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Govt Has No Capacity To Run Mopani – Opposition
Government has been advised against taking over the operations at Mopani Copper Mines because it has no capacity to run the operations of such a mine.
Reacting to President Edgar Lungu’s call on Mopani Copper Mine management to handover the mine to government if they have failed to run it, MMD President Nevers Mumba says it is common knowledge that the mining sector is currently facing operational challenges due to insufficient power supply by Zesco.
Dr. Mumba has told QFM News via telephone that government will do well to inform the nation if they have failed to constructively engage the mining firm in resolving its operational challenges.
He says it is a well known fact that most mining firms are finding it difficult to operate, and that it is the duty of government to come to the aide of the mining sector by introducing policies that will benefit both workers and mine owners.
And UPND Deputy Spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo says certain things are better left to the private sector to manage because they have the expertise in such kind of huge investment.
Speaking in a separate interview, FDD Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza says statement by the President is an indication that the PF government has no policy on mining.
Meanwhile, Chambers of Mines of Zambia President Nathan Chishimba has encouraged government to continue working with the private sector in developing the mining industry.
Posted by Editor
on November 5, 2015. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Hello Haters
November 5, 2015 at 8:30 am
Someone fails to run his chibuku tarven, @ handover the mines to me,you think it’s like asking your friend to handover a tin of chibuku to you so that ufyampulemo naiwe. Nkalani chabe musilize ma months yasala as a caretaker.
mate
November 5, 2015 at 8:43 am
Hello haters. Ulimbwa
Jo-jinto
November 5, 2015 at 2:42 pm
@ mate you are guilty te??? Nimwebene aba temwa ukufyampulamo so it seems. Caretaker fye kuwayawaya ba Lungu. Ndi mwine kopala and ine ni red card kuli ba Lungu.
billz
November 5, 2015 at 3:40 pm
Ba haters is it impossible to run these mines ourselves? it worries me that we have a very dull opposition in this country.who has contributed more to development of our country zccm run mines or excuse giving so called investors?
Hello Haters
November 6, 2015 at 5:01 am
@billz try to read my comment again, it ain’t directed at Zambians, it’s just aimed at one individual, who i feel has failed this country, and if you can’t get sense from that comment tough luck buddy coz it is in the simplest englisi that even a grade 9 who wrote his ICT exams at 23hrs can understand.
billz
November 6, 2015 at 12:45 pm
You right i can’t make any sense out of what you said mate! coz that particular individual is our president yours and mine like him or not and has the authority to get the mine back and let zccm IH run it we have technocrats who are well and able to do that.by the way my comprehension of the queen’s language is perfect thanks zccm schools
billz
November 6, 2015 at 12:45 pm
You right i can’t make any sense out of what you said mate! coz that particular individual is our president yours and mine like him or not and has the authority to get the mine back and let zccm IH run it we have technocrats who are well and able to do that.by the way my comprehension of the queen’s language is perfect thanks to zccm schools
Akamanampemba
November 5, 2015 at 6:22 pm
The reason ZCCM – IH maintains shares in mines is to provide checks and balances and to intervene in situations like this. It doesn’t mean that the government will necessarily run the mine. IT means the government can find ANOTHER investor in place of Mopaani. The process of finding another partner takes a while. During that period, yes, the government will be in full control.
MIMBULU
November 6, 2015 at 2:14 pm
In Zambia to be in Opposition is to oppose everything Government does or intends to do!Marabishi1Ati opposition!
Ba pf founders
November 6, 2015 at 5:36 pm
@hello haters uli chaume kwati like pa tarven
BANTU STAN
November 5, 2015 at 8:30 am
THIS IS WHAT WE CALL IDIOCY FROM OPPOSITION.GOVT HAS A RIGHT TO GET RID OF ANY INVESTOR AND SECURE OR ENGANGE ANOTHER INVESTOR ON BEHALF OF US THE WEL MEANING ZAMBIAN PEOPLE.LET US NOT POLITISE EVERY THING MWEMBWAMWE.WHO DO YOU THINK CAN RUN THE MINES FROM THE OPPOSITION?WILL MAKE SURE THAT VOTING PATTERN WILL REMAIN HAS IT IS.ALWAYS POLITICKING FOR NOTHING LUFONO LOBE.
Hello Haters
November 5, 2015 at 8:40 am
Ulitako fye iwe.
