PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION

MINING holds a special place in the country’s social and economic life hence the keen interest and concern shown whenever there is something amiss. In the past few weeks, tempers have been frayed among the various stakeholders as each side has tried to have its side of the story heard – so to say. Perceived threats by the mining companies, in particular Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to lay off workers due to high costs of production have not been received well. Government for its part through the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Richard Musukwa declared the planned job cuts as null and void. Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) for its part has spoken about closing its two mining shafts - Mindola North and Central - and putting them on a care-maintenance arrangement having reached their production lifespan. At the heart of the standoff has been the government’s decision to introduce a new tax regime, which the mining firms have complained about. Government says it won’t budge. Amidst all this antagonism, it is heartening that President Edgar Lungu has shown leadership and says he is still prepared to meet and talk with the Chamber of Mines, an umbrella body of the mining houses and trade unions in the mining sector, to discuss the matter. According to Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda, the Head of State wanted to ensure that the situation at the mining houses quickly came to an end. Mr Chanda, speaking to journalists at State House on Wednesday said “President Lungu wants to ensure that the situation in the mining houses does not get any worse.” Yes, it won’t do the country any good if the ongoing impasse is allowed to continue without a voice of reason coming out to reconcile the warring parties. As Mr Chanda said, the Head of State wanted to hold a constructive dialogue with stakeholders in order to resolve the impasse with the mining houses. “The President does not want this situation to worsen, he was to meet the Chamber of Mines and mineworkers’ unions in order to have a constructive dialogue on this matter,” Mr Chanda said. Dialogue is key to resolving any differences between competing sides and we do support the President in his quest to resolve the impasse. President Lungu is mindful of the social upheaval that could that could result if so many miners were to be retrenched. There are also those companies whose existence depends on the mines too. Workers from MCM and KCM have appealed to President Lungu to intervene in the matter after the two mining giants threatened to scale down on employees as a means to cushion the impact of the new mining tax changes on their operations. As Mr Chanda noted, President Lungu’s desire is to ensure that the jobs of all workers in the mining sector are protected. Hence as a first step towards protecting the miners’ jobs is the President’s determination to meet the Chamber of Mines and see how their grievances could be accommodated in line with the country’s economic policies. We are all mindful that even as the government pursues an aggressive economic diversification programme with emphasis on agriculture, mining still remains the “goose that lays the golden egg.” President Lungu’s approach shows sanity and that is what is needed to quieten the storm.