Zambian Firms To Receive Mining Contracts, Minister Assures

Mines Minister Richard Musukwa says the government is working to allow Zambian mine suppliers and contractors to receive a larger share of business contracts from Copperbelt mines than they currently do.

Speaking to contractors and suppliers in Kitwe, Mr Musukwa said the days of pleading for contracts was over and that the government would bring back dignity to Zambian contractors on the Copperbelt.

The announcement follows complaints from the Association of Mine Suppliers and Contractors (AMSC) that Zambian contractors have been sidelined by Mopani Copper Mines in favour of foreign companies. 

AMSC President Augustine Mubanga said the rates given to foreign contractors were also much higher than those paid to local contractors doing the same kind of work. 

Mr Mubunga urged the government to come up with measures that would force mining companies to give equal business opportunities to foreign and local contractors. 

Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu, who also attended the meeting, said the government would soon devise measures to protect local contractors wanting to go into business with mining companies. 

Similarly, Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe assured contractors that no business would be lost.

It follows the news that Mopani Copper Mines will put their facilities under ‘care and maintenance’, suspending operations, in just under 90 days, unless the government can persuade them otherwise. 

On Monday, the government sat down for talks with Mopani’s parent group, Glencore, but no agreement has yet been reached. 

Mines Minister Richard Musukwa