Explore other strategic options, Mopani told By

have significant economic implications.

It stressed that African countries were highly dependent on global trade and would be negatively impacted by the fall in trade and the global recession.

The Bretton Woods institutions indicated that the negative effects of trade Copper Mine should explore shocks other associated strategic options with instead of placing the units under care commodity and maintenance, prices, and falling Andrew AFRICAN Kalima, countries a financial should expert and demand strategist for exports has observed. were

keep Mr Kalima borders said open in Ndola as much that the mining reinforced firm’s by insistence measures to taken suspend as possible operations despite would the just show to that counter it lacked the pandemic. a well-crafted strategic current Covid-19, business plan as closing to survive in an “Export event of restrictions fragility in will the industry. them will have significant raise the price and limit the

economic He advised implications. Mopani to reconsider supply its decision of COVID-19-related to place the Nkana As of March and Mufulira 29, this underground year, goods units and under food care to critically and maintenance 31 African countries and explore had other strategic affected options. areas/hotspots.

closed “Mopani their decided borders. to suspend the mining “Experience operations from either previous because According it does to not the care World for other stakeholders crises shows or that it does imposing not have Bank, a well-crafted borders should strategic be plan on export how to restrictions run the mine on medical for the benefit kept open of all as interested much as parties. “If any and of food these products positions limits hold their true, possible then they for trade might while as well being leave the access business particularly to Zambians to the to take consistent charge,” with he a said. strategy Mr Kalima of argued poorest, that who Mopani will be exported adversely Zambian containment, minerals and without in line with adding value, affected essentially the most,” exporting the World value-adding the multilateral jobs provisions to countries of of their Bank origin. said.

transit, Copper, he said, was attracting about Within $4,900 the per region, tonne the which World was The within WB range warned for that a mining powerhouse Bank said, to realise export profit. bans on

although He insisted it was that deemed it was only morally food right lowered that the domestic Glencore prices, International-sponsored necessary to contain the mining firm which reconsidered reduced the its incentive position or spread it would of be the considered COVID-19, a delinquent to grow corporation. food crops in the next

closed Mr Kalima borders said made it was it sad that multi-nation season. firms in Zambia had difficult continued for medical abrogating supplies laws with impunity It explained and taking that export citizens for and granted. other necessities of life to bans within the region

reach “These people. multinational corporations prevented should appreciate the continental that there “Export are a number restrictions of stakeholders adopted supply in the mining from being industry allocated they are by engaged African and in, hence other countries the need to tread to where with it care was when needed making the business during the decisions,” crisis affect he not said. most.

only He explained the costs and that availability bad business decisions Import from bans, multi-national said the corporations of COVID-related could destabilise medical the Zambian Bank, that economy. were not Mr based Kalima added supplies, that but a drastic also necessities, decision by Mopani on scientific could negatively evidence would affect mainly economic food,” the indicators World Bank such as exchange limit the availability rate, inflation, of certain and said employment in its latest levels, report. hence the ordinary foodstuffs Zambian and increase would prices be gravely The suffer. World Bank warned for local consumers.

that “Zambian as African citizens countries as equal take stake holders “Dominated in the by mining agricultural industry stringent are measures, obviously imposing in support of and our Governments’ livestock products, stance such not restrictions to allow Mopani on the movement to put Kitwe and trade Mufulira is also underground essential to mining of people and and concentrator goods, to on care and maintain maintenance. food security and

protect “We are their happy borders with from our pro-poor hence Government welfare which and poverty is protecting the virus, the workers subsequent so that they do reduction. not lose jobs. The law protects slowdown the in workers trade would from such manoeuvres by employers that do not care for their workers job security,” he said.

NATION REPORTER MOPANI