Sat, 24 Jun 2017 12:21:51 +0000
By SHEILA SAKUPWANYA
PARTNERSHIPS are required to build a vibrant and diversified economic hub in the Copperbelt, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) chief executive officer Steven Din has said.
Mr Din said there was great merit in convening a Copperbelt initiative to pool resources so that there could be job creation and boost socio-economic development in the region.
”We want to see the Copperbelt grow into a diversified and resilient economic hub; a hub that can sustain livelihoods even when copper prices are low. Our motives for this are not selfless. A thriving community provides us with a competitive edge, enabling us to thrive also,” he said.
Mr Din said this during a panel discussion at the 7th Annual Zambia International Mining and Energy conference and exhibition (ZIMEC 2017) held under the theme ‘‘Towards developing the country mining vision – mainstreaming Zambia’s mineral resources for greater economic development’’.
The session explored the role mining companies could play towards helping diversify Zambia’s economy.
‘’Only in partnership can we realize the sort of scale required to build a vibrant and diversified economic hub in the Copperbelt. I think there’s much we can gain from working together in this effort,” Mr Din said.
This is according to the press statement released to the Daily Nation by KCM manager for public relations and communication Shapi Shakachinda.
Mr Din said not only do the mining companies have a role to play in the development of the country but also the civil society groups, Government and donors.
Mr Din disclosed that KCM had a 50-year vision of growing business in the Copperbelt, adding that the plan extended beyond mining to agriculture, tourism, logistics and trade.
He pledged KCM’s commitment to creating more benefits and wealth for the people living on the Copperbelt.
Meanwhile, the panelists observed that around 70 percent of Zambia’s export earnings currently depended on copper mining while over 90 percent of electricity was generated from hydro.
“Zambia’s economic sustainability in these challenging times lie in diversifying from copper and hydro, and attracting the necessary investments to strengthen and stabilize the mining sector and increase electricity capacity through alternative sources of renewable energy,’’ one of the panelists said.
The discussants of this year’s 7th Annual Zambia International Mining and Energy conference and exhibition were Simon Njovu, president, Small Scale Miners Association of Zambia; Dr Wilfred Lombe, independent consultant; James Blewett, team leader, Private Enterprise Programme Zambia (UKAid); and Mayer Ngomesia, from the African Minerals Development Centre.
