Thursday 16 April 2020

Corona Virus Sends 20,000 Zambian Miners Home

By Paul Shalala


Mine Workers Union of Zambia President Joseph Chewe 
(in blue shirt) addresses miners who have been 
sent home by Mopani.


The Corona Virus pandemic has been used as an excuse by a major mining firm in Zambia, Mopani Copper Mines, to lay off 11,000 miners.


This means that a further 9,000 workers employed by subcontractors and suppliers, who are mainly South African and Peruvian firms, will also lose their jobs.

Zambia has in the past one month recorded 52 Corona Virus.

So far, two patients have died, 30 recovered and 20 are still being treated by health personnel.

Mopani Copper Mines, which is jointly owned by global mining giants Glencore (73.1%) and First Quantum Minerals (16.9), has placed two of its mines in the copper rich towns of Kitwe and Mufulira on care and maintenance, sending its workforce home.

“In addition to the impacts of a rapid decline in the copper price, Mopani’s situation has been further impacted by the critical disruptions to international mobility, transportation and supply chains arising from COVID 19,” said Mopani in a press statement issued on 7th April. 

The mining giant has also given its subcontractors a month to wind up business.

The decision was communicated to the Zambian government which responded with anger, giving the miner a seven days ultimatum to rescind its decision or face revocation of its mining licence.

Mines Minister Richard Musukwa said government will not take kindly manoeuvres by Mopani.

“Our workers, together with the union must not accept mediocrity from Mopani. And they have government support to stand on their right, on their mine, our God given resource, that’s our position.” Said Musukwa in an interview with News Diggers, a Zambian online newspaper.

And on 8th April, there was commotion as thousands of Mopani workers collected their letters after being sent away by officials.

Since then, the four workers unions in the mining sector have been holding daily protests to pressure Mopani to rescind its decision.

This is because previously, whenever a mine places its operations on care under maintenance, it means workers will automatically lose their jobs, irrespective of the assurances by the mining firm.

Meanwhile, 0n 15th April, Mopani Copper Mines Chief Executive Officer Nathan Bullock was intercepted at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka just before he boarded a flight for Australia.

It is not known why the Australian native was leaving the country at the height of a crisis.

Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo confirmed that Mr Bullock was intercepted by Immigration officers at the airport.

The minister told the media that it was surprising that Mr. Bullock, who attended meetings over the crisis at the mine in the morning, would attempt to leave the country without informing authorities.

According to media reports, the mining executive was driven by road to Kitwe which is 300 kilometers away accompanied by armed Police officers.

Armed Police officers are now guarding Mr Bullocks' house but government has denied media reports that he has been placed under house arrest.

The Ministry of Mines has set up a Taskforce to investigate matters surrounding Mopani Copper Mines.

One of the people the Taskforce is supposed to interrogate is Bullock.

The Taskforce is expected to give recommendations on the way forward.

Mopani is a big stakeholder in Zambia.

It sponsors Nkana Football Club, a Kitwe-based premier league side which holds the record of winning 12 league trophies more than any other club in Zambia.

The firm also sponsors other clubs in various disciplines and its business supports thousands of Zambians in various mining towns.

Last year, the Zambian government took over Vedanta-owned Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) after it failed to pay its contractors and suppliers despite repeated appeals and pledges of investing more into its mines.

KCM, which is now being run by a liquidator, is said to have cleared all previously owned contractors and suppliers but its future is still being contested for in the courts of law.

The mining giant owns mines in Chingola, Chiliabombwe and Shibuyunji.

Zambia is Africa’s second largest producer of copper after the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Most of its mines are run by foreign entities with the Zambian government retaining minority stakes through the ZCCM-IH conglomerate.

In the end, the Zambian government is likely to prevail in the Mopani case because it cannot risk 20,000 potential voters going home hungry, a few months before the crucial 2021 general elections.

