VEDANTA LACKS MINING KNOWHOW – FORMER MINISTER
EN G A GING Vedanta Resources to run world class copper mines in Zambia was because they did not have the knowledge or experience and simply wanted to make money at the expense of locals, former Deputy Minister of Communications and Transport, Alfred Ndhlovu, has said.
Mr Ndhlovu said it would also be unwise for Zambia and its leadership to allow Vedanta to run any mine in the country again.
He advised that Zambia should find credible investors for its mines in Kimberly, South Africa or Tel Aviv-Jaffa in Israel.
Mr Ndhlovu reiterated that Vedanta could not be trusted as it did not want Zambia to earn any money from its operations.
“The rise of Vedanta shocked me very seriously indeed. It was an unknown mining house and a doubtful investment quantity. They did not have knowledge nor experience to run world class copper mines in Zambia. They just came to loot,” he said.
Mr Ndhlovu observed Zambian mines were huge, only competing with Chile and the Congo DR, saying only Israel could provide a mining house which could run the mines in Zambia to the greater expectations of the people.
He emphasised that Vedanta must leave Zambia for good and be made to pay back all the money they allegedly externalized.
Mr Ndhlovu reiterated that the copper mines formed the major part of the wealth of Zambia.
Meanwhile, Mr Ndhlovu advised against nationalising the mines, saying that it was the biggest mistake the UNIP government had made at the time. “Soon after independence in 1968, Harry Openheimmer flew from Kimberly to Chingola to meet President Kenneth Kaunda to discuss ownership of the mines,” he said.
“Harry Openheimmer asked Dr Kaunda to allow him, through the AAC Ltd, to continue ownership of the mines to be in private (his) hands so that he could help the young nation raise sufficient revenue in taxation for the UNIP Administration to afford free education and medical facilities, including the dilapidated infrastructure. Unfortunately for Harry Openheimmer, his good intentions were, perhaps, misunderstood,” he said.
Soon after independence in 1968, Harry Openheimmer flew from Kimberly to Chingola to meet President Kenneth Kaunda in order to discuss ownership of the mines,” — Mr Ndhlovu.