Isaac
November 5, 2015 at 8:49 am
The taking over of the mines by govt of the republic of Zambia doesn’t necessarily mean running it itself no, the president simply meant giving it to other investors who are capable to run it. Use your brain to think not your mouth.
Objective Prophetic Philosopher
November 5, 2015 at 3:08 pm
You seem to help Bashi Tasila”s usual vague statements which lacks usually clarity. Mines are not like brick making machines which you can run by kambwili bulldozing formulae.
Bright teacher
November 6, 2015 at 8:39 am
thanks,most comments here lack knowledge,they think when govt say we are taking over its govt to run them NO,think!!!! Zambians lets open up!
sela tubombeko
November 5, 2015 at 8:37 am
i think we need to refer to zccm n consider were we went wrong, i believ gvt can manag to run mines provided we have expertise n not political influence towards such massive investments..if the mines were not viable enaf, y do these investors keep clinging on them. there is enaf profit definately, there is a country in africa( ethiopia i think) were th gvt uses its army to operate its mines..now compare us, we better off in terms of ITC, infrastructure n above all political stability. lets unite as 1 n together we can achieve th such success
Isaac
November 5, 2015 at 8:52 am
Well spoken but these pple from the opposite right can’t understand this!
Lamba boy
November 5, 2015 at 9:04 am
the mine owners want to be treated as babies or kids, who when they cry their er given special attention! they er the only industry in Zambia who rush to retrenching workers when they face some set backs! in RB time, the first baby cry was on da windfall tax, they called it illegal en killing the mine industry. the shud not depend on power from the national grid (ZESCO), it is time they became self dependent on power, generate power within the mine, be innovative, creative en visionary. what if it does not rain enough even this year? it means no load-shedding but total blackouts next year. The only reason the gvt can not run the mines is be coz it may give the all management to unskilled cadres,
Pabwato Mba Ninchito Mba
November 6, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Fyenkefyo mwinsho😁😁😁😁😁😂😂😂😂
chalamuka
November 5, 2015 at 9:12 am
let us not think on the government’s behalf of its intentions after taking over. In the context that was the scenario was put by Lungu, it was as though the government can run the mine better than mopani. only individuals who do not understand these terminologies would contest that the government intends to give it to another company.That is why we have people trained as development experts to help analysis. let us stick our professions least we end up embarrassing ourselves
JUJU
November 5, 2015 at 9:19 am
if the government can employ teachers,doctors ,nurses,army,police,soldiers and the whole civil service without profit yet pay them monthly without opposition helping them to look for money to pay out wat is a mine that will even mke profit these mines were run by government until sold off with help of hh and that the mmd government in 1991 when kk run them from 1964 lets run our own mines these guy s investers are just crooks stealing our wealth its better to sell cheaply our minerals than lose out
ndaje Kakhs
November 5, 2015 at 9:33 am
The only problem is that our Zambian Managers lack integrity. They have the skills, education etc. but honesty is lacking. I am talking from experience.
Syak
November 5, 2015 at 11:40 am
Boss would urge you to back to history from 1964 and prior to privitazition.I think if you gather all the facts correctly,you will be able to make very good and sound contribution.you have a valid point but you need to do more in terms of understanding the happenings around that time. Firstly,were the mines profitable?who were running these mines (ofcourse experts,around 1970 Zambia saw an unprecedented number of experts running our mines under ZCCM.) Were the copper price still attractive? Who shouldered the losses in an event that priceses remained unattractive? What lead Zambia to look to world bank and IMF? Lastly, the cost of running became so costly due to various reasons.Ranging from technology to middlemen. Now the private sector have the the technology and what it takes to run the mines.but if the private sector fails then there is a very big problem some how which can be beyond the government intervation.Let’s take a case study of what happen in Chile.the same pronouncements were made by the government and what happened there after,the rest is history.it took the new government to rectify the disaster. Now Chile is a beacon of what we should do with our mines of 50/50 ownership.thanks for you point though.
MIMBULU
November 6, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Chile has got a parastatal as a player in Copper Mining.So get MOPANI and leave the other players who are sensible to run the other mines.Period
MIMBULU
November 6, 2015 at 2:19 pm
@JUJU you are liar!Who told you KK ran the mines from 1964?Please research before you put your lies to the world
Hachigaba Hababwa!!(HH jnr)
November 5, 2015 at 9:27 am
Why should a mine owner benefit more fom the mines that zambians,every tym they lie to that no profit yet continues runing them.They invest the litle profits in their countries of origin & as zambia we remain in poverty,they suck workers anyhow just to maximize their profits.Wake up zambia ,we can run these mines…after all out of 2000 worker in a particular mine the majority are zambians only the Director & finance managers are foreigners,why?
umuntu ni lungu.
