By SHARON ZULU
KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with CAMCO which will enable employees to access agricultural equipment on flexible payments terms.
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Speaking during the signing ceremony held in Chingola, KCM Acting Chief Executive Officer Enock Mponda says the MoU is key to fulfilling important steps of post-employment life as it would allow workers to access agricultural equipment such as tractors, ploughs, disc harrows, planters, boom sprayers and many more while they were still in employment.
Mr Mponda said many Zambians are joining government’s push to make the country a major agricultural producer of export crops and livestock while remaining food sufficient, and hoped that KCM employees would take advantage of the collaboration with CAMCO to ensure they secure their future.
“This occasion will linger in our minds for a very long time to come because of the nature and magnitude of the collaboration that KCM and CAMCO are signing for. It is evident that every person has an after-life from the professional jobs we do and agriculture offers a lot of opportunities for that period when we shall all detach ourselves from mining, in the case of KCM employees,” Mr Mponda said.
And CAMCO Marketing Director Bernard Chiwala said the company aims to fill the mechanisation and value addition gap that exists within small and medium scale farming.
Mr Chiwala said the opportunity to work with KCM workers would widen the market for CAMCO equipment and other services.
“We look forward with pleasure to working with KCM management and staff as we embark on the journey to transform lives through farming. The participation of more people such as your employees in agricultural activities will help cushion the maize shortage and will largely contribute to the Gross Domestic Product of the Country,” Mr Chiwala said.
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