Mopani takeover excites expert
When we Zambians start running the mine we are assured that 100 percent of revenue will come in the country and this will benefit the Zambians. -
Mr Simukonda
IT is encouraging that Mopani Copper Mine will be a Zambian-owned copper mine because the resources to be realised will trickle down to the Zambians, a mining expert Edward Simukonda has said.
Mr Simukonda said once the ZCCM-IH buys the 90 percent shares which had been offered by Glencore the majority shareholder in Mopani, Zambians would have total control of the mine.
He said in an interview yesterday, the country had experienced people who would able to manage the operations of the mining firm.
He said Zambians had suffered at the hands of foreign investors, therefore, if the mining firm would be run by locals there would be job security and the revenue would come in the hands of Zambians.
Mr Simukonda said, “100 percent of the revenue will come in the country unlike it was were when foreign investors benefited at the expense of Zambians.
“Some of us we have been advocating the issue of repossessing Mopani because of the way it was being managed by Glencore and now we are happy though it was not anticipated that they can offer us all shares.
“When we Zambians start running the mine we are assured that 100 percent of revenue will come in the country and this will benefit the Zambians,” he said.
“They only thing we need to do, Mr Simukonda said, is to position ourselves and see how best the mine can be managed,” he said.
He said Zambia was being abused by foreigners due to dependence on foreign aid.