COPPERBELT IS SLOWLY BECOMING A GHOST
COPPERBELT Province is slowly becoming a ghost due to low productivity levels in the mining sector hence the need to quickly unlock Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), says a Kitwe based clergyman Charles Chileshya has said.
Pastor Chileshya of Christ my Life Ministries, said a lot of people are expecting that before April 1,2024 Vedanta Resources should take over the full operations of KCM.
Pastor Chileshya indicated that poverty levels on the Copperbelt are on the increase and that it is imperative that the asset is quickly given back to the investor, Vedanta.
He states that Vedanta has already committed to dismantle the arrears owed to contractors and suppliers by KCM, stating that of jobs are at stake due to huge monies owed to them as they fail to pay their workers.
"The people of the Copperbelt are grappling with many issues due to the non-functionality of KCM. We know Mopani Copper Mines also has to be unlocked but Vedanta Resources has been unveiled as the one to run KCM. So far, they have injected over US$25 million to pay salaries and other issues before they even take full control of the asset. But we know that contractors and suppliers have not been given their money as the issues still remains unsolved. The contractors and suppliers have families to support," he said.
"The mining industry is next to government in terms of employment as they are the second largest employer. The workers can't feed their families, can't afford to pay rentals as this has resulted in most of them being on the streets."
He was confident that as soon as Vedanta takes over full control of KCM, there will be increased economic activities on the Copperbelt and this will help a lot of people to start supporting their families.
Pastor Chileshya also said once a lot of people have been employed, they will be able to contribute to the national treasury through taxes.
The Clergyman has since appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to expeditiously resolve the remaining legal issue so that KCM would start full operations.