HH Opens Mimbula Mine
By Brian Mwale
ZNBC News
President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has commissioned Mimbula Copper Mine in Chingola with a call to residents to safeguard the mine.
President HICHILEMA says the nine which has created 900 jobs is key to revenue generation, job creation and stabilizing the kwacha.
The President also urged workers to resort to dialogue when faced with grievances instead of taking to the streets.
Speaking during the Launch this afternoon, President HICHILEMA praised management of Mimbula which is owned by British Company Moxico Investments to ensure they look after workers.
He also encouraged foreign investors to partner with locals and work with local suppliers.
The President further noted that Mimbula’s planned expansion plan to increase production from the current 10-thousand tonnes to 56-thousand tones is key for national development.
He said the company’s expansion plan of extending to 56-thousand metric tonnes production from the current 10-thousand is key for development of surrounding communities.
President HICHILEMA said his job is to improve the country through hard work and investments such as Mimbula which has created Nine hundred jobs.
And, Mines Minister PAUL KABUSWE said Zambians are now able to experience peace and see development under the UPND.
He said Zambia’s economy has for the past 10 years been faced with challenges including the mining sector which are now being resolved.
Mr. KABUSWE urged all mining investors to be serious with their investments because government is in a hurry to develop the country.
Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Zambia NICHOLAS WOOLLEY expressed delight with the strides made by the mine so far.
Mr. WOOLLEY said Moxico will invest a further One hundred million dollars bringing the firm’s cumulative investment to 180-million dollars.
He said Zambia has attracted significant investments from Britain with over 1-billion pounds by that country’s companies in green investments.
The British Envoy noted that the progress made at Mimbula is owing to close ties between government and the British government.
And, Chingola Member of Parliament CHIPOKA MULENGA said the mine has come with a speed of light implementing various projects and created decent jobs beyond Chingola.
He however asked Mimbula Minerals to give priority to Chingola residents when employing before looking elsewhere.
Mr. MULENGA said prioritizing locals for skills will promote ownership.
MEANWHILE, Mine Workers Union of Zambia -MUZ- President, JOSEPH CHEWE said Mimbula has given workers in Chingola an opportunity to work.
Mr. CHEWE said the workers are geared to put in their best but called for engagement of all workers decent jobs and salaries that will push them to work hard and look after their families.
And Mimbula Chief Executive Officer, ALLAN DAVIES said the company has already engaged about 9-hundred employees within 14 months of operations.
He thanked government for its continued support to the mine saying the firm now plans expansion in its operations at a new site.
This article originally appeared on ZNBC