GOVT MUST SAVE JOBS AT MOPANI – UNION

By SILUMESI MALUMO ONGOING engagement between Government and Mopani Copper Mine should guarantee job security, National Union for Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) president, James Chansa has said. Mr Chansa said it was prudent that Government expedited the discussions so that the matter could be settled for the best interest of the country. Last week Mines and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary, Barnaby Mulenga, said discussions were being held between Government and Mopani on the decision to place operations on care and maintenance. Mr Mulenga said the issues being discussed included failure by the mining firm to give contractors terms of the new contracts. But Mr Chansa said if Mopani would insist to place the mines under care and maintenance, then Government must repossess the mines. He said in an interview yesterday that Government should act in the best interest of miners and the country at large. “As a union we are eagerly waiting to hear the outcome of the discussions going on between Mopani and Government. “Our memories are still fresh, we have seen companies like in Luanshya being put on care and maintenance and we saw how Zambians suffered,” he said. Mr Chansa said if Mopani would not manage the mines it was prudent for Government to repossess the assets and give them to a serious investor.