PF ignore advice on KCM, says HH

WE were aware of the many bad things that Vendetta was doing at KCM but unfortunately when we advised the PF Government to act to save the mine, they ignored us, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has said.

The opposition leader also objected to planned government decision to split KCM into two separate entities.

Mr Hichilema said with the coming to office by the PF, a lot of bad things have happened at KCM "more so when PF and their friends took over the running of the mine from the Vedanta Resources but vowed that his party will continue monitoring the happenings at the mining giant to ensure Zambians are not short changed.”

Mr Hichilema said his party has been refraining itself from commenting on the matter because it was currently a subject of the court and also to give the PF time to reflect on the wrong decisions it was making over KCM.

Mr Hichilema also warned that once KCM is split, a lot of miners were going to lose their jobs.

He said the splitting of the mine was technically a disruption of the smooth running of the mine and only aimed at stealing the assets of the Zambian people.

He said the mining sector remains Zambia’s critical economic engine and therefore requires prudent and stable policies to ensure transparency and sound industrial relation between employees and employers in the sector.

Mr Hichilema said the abuse at KCM has also been replicated in North Western province and other regions.

He said the PF should not pretend that they didn't know what was going on at KCM before they took over the running of the mine.

"Government was co-owner of the mine through shareholding so let them stop misleading Zambians that they didn’t know was happening.

Mr Hichilema said his party advised the PF to take measures but that the PF ignored the advice until things turned worse at the mining giant.