what's going on in zambia? Two articles below, one from the 1st...

what's going on in zambia? Two articles below, one from the 1st of April, the second from today.



Expedite Chiengi Mining Project Licence - MUZ


The Times of Zambia (Ndola)


April 1, 2005
Posted to the web April 1, 2005


THE Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has advised Government to expedite processing a mining licence for the Chiengi mining project by Anvil Mining Company.


MUZ president Andrew Mwanza said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that his union was pleased with news that the mining firm was seeking to obtain a copper mining licence for the Chimpatika area in Chiengi.


Mr Mwanza said Government should facilitate smooth commencement of the project in Chiengi to ensure that development through employment creation was taken to the area.


He said MUZ was confident of effectively exploiting mineral resources in Chiengi because of its vast mining experience in Africa and Zambia in particular.


Mr Mwanza said investors prepared to chart new areas of investment should be given a lot of support in order to promote development that would benefit the people.


"This whole licensing process should be treated with the utmost urgency so that the company can start the mining process as soon as possible," Mr Mwanza said.


He, however, cautioned Government and Anvil not to disadvantage Zambian mine workers by hiring too many unnecessary expatriates.


Mr Mwanza said it made no difference whether the investor was experienced or not but that it mattered when it came to proper treatment of workers especially Zambians.


He said companies coming to invest in the country should realise that Zambians were experienced in every aspect of mining and that there was no need to hire foreign experts at the expense of locals.


"Government should also scrutinise expatriates to assess their capability to make a difference in the industry over their Zambian counterparts," he said.


Mr Mwanza expressed confidence that his union would continue with its good relationship with Anvil once it begins operations in Chiengi.


He said MUZ and the mining firm already had a recognition agreement in place from its operations in Nchelenge.




‘Anvil Mining not yet registered company’


By Times Reporter
MINES and Minerals Development minister Kaunda Lembalemba has disclosed that Anvil Mining company is not yet registered with the registrar of companies.
Mr Lembalemba said in an interview yesterday that his ministry had carried out thorough investigations and no indication was found to show that the mine was registered to operate in Zambia.

“On Thursday last week, I asked the registrar of companies to conduct a thorough search to know whether the company was registered but there is no indication so far,” Mr Lembalemba said.

He said his ministry had not done the exploration of the mine to determine whether the place was fit for mining.
Mr Lembalemba was reacting to calls by Chiengi Member of Parliament Dr Katele Kalumba and Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) who advised Government to expedite a mining licence for Chiengi mining project by Anvil mining company.

He said Government was ready to issue a mining licence but stressed that not until the right procedures were exhausted.

“How does the Government give a mining licence to a company that is not registered, Government can only issue a mining licence when it is satisfied with its investigations, not just by word of mouth,” Mr Lembalemba said.

He said he did not know whether the people spearheading the Anvil mining were already in the country or not as his ministry had not taken any steps on the issue.