LCM has been purchased by China Nonferrous Metal Company.
Tanaka Hiroshi, from Kyodo News in Japan, who was in Luanshya on a private visit, was mobbed by former miners near Roan Market demanding that he employs them.
A sea of frenzied former miners formed three long queues thinking Mr Tanaka was recruiting workers.
As former miners heard the story of the ‘investor’ being in their town, a number of them did compulsory sprints to join the queue.
Mr Tanaka’s explanation that he was a victim of mistaken identity yielded no results.
“I am not an employer,” a bewildered Mr Tanaka screamed as he backed away from the crowd.
The former miners, who claimed to be starving, followed Mr Tanaka whose disbelief turned into frustration.
After the former miners realised that Mr Tanaka was telling the truth, they demanded that he instead gives them some money ‘on humanitarian grounds’ so that they could buy food for their families.
Meanwhile, a former miner, John Mwape, said people in Luanshya are disappointed with some leaders who are allegedly against the Chinese investment into LCM.
“Our interest is to get our jobs back, and we are happy that any time (now), the new owners of LCM will move on the site. It does not matter where an investor comes from. What is important to us is their ability to manage the mine and provide jobs for the local people,” Mr Mwape said.
He said people in Luanshya are happy that Government has fulfilled its promise of finding an investor to take over LCM.
CNMC has promised to reopen Baluba Mine and develop Muliashi Project.
Government called for bids from various companies interested in revamping operations of LCM and received four bids out of which CNMC emerged as the successful bidder.
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