MOPANI ‘DEFIES’ GOVT

...firm continues outsourcing procurement despite stop order

Mopani has not engaged any local contractors or suppliers as it is now.” I can simply say they have defied Mines minister’s order to stop outsourcing” — Mr Mubanga

MOPANI Copper Mine

has de ed overnment directive as it has continued outsourcing procurement, ontractors and uppliers ssociation o Zambia has said.

ssociation president, ugustine ubanga, said the giant mining company had not engaged any local contractors and suppliers even a ter overnment gave a directive to stop outsourcing.

n hursday last week, ines and ineral evelopment inister, ichard usukwa directed that opani must ensure that the Zambian contractors get a air share o the contracts.

r usukwa said in as much as there were certain contracts that were specialised and could only be awarded to high pro le contractors, there should be enough contracts or the locals.

ut r ubanga said opani had not engaged any contractors and suppliers in its routine activities.

e said in an interview yesterday that the association was yet to hear rom the giant mining company on its engagement with the locals.

opani has not engaged any local contractors or suppliers as it is now. can simply say they have not engaged any locals,” he said.

r ubanga said opani was claiming that the process to select which contractors it would engage was still going on.

r ubanga said the process had been going on or a long time now and nothing conclusive had been done. opani is claiming that it is still in the selecting process but this process has been going or some time and it has not come to conclusion,” r ubanga said.

nd when contacted opani opper ine ublic elations anager ebert ulenga re uested or a press uery or the mine to respond to the matter.