November 5, 2015 at 9:28 am
PF reposesd Zambia Raiways and ZAMPOST .Go to mines and see if there is a stage where you cant find a zambian. I have seen a mother without resources geting back a child from a relative who cant keep the child well.
umuntu ni lungu.
November 5, 2015 at 9:31 am
juju thankyou so much. m told india can buy our copper. let them go
ndaje Kakhs
November 5, 2015 at 9:31 am
Nevers must know that Glencore have closed most of their mine in other countries including oil fields. So has ZESCO failure cased this even in Chile, Australia etc?
deja vu
November 5, 2015 at 9:46 am
Juju, Ndanje is right. A ZAMBIAN lost his job as GM at one mine because the production went down by 80% as he fired all manager s and employed his friends from his former employers . The owners of this mine have replaced him with a foreigner
Syak
November 5, 2015 at 11:41 am
Boss would urge you to back to history from 1964 and prior to privitazition.I think if you gather all the facts correctly,you will be able to make very good and sound contribution.you have a valid point but you need to do more in terms of understanding the happenings around that time. Firstly,were the mines profitable?who were running these mines (ofcourse experts,around 1970 Zambia saw an unprecedented number of experts running our mines under ZCCM.) Were the copper price still attractive? Who shouldered the losses in an event that priceses remained unattractive? What lead Zambia to look to world bank and IMF? Lastly, the cost of running became so costly due to various reasons.Ranging from technology to middlemen. Now the private sector have the the technology and what it takes to run the mines.but if the private sector fails then there is a very big problem some how which can be beyond the government intervation.Let’s take a case study of what happen in Chile.the same pronouncements were made by the government and what happened there after,the rest is history.it took the new government to rectify the disaster. Now Chile is a beacon of what we should do with our mines of 50/50 ownership.thanks for you point though.
ndaje Kakhs
November 5, 2015 at 11:55 am
@Syak, Congratulations for your analysis. Problem that we have in Zambia is that anyone who wants to be president we capitalise on any “misfortune “that befalls the Nation without checking facts. You may not believe it but there some people who want to see that there is no rain this year so that the problems can continue so as to afford them a “good “platform for campaign. Illogical isn’t it?
Syak
November 5, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Thanks Ndaje.
Chinci Wababili
November 5, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Pls Lets Not Encourage Gorvement To Disturb Mopani,i Work Their, To Sustain Operation Mostly We Depend On Towing Copper From Other Mines In Solwezi And Other Place, Which We Treat For Them Then Thy Pay Us Coz We Have Better Smelter And Refinary, mining Department Produces One Bucket Pay Day,operation Are Really Bad Copper Is Diminishing At Mcm Let Goverment Work Hand In Hand With Mcm Management Through Deology
ndaje Kakhs
November 5, 2015 at 12:31 pm
You make a lot of sense but please write in English.
Tiger Woods
November 5, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Wether anybody agrees or not we have capable well trained technocrats who can run mopani and any other local mine in this country.So lets not be fooled and made to believe that we are incapable of running our own resources because that in itself sounds like an insult to me and to the rest of the technocrats out there.Remember that these mines were once upon a time run by ourselves and privatization was probably not the best panacea at that time in terms of resolving the operational challenges which were obtaining in Zccm.I believe that the best people who can manage such huge amounts of wealth in terms of minerals are the locals themselves for as long as there is professionalism, accountability and sense of ownership and right attitude.
weluzani
November 5, 2015 at 1:54 pm
government can run the mines thru a designated parastatal as it was before under zimco. the only thing is to consider why zimco failed and we can do to avoid the pitfalls, one of which was political interference.
nshilimubemba
November 5, 2015 at 4:43 pm
I think the best thing to do is for gov’t to take at least one mine . However leave some for the investor .
The gov’t will do well to participate in the mining activities than give everything away to the greedy investor .
All that he will do is to manipulate everything to his advantage . He doesn’t care about you who are you to him all he wants is money . Money is his interest by the way how much does he pay those poor workers , is it not peanuts.
