Gold cooperatives in stand-off over ZCCM-IH deal

GOLD mining cooperatives in Rufunsa have refused to sign a supply agreement with ZCCH-IH because they feel it does not favour them.

The cooperatives, which include Pokela, Kamandu, Chimwetu and Chipeketi, complained that the agreement was crafted without their input.

Chimwetu Gold Mining Cooperative chairman, Emmanuel Tembo, said ZCCMIH handed the four cooperatives agreement forms which were not agreed upon.

He said it was difficult for the cooperatives to consent to terms and conditions which were not agreed upon.

“An agreement cannot be made without mutual consensus. How do they expect us to consent to terms and conditions which were not agreed upon,” he said.

Mr Tembo however could not disclose the terms and conditions which had been proposed.

He appealed to ZCCM-IH to consider convening a meeting to iron out a few ‘grey areas’ of concern by the cooperatives.

Mr Tembo said that the two parties needed to agree to terms so as to ensure a good working relationship which would benefit both parties.

He also confirmed that Government recently handed over gold panning certificates to the four gold mining cooperatives in Rufunsa.

“The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development particularly handed over the licenses to the four cooperatives panning,” Mr Tembo said.

He however observed that the equipment given to the groups was not enough and appealed to ZCCMIH to ensure that more equipment was sourced for increased production.

And Pokela Gold Mining Cooperative vice chairman, Josias Malunga, said the cooperatives needed to be engaged on the contents of the agreement if it was to be endorsed.

Mr Malunga said that the cooperatives would make their own recommendations before they could consent after studying the document.

Meanwhile, efforts to get a comment from ZCCMIH proved futile by press time as the spokesperson, Louisa Kakoma was still in a meeting.

She however promised to study the query and respond accordingly.