa Bridge across the Luangwa River in Luangwa district at an estimated cost of US$75.5 million.

This was during the first Cabinet meeting in 2022 held yesterday, 8th February 2022.

In a statement obtained to the media, Chief Government Spokesperson, Chushi Kasanda says government will contribute approximately US$7.5 million as counterpart funding while funding from external sources is estimated to be US$67.95 million coming from the Government of Japan through JICA.

Ms. Kasanda says the construction of the new Luangwa bridge is in order to increase the traffic capacity in the Nacala Corridor to facilitate the distribution of goods and movement of passengers in the country and neighboring countries, and thereby contribute to the economic growth and industrial revitalization of the country and neighboring countries.

She says Cabinet took note that the current bridge has been in use for more than 50 years from the time it was constructed in 1968, and that the maximum weight of vehicles that can currently pass through the bridge is limited to 55 tons while the maximum speed is limited to 30km per hour.

Ms. Kasanda adds that currently, only a single heavy goods vehicle is allowed to pass at any given moment, stressing that the existing bridge has therefore proved to be a bottleneck for traffic traveling on Great East road.

Cabinet also approved the establishment of the Zambia National Committee on the Prevention of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and all forms of discrimination, the introduction of a bill in Parliament to amend the Public Roads Act no.12 of 2002 in order to include provisions that will provide protection of the property of the Road Development Agency, and the introduction of a bill in parliament to amend the National Housing Authority Act, CAP 195 of 1971.

This is meant to protect NHA property and also find ways through which the original setup of the institution could be brought back to the fore.