MOPANI, KCM LIFE SPAN HAS ENDED - MUSENGE
ZAMBIA need to explore other mineral rich areas and stop depending on Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) and Mopani Copper Mine as their live span has come to an end, Advocates for People’s Prosperity president Mwenya Musenge has said.
Mr Musenge said if the country will continue depending on the two giant mines, there will be no significant benefit.
“No sooner we accept the reality as Zambians that the life span of Mopani and KCM has come to an end it will help us focus on other areas. We have played too much politics on the mines and this politics has not been helpful to us as a nation.
Yes, from the onset we knew that the engine of this country was mining but we should be alive to the fact that copper has a life span, it is like cooked nshima, if you finish eating it will not be on the plate again.
“We have seen a lot of investment, for example here in Kitwe we have syconium shaft a lot of money was spent to try and go deeper to get rich ore but what has happened have we realised anything, no, those were huge loses, “he said. In an interview, Mr Musenge said “We have Konkola deep mine in Chililabombwe again a lot of money was spent but the money which was spend has not been recouped.
He said what Zambia has been failing to look at is to accept the reality, stating that the country is vast and endowed with a lot of mineral resources which can be exploited. Mr Musenge said copper mining is supposed to shift to North-western Province, this is where huge deposits are available.
“This is why you see Kansanshi is doing well, Lumwana is doing well because they are doing open pit mining and it is cheaper. So, the mining activities that are happening at Mopani, KCM what they are mining waste ore and copper as a by-product because the copper ore they get is probably 2 percent, “Mr Musenge said.