ABOUT MOPANI

IT is obvious that every Zambian wanted Mopani Copper Mines to start functioning for the betterment of our country’s economy in terms of employment and other business activities more especially in the Copperbelt.

I commend President Hakainde Hichilema for the step he has taken though the bagging price by IRH is not attractive, injecting $130 billion is not something we can celebrate as a country, it could have been prudent to start running our entity ourselves.

What expertise is IRHi going to bring apart from injecting the $130 billion? Knowing for sure that the rest of the donkey jobs will be done by us Zambians, and I don’t think we can fail to realise that $130 billion as a country if we have a visionary leadership with clear intent to transform this country.

In fact, a well-sealed deal should start by addressing the conditions of services for miners, such as salaries has to be confirmed from the start to give confidence to employees as they they receive the new investor.

One funny thing I have failed to appreciate is that leaders claim to have capacity to run the country, but on the other hand saying we have no capacity to run the mines. What’s more complicated, to run the country or the mine? Of course, we cannot run all the mines, but at this stage, it’s quite imperative to have one or two mines run by government more especially the old ones which are already established.

It can greatly help the government to have direct income, unlike relying solely on taxes. Also, to act as a mirror to monitor other mines to avoid “imingalato” played by investors.

Hence as we celebrate and congratulate President Hichilema for the so-called milestone, let’s hope it’s not a poisonous chalice, because by virtue of not taking the deal to parliament for ratification it raises more questions than answers making people insinuating.