Chinci Wababili
November 5, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Mcm Maneger Expatrate$60 000, Workman K7000 The Lest Fal In Between. Hosptal Is Free For A Miner And The Family
Israeli
November 5, 2015 at 8:21 pm
It hates to hear that zambia as a state can fail to run a mine becoz of fyototofyotOto.surely single foreign Investor can’t be better equipped than a big state zambia.all we need z to get rid of cadrerism in these parastatals.Nevers Mumba does nt hv brains no wonder he z a president of stale food
John Chinena
November 6, 2015 at 2:30 am
These foreign owned mines are actually run by zambians. It is not invester who digs, transports and processes the copper. There are zambians doing that at all stages. So how can govt fail to manage them with the same zambians in place?
brother kincho
November 6, 2015 at 7:00 am
Just see the negativity from the so called opposition,honestry,can Zambians,vote for a bunch of cowards who already have thrown in a towel even before a fight starts and we are fighting at home ground.i hate this mentality of saying kk failed,so we are also going to fail.malabishi.let them surrender and we start with mopani.as long as there is no political interference and we just engage technocrats,we can do it.
100% zambian
November 6, 2015 at 7:17 am
Bt kwena mulimashilu do u think the government can fall 2 run these mines? Been in the opposition does not mean u will be opposing 2 everything
MIMBULU
November 6, 2015 at 2:29 pm
Ayi!Fyonse kutalika!Babweshe Zambia Airways batalika.Balundileko ama civil servants ama salaries batalika.Kuchitashani nkanshi mwe bantu!
Israeli
November 6, 2015 at 7:57 am
Imagine ai
gumu gumu
November 6, 2015 at 9:41 am
We can only run these mines if only we stop political interferance . Look @ companies like zesco it is heavly abused financialy by parties in govt. Do you think mines can be spared by these vultures? And the only other investor to take over if mopani left is the chinese . Do you think the chinese can maintain the standard of the current investor? Even lungu knows that lyashifye ilyamubwalwa (bar talk).
ndaje Kakhs
November 6, 2015 at 9:57 am
@ gumu gumu, you could be right. Did you know that predecessors to ZCCM i.e. RCM and NCCM were run professionally by Zambians as MDs namely David Phiri & Francis Kaunda. Mediocrity only came in after the merger.
Judge Joe Bidden
November 6, 2015 at 10:21 am
Professionally run?? Just what happened to the mines under Francis Kaunda?
You mean Francis Kaunda, who headed the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM), a conglomerate that controlled vast copper and cobalt mines before privatisation in 2000? You mean who was jailed together with prominent local businessman Faustin Kabwe? Thats professionally ran? Ikalenifye.
gumu gumu
November 6, 2015 at 1:15 pm
@ ndaje U mentioned the merger . With or without the merger the results were still going to be the same bcoz all the entities were answerable to politicians and yU know the behaviour of african politicians! its all about Patronage not professionalism
Judge Joe Bidden
November 6, 2015 at 10:15 am
Even Botswana a Medium Income country far better placed economically than Zambia cant run the most precious stone on earth – The Diamond – alone. It has a foreign company DeBeers on a 51% Govt 49% DeBeers to run ALL major mines on its behalf, you PF cadres think its that easy to run a mine go to school and stop talking things you got no idea. You think Lungu has the brains to even know where to start from? Just shut the hell up and we talk something else.
Israeli
November 6, 2015 at 10:46 am
@jjb if we put ourselves to task I believe we can do it though its not easy.All Nid is the right leadership not this pf one.if those foreign investors are gud at it then they must hv Learnt it from somewhere of which we can also.we are a state.
Judge Joe Bidden
November 6, 2015 at 10:57 am
Just put Kambwili as Minister of Mines & Minerals and see what happens.
ndaje Kakhs
November 6, 2015 at 10:53 am
@jjb- you have to tell me the performance RCM & NCCM. How did these companies perform? Were they profitable or not. Then we can discuss further.
ndaje Kakhs
November 6, 2015 at 11:09 am
The mines before merger were 51% GRZ and 49% Anglo American and RST in their respective companies. Structure was – MDs Zambians, Directors and GMs Expats. Zambians were mostly in charge of Personnel and related departments. In fields such as mining, metallurgical, engineering, geological Zambians mostly went as far as Mine Captain, Plant Metallurgist, Sectional Engineer and Senior Geologists. Positions of HODs including Chief Financial Officers were held by expatriates. May be from this we can find out where we went wrong. Did we rush into Zambianising these positions. Were the Zambians appointed ready and mature/responsible?
