Non-Ferrous China invests in community

 

By ALEX NJOVU

NON-Ferrous China (NFC) Africa Mining Plc has invested a total of US$679,000 in various community development projects in Chambishi, Kalulushi and Kitwe this year alone.

The projects implemented include the rehabilitation of roads in Chambishi Township and Kitwe, and the construction of bus shelters and recreation centres.

NFCA chief executive officer Luo Xingeng said last weekend in Chambishi that the firm was directing attention and resources to training and development of employees.

“NFCA has also invested in the Sino–Zam Friendship Hospital. Every year, NFCA sends a number of local employees to China to visit and, in some cases, to be trained in understanding and communication between Chinese and Zambian cultures,” he said.

“NFCA is a committed corporate social citizen and is concerned to improve the social welfare of the community.”

He reiterated the company’s commitment to the principle of developing the company and ploughing back into the local community and empowering its employees.

“By increasing the investment and accelerating the development pace, NFCA will make much more contributions to the development of the local economy,” he said.

More importantly, he said, the firm wanted to see a new chapter in the traditional friendship between Zambia and China.

He said at the moment the company was busy with geological exploration work at the South East Ore body. He said the firm was committed to improving its metallic copper output to 100,000 tonnes per year.

“It is anticipated that the total investment will reach US$600 million and 6,000 job opportunities will be created,” he said.

“Additionally, Chambishi Copper Smelter with an investment value of US$200 million is under construction and is set to be in production at the end of 2008.”

He said as more Chinese companies established themselves at Chambishi, a flourishing and vigorous new town would be formed in the near future.

Mines and Minerals Development minister Kalombo Mwansa said it was gratifying that Chinese investors continued to show confidence in the country’s economy.

He said this has been demonstrated by the expansion of mining operations to the Chambishi West Ore body.

“It is gratifying because we need more investors, both local and foreign, to grow the economy and raise the quality of life for every Zambian.

To achieve sustainable economic growth and high standards of living for all Zambians, we want to use mining as an anchor industry,” he said.

Dr Mwansa said mining, especially large-scale mining, has immediate positive impacts on other sectors of the economy.

He said mining could have very strong forward and backward linkages with the manufacturing sector.

Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima said the launch of the West Ore body project was an indication that the country was on the right track and evidence of economic recovery.

Neglected 4-yr-old girl burnt to death

By ALEX NJOVU  
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl was on Monday burnt to death after the house she was sleeping in caught fire in Chambishi’s Zambia compound.
Copperbelt police commanding officer Martin Malama said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the incident happened at about midnight.
Dr Malama named the deceased as Sali Samanza.
He said the mother of the deceased, Maggie Nyirenda, went to drink beer at a nearby tavern when the incident happened.
"The mother to the girl left a lit candle and went to drink beer at a tavern at midnight when the house caught fire. The baby died on the spot and her remains are at a local mortuary in Chambishi," he said.
Dr Malama said Ms Nyirenda is assisting police with information surrounding the death of her child