Barrick Lumwana Mine committed to promoting local products in the mining sector
BARRICK Lumwana Mine Country Manager Anthony Malenga says the mining company will continue strengthening and fostering partnerships aimed at promoting local content in the mining sector.
Mr Malenga said no one will benefit from the mining operations if local people are not empowered hence need to continue working with local supplies and contractors.
ZANIS reports that Mr Malenga said this in Solwezi recently alongside the launch of the Barrick Lumwana Business Accelerator Programme.
"We are always challenging ourselves as barrick Lumwana that there is much more we can do for the mining industry and the country to participate and drive more contribution,"Mr Malenga said.
Mr Malenga has since advised local businesses to be competitive and remove the sense of entitlement by coming up with competitive business tenders and proposals.
"We need to understand that competition is healthy. It creates a moral burst industry, we can't just have a one sided vision, ’He said.
And Ministry of Mines Permanent Secretary Hapenga Kabeta said when the mining industry is thriving it should trickle down to the local people who are living in the mining communities.
Dr Kabeta said of late the mining houses over the years have not been buying local and lacked local content in their operations.
He said mining companies should not be falsed to buy local content adding that it is imperative to note that if they are in Zambia it is automatic that they must promote local content.
"Some mining companies justify foreign content through various schemes aimed at promoting foreign economies most times from their countries of origin and not where they are operating from like Zambia," he observed.