Judge Joe Bidden
November 6, 2015 at 11:13 am
@Ndaje and @Israel Umfweni in 1969 the Zambia acquired a 51 per cent stake in Zambia’s two main copper producing companies: Roan Selection Trust and Rhodesian Anglo American Corporation which was changed to Roan Consolidated Mines Ltd (RCM) and the latter became Nchanga Consolidated Copper Mines Ltd (NCCM). By that time of nationalization the mines produced at least 720 000 tonnes of copper and employed approximately 48,000 workers The subsequent economic policies of the Zambian Government depended heavily on the state’s ability to monopolize the proceeds of copper mining.
By the mid-1970s, the mines were experiencing poor
profitability. This was due to collapsing copper prices,
coupled with the re-focus of management away from
production for profit to production to guaranteeing
employment and the delivery of social services. This is the same mistake EDAGR CHAGWA LUNGU wants to commit, its more a show that we have the mines for the people – then what?
ndaje Kakhs
November 6, 2015 at 11:18 am
@JJB RCM never became NCCM – never! RCM composed of Mufulira, Roan (Luanshya), Chibuluma(Kalulushi),Chambishi,Kalengwa(NWP)& Ndola Copper Refinery. NCCM was Nkana (Kitwe), Nchanga (Chingola)& Konkola ( Chililabombwe). These companies only became one in 1985 as ZCCM
Judge Joe Bidden
November 6, 2015 at 11:27 am
Ubukopo iwe READ well, whats the LATTER?
Judge Joe Bidden
November 6, 2015 at 11:28 am
That means the “Rhodesian Anglo American Corporation” became NCCM. Typical of mwe ba PF, te? Chizungu!
ndaje Kakhs
November 6, 2015 at 11:37 am
Rhodesian Anglo American Corporation which was changed to Roan Consolidated Mines Ltd (RCM) and the latter became Nchanga Consolidated Copper Mines Ltd (NCCM- YOUR OWN POSTING- READ AGAIN. IT IS NOT ABOUT ENGLISH KUTI WALEMBA NA MUCIBEMBA
ndaje Kakhs
November 6, 2015 at 11:50 am
Read it again yourself. You have said RST,then RCM then latter NCCM? By the way I am not PF or any party.
Judge Joe Bidden
November 6, 2015 at 12:24 pm
OKAY, if I say its my mistake will you buy me lunch? If not, why should I accept? Good you arent PF, you are better off as ‘a free lancer’ than being PF, possibly thats why I do see sense in your posts sometimes than a typical PF choir member.
Judge Joe Bidden
November 6, 2015 at 11:33 am
My KEY point is “…Mines started performing BADLY due to collapsing copper prices, coupled with the re-focus of management away from production for profit to production to guaranteeing employment and the delivery of social services” This is where Zambia went WRONG. Edgar wants to repeat this blunder.
ndaje Kakhs
November 6, 2015 at 11:41 am
You think Edgar will take over the mines? Zambia is part to many investment agreements and such an action would make Zambia illegible to international funding. Both investor and country of investment have rule to adhere to.
Judge Joe Bidden
November 6, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Hello! Thats what he is implying and getting mines back its not that easy as he thinks unless we borrow a page from Idi Amin Dada’s socialist pamphlet printed from communist printers .
Pabwato Mba Ninchito Mba
November 6, 2015 at 1:19 pm
Ubwafya mulanda kwati muli mu opposition, PF mulinutekoooooooo!!!!!!! na maka(Ndi) namukwata, kupokafye, inshita yakulaya yalipwa, apa kubomba, mulafuluka kunse kumalayo?
Pabwato Mba Ninchito Mba
November 6, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Ubwafya mulanda kwati muli mu opposition,PF mulinutekoooooooo!!!!!!! na maka(Ndi) namukwata, kupokafye, inshita yakulaya yalipwa, apa kubomba, mulafuluka kunse kumalayo?
Fantasy
November 6, 2015 at 6:13 pm
We ar waiting for zamtel to recall the retreached workers, its all childs play bane
KINTU
November 6, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Very good, kubatinyako bamukuta babelesha nsana. When are we going to improve? Zambians work up!
Pabwato Mba Ninchito Mba
November 6, 2015 at 7:22 pm
The only mine pf can run is Black Mountain…period ask lungu, ask kabwili, anyone, an honest kopala dweller will not lie to you….ala babe lyashi lya muli kachasu, forget….