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Zambia: Mines Social Responsibility Attracts State's Interest
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The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
14 June 2007
Posted to the web 14 June 2007
Ndola
GOVERNMENT is committed to ensuring that the mining sector ploughs back part of its profits into communities even as it continues regaining its strengths in the economy, Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Kalombo Mwansa, has said.
In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Mwansa said while the performance of the mining sector had improved tremendously in the past few years, little was known about their social responsibility.
The minister said large-scale mining firms in particular had taken corporate social responsibility seriously and were engaged in various practical services in the local communities in which they were operating.
He said Chibuluma South Mine Limited had during the period of January to March this year been involved in programmes that covered health, sports, and support to Government institutions as well as infrastructure development.
In the area of health, the company participated in the malaria campaign in Kalulushi by providing materials worth US$10,000, and spent $50,000 in subsidising operations of the Kalulushi Mine Hospital monthly. Chibuluma spent $150,000 on hospital operations and had completed the construction of a clinic, which would house services such as ante-natal and HIV/AIDS awareness.
The mine also supported rugby and football and had been supporting the Zambia police in both Kalulushi and Lufwanyama by providing fuel which would cost $20,000 this financial year.
About $750,000 had been set aside for mending community roads and construction of the access road from the mine to the airport.
Dr Mwansa said during the same period, Kansanshi Mine Plc (KMP) spent $178,000 on community projects.
KMP in collaboration with the Kansanshi Foundation undertook various programmes, which included the malaria control.
In partnership with Solwezi district health management team, KMP participated in the roll back malaria programme at a cost of $28,000 and spent an additional $136,000 on infrastructure development.
Meanwhile, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) awarded contracts amounting to $219 million to suppliers out of which $146 million representing 67 per cent were awarded to locally registered contractors.
Apart from helping 81 widows of former miners to set up an income generating project in Chingola and Chililabombwe, KCM had continued to sponsor three football clubs, Konkola Blades, Nchanga Rangers and Nampundwe United.
Another mining company, Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) had during the same period spent $632,820 on community programmes in areas of health, infrastructure, sports and farm projects for ex-miners.
It offered support to Government institutions and other donations at $4,749 and $161,278 respectively.
Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) had been working closely with the association for the welfare of former miners of Zambia in establishing and supporting projects.
LCM had spent K28, 516,075 to buy sewing and block making machines respectively.
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The mine supports sport and education projects and contributed K315 million towards improving health in the community.
Dr Mwansa said development required cooperation of all stakeholders in the community and encouraged mining companies to work closely with the local community.
To keep the public informed on the contributions of mining companies, each firm would continue to submit to the ministry of Mines and Minerals Dev elopement a quarterly report on its corporate social responsibility.
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| Copyright © 2007 The Times of Zambia. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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