RUFUNSA GOLD MINERS EXPLAIN REJECTION OF ZCCM-IH DEAL

GOLD miners in Rufunsa refused to sign a supply agreement with ZCCM-IH because the parastatal company wants to be the sole owner of the mining equipment Government had provided, the Daily Nation has learnt.

Chimwetu Gold Mining Cooperative chairman, Emmanuel Tembo confirmed the development.

“For example, the agreement says that ZCCM-IH shall be the owners of the gold mining equipment. This was not what we were told when we were given the equipment," Mr Tembo said.

He said the board of directors for the four cooperatives, Pokela, Kamandu, Chimwetu and Chipeketi agreed not to sign the agreement saying it was unfair for ZCCM-IH to claim ownership of the equipment donated by the State.

Last week, ZCCM-IH delivered agreement forms to the gold mining cooperatives in Rufunsa but they were rejected on account that the terms and conditions were unfair.

The forms have not been signed to date.

Mr Tembo said the agreement would create an impression that the cooperatives were just custodians and not owners of the equipment.

“This creates a sense of insecurity because the cooperatives will not be motivated to take responsibility for any loss or damage,” he said.

Mr Tembo said the cooperatives sensed mistrust in other clauses in the agreement.

He demanded that cooperatives be given the right to own the equipment because this was what they were told when the equipment was donated.

And Pokela Gold Mining Cooperative vice chairman, Josias Malunga also confirmed that the groups had resolved not to sign the agreement.

He wondered why ZCCM- IH was insisting on ownership of the equipment when this was not what was earlier communicated.

He said that the proposed agreement needed to be crafted in the interest of both parties and as such each part needed to be redone.

Meanwhile, efforts to get a comment from ZCCM-IH proved futile as the spokesperson’s phone went unanswered by press time.