The Copperbelt is a stronghold for the Edgar Lungu-led Patriotic Front government where it has 20 of the 22 Members of Parliament and any moves aimed at undermining its grip on the grassroots are always fought to avoid the opposition taking advantage.

Already, the PF leadership in the area has seen how politically sensitive this matter is and has been joining mine unions and residents in protesting the Mopani move at the mine offices daily. 

For Mopani, which has so far invested millions of dollars in sinking new shafts and modernizing its operations, they stand to lose if the mining licence is grabbed and given to another firm.

Already, rumours are flying around alleging that some Chinese firms are lining up to take over the two mines.

With the deep resentment Zambians have over Chinese investment in Zambia especially over their low human rights record, it maybe hard for the Chinese to sway public opinion if at all they succeed in taking over the facilities.

Friday 10 April 2020

SDA Church Donates K290,000 For Coronavirus Fight In Zambia


By Paul Shalala
Pastor Sinyangwe hands over the donation to Copperbelt
Minister Japhen Mwakalombe. -Pictures by Richard Bulaya



On a day when Zambia has recorded its second death due to the Corona Virus, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) has donated K290,000 kwacha towards the fight against the pandemic.

The two governing entities of the SDA Church in the country; the South Zambia Union Conference (SZUC) and North Zambia Union Conference (NZUC) have made K160,000 and K100,000 cheque contributions respectively and a third contribution of K30,000 has come from the Midlands East Conference (MEC).


MEC is one of the conferences and fields which falls under NZUC.


In a live televised donation on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) TV1, SZUC President Dr. Harrington Akombwa handed over a proof of payment amounting to K160,000 to Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya.


This was during the daily update on the Corona Virus situation by the Minister of Health at Ndeke House in Lusaka this morning.


While putting on a face mask to show the seriousness of the situation, Dr. Akombwa said the church was making the contribution in appreciation of the great work done so far by government to fight Covid 19.


“We make this contribution in appreciation of the work you as Minister and the efforts made by His Excellency the President Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu towards the fight against the pandemic. In handing over these documents, the money has already hit your account,” said Dr. Akombwa.


Simultaneously, NZUC President Samuel Sinyangwe also handed over an assortment of items to Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe in Ndola.
Some of the donated items on display at Cabinet Office


The items, all valued at K100,000, include 50 liters of sanitizers, 160 bottles of liquid soap, 24 bottles of Dettol, one electric kettle, one water dispenser, 30 reflector vests, fuel worth K23,385 and four boxes of barrier tape.



The donated items will be critical in helping frontline health personnel who are taking care of two Corona Virus patients who are being treated at an isolation center in Masaiti District.


And in handing over the donation, Pastor Sinyangwe said the SDA Church made the move after realizing that the community is being ravaged by the pandemic.


“We are with the government and the people of Zambia in fighting this Covid 19 pandemic, not with weapons but with fervent prayer and acts of kindness,” said Pastor Sinyangwe.


He added that the church will continue offering solidarity to government.


“Honourable Minister we want to assure His Excellency the Republican President, his Cabinet and your Provincial Administration that our God in Heaven will give us resounding victory over this pandemic and we will emerge stronger and more united as a country, said Pastor Sinyangwe who was equally putting on a face mask.”
The delegation from NZUC and Copperbelt Conference
 which made the donation in Ndola



Among those who witnessed the donation were Ndola Town Clerk Wisdom Bwalya, Ndola Teaching Hospital Senior Medical Superintendent Dr. Joseph Musowoya and other senior government officials.


From the church, senior figures included NZUC Health Ministries Director Dr. Mwate Mwambazi, Copperbelt Conference President Kerries Liambai, Executive Secretary Angel Chipulu, Youth Director Mubika Chibwabwa and some youth representatives.


Zambia has so far recorded 40 Corona Virus cases leading to two deaths.


38 other patients were hospitalized in Chilanga and Masaiti Districts.


According to the latest update by the Minister of Health, 25 people have so far recovered and have been discharged while 13 are still being treated.