Resolve Chambishi mine shutdown - MP

GOVERNMENT should come up with an immediate plan to urgently deal with the situation at Chambishi Metals, says Roan Member of Parliament Joseph Chishala.

And the Copperbelt Patriotic Front leadership, says it stands with the workers and cannot support the intentions by Chambishi Metals to close its operations.

Mr Chishala said the shutdown of the mine which was going to lead to the retrenchment of

229 employees was very disheartening.

Mr Chishala was reacting to the decision by the Chambeshi Metals management to shut down operations and put the company under care and maintenance.

In an interview, he said both government and the Mines Union of Zambia knew that the company was not serious, stating that it was not like they just knew about it recently.

He said the government should have come up with alternative solutions earlier on before the situation went that far.

Mr Chishala said the economy was currently in a mess and would not allow for such a situation to happen.

He indicated that the retrenchment that would be done by the end of the month would subject a good number of families to poverty.

Mr Chishala stated that despite the promises to give the employees monetary packages, he said the packages would not be enough to sustain them in the long run.

Mr Chishala implored the government to come up with a sustainable solution to the current problem.

Meanwhile, Mr Chanda appealed to the Minister of Mines Richard Musukwa to intervene in the matter at Chambishi Metals.

In a statement, he noted with concern the decision by Chambishi Metals to place the plant on care and maintenance stating that the decision by the company was in bad taste.

Mr Chanda said sending 229 workers home was not in the best interest of the people stating that the PF party leadership, was not going to support such a decision.

He said Mr Musukwa being a resident of the Copperbelt knew very well the impact the decision would have for the people of Chambishi.

Mr Chanda appealed to the mine unions to work extra hard on the betterment of workers’ conditions of services that ensure win-win situations with investors.

“We are not happy that plant will be on care and maintenance for a period of two years. This is unacceptable and a sign that Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) have failed to run the plant,” he said.