TAKE CHARGE OF MINES: Bob “Bashi Nono” Sichinga Urges Zambians To Increase Ownership In Mining
By Anthony Mukwita
Zambia Must Increase Mining Shareholding
…to create wealth Bob Sichinga says
Mr Bob Sichinga, the former Commerce and Trade Minister has encouraged Zambia to take full reign of the mines or increase its ownership in the industry to reduce poverty and create jobs.
Mr Sichinga said its common sense that you only plough back in profits as a country or a company, what you put in through ownership.
“If you have10 pc shareholding in the mines in Zambia that are currently earning about US$84 billion, you only earn back 10pc,” said Mr Sichinga who also worked as group financial controller for ZCCM said.
He was speaking at the Leadership Conference Foundation at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka on Wednesday following a keynote address by Paul Kabuswe, the Minister of Mines.
“I heard you say there will be no nationalisation. I would be careful with my words because ownership is everything and Zambia should own at least 50pc or more of the mines,” said Mr Sichinga.
Whatever the government does on behalf of Zambians regarding the mines Mr Sichinga said bringing back companies such as Glencore AG and or Vedanta would be a fatal economic decision because of their insecurity.
“You are talking about companies (Vedanta and Glencore) that have been posting losses since they started operations years ago and yet they keep expanding globally beyond Zambia. They must not be allowed back,” said Mr Sichinga.
Up to now, Zambia still owes money it borrowed from the World Bank to pay terminal benefits to mine workers laid off by Anglo said Mr Sichinga. Some of the workers are yet to be paid their terminal benefits.
Mr Sichinga, in the presence of Mines Minister Kabuswe bemoaned the fact that the UPND government had brought back Rothschild & Co to advice it on making mining profitable in Zambia which he sys is wrong.
In his defence, however, Mr Kabuswe said, “we inherited a confused mining sector, we were shocked which are trying to fix right now through major reforms.”
The Minister, without specifying a number said Zambia would soon “increase” its shareholding in the mining sector but ensure that the economy remains liberal.
He also declared that the UPND government is “Not a Puppet government” amdist major criticism from several sections of the opposition and pundits. This is a developing story.