Protectionist approach necessary to save mines
THERE are some discrepancies which have given us a well-founded that the promise by UPND to bring Vedanta Resources is misinformed.
On one hand, the Government has taken the protectionist approach to restore the promise of certainty in the mining sector.
The intention by UPND to impose Vedanta Resources on the miners suggests that the party is not acting in the interests of miners but that of the investors.
We say so because the ill treatment that the miners were subjected to is common knowledge. Therefore UPND is endorsing the exploitation that the miners endured.
As regards the policy direction which the nation should take, it is regrettable that the UPND has constantly relieved on the sustained negative media campaigns with the view to mislead the unsuspecting Zambians who may not be privy to the realities on the round.
Like we have consistently maintained, the UPND has used the misfortunes in the mining sector to gain political milage at the instance of pondering on what the future holds for the miners.
There has been a number of innuendos that have been spread with the view to creating discord and in turn translate into political fortunes.
For instance, some few months ago, UPND alleged that KCM has reportedly been sold to an unnamed Chinese but no credible documents such as a PACRA printout was produced in support of the allegations. They went further to allege retrenchment of the workers and no document produced in support of the assertions.
With the recent restructuring in the ongoing KCM liquidation process, the employees have been given new contracts which will certainly redeem the workers who were at the verge of being relegated to destitution.
There are also some progress which has been recorded in the production and as of December, 2020, the mine was able to produce 33, 000 tonnes a month.
This is why during President
Edgar Lungu’s visit to Chingola and Chililabombwe, miners could not conceal their gratitutde for the evident political will to protect their jobs.
MARVIN CHANDA BERI, Chingola.