LUANSHYA Copper Mines (LCM) workers yesterday received their terminal benefits following the placing of Baluba Mine on care and maintenance in December, 2008.
The mine employed 1,749 miners, of whom only 40 were retained to carry out care and maintenance at Baluba to ensure that the mine did not flood.
LCM has paid its former employees amounts ranging from K15 million to K18 million according to their grades.
Some former LCM employees talked to said Government should now state its position on Baluba Mine.
One of the miners, Maxwell Mulukelwa said Government should stick to its promise of bringing a new investor to run Baluba Mine.
“Government should now move in quickly to find other investors…we are happy that President Banda has said Chinese and Indian investors are interested in the mine,” he said.
Joseph Musonda said Government should find an investor quickly to save jobs for the people of Luanshya.
And Roan member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili commended LCM management for paying terminal benefits to its former employees.
He called on Government to State the way forward on LCM.
“What we want to hear from Government is the way forward on Baluba Mine…. Is it Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holding or an Indian investor taking over?” he asked.
Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Maxwell Mwale said Government would not allow formers workers to be left in the cold.
“We have insisted to Luanshya Copper Mines management that they meet their obligations to the former workers,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Mines has said there is need to support steps taken by Government to restore investor confidence and promote Zambia as a choice destination for investment.
Chamber of Mines in Zambia president Nathan Chishimba said the performance of the mining sector had an influence on the economy.
He said in response to a press query that measures taken by Government would enable the country to mitigate effects of the global economic crisis.
“We are confident that the steps taken by Government to restore investor confidence and promote Zambia as a choice destination for investment funds will be received positively, and this will enable us mitigate effects of the difficult times the global economy is going through.
“These measures must be supported and encouraged, because as recent events have shown, the performance of the mining sector has a very strong influence on the entire economy and, therefore, the well-being of Zambians,” Mr Chishimba said.
He said the Chamber’s position had always been that investment into the development of the mining sector was welcome because it promoted the industry and created employment.
“The Chamber’s position has always been that investment into the development of the mining sector is welcome, as long as all national laws and local and international standards are followed. “The events we have seen in recent times highlight the extent of risk that investors coming into the country take when committing funds into various projects.
This is why we welcome Government’s objective of creating a more conducive environment for further investment into the economy,” Mr Chishimba said
He said a vibrant mining sector would support the economy to develop other key sectors of the country’s economy.
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