• Mopani Copper Mine is likely to flourish in the hands of ZCCM-IH than before.
• Acquisition of the majority shares in the mining firm by ZCCM-IH was a business transaction and not nationalization.
• 100 percent shares in Mopani Copper Mine as the best deal of the year.
Vice President Inonge Wina says Mopani Copper Mine (MCM) is likely to flourish in the hands of ZCCM-IH than before, contrary to some suggestions by some people that the mine will die out.
Speaking during the Vice President Question and Answer session in Parliament this morning, Mrs. Wina explained that acquisition of the majority shares in the mining firm by ZCCM-IH was a business transaction and not nationalization as insinuated by some sections of society.
Mrs. Wina added that Glencore international and ZCCM-IH sealed a deal to increase Zambia’s shareholding in the firm to 100 percent from 10 percent in the mining firm.
The Vice President noted that Glencore made a business decision to place Mopani mine on care and maintenance a situation that meant that more than 15, 000 workers would have lost their jobs, a move that would have negatively impacted on the business community on the Copperbelt province.
“Glencore made a business decision to place Mopani mine on care and maintenance a situation that meant that more than 15, 000 workers would have lost their jobs,” Mrs Wina said.
Mrs. Wina has since described the acquisition of 100 percent shares in Mopani Copper Mine as the best deal of the year.
“Mr Speaker I can assure you that this is the best deal of the year and Zambians should be proud of a government that is caring for its people, a government that is trying so hard to preserve their jobs,” she said.