THE palpable sense of excitement among Luanshya residents following the imminent re-opening of the mine is understandable.

After months of uncertainty and utter desolation for the people, the mine on which thousands of lives are dependent is today expected to have the first blast signaling the resumption of mining activities.

It is no wonder today's event is highly anticipated because it brings hope of a better tomorrow for this town.

Luanshya has had a chequered mining history since it was privatised in 1999 from ZCCM to Binani Group of Companies when it changed its name to Roan Antelope Mining Corporation of Zambia.

At that time, the anticipated economic boom for the town turned to gloom when it became apparent that the Binani Group had no capacity to turn the fortunes of the mining town for the better.

The inevitable happened and it was placed under receivership by then Zambia National Commercial Bank.

The Government of then president, Levy Mwanawasa salvaged the mine from its ruins and sold it to a Swiss firm J&W Investment in 2003 and once again, the residents of Luanshya were hopeful about their future.

As misfortune would have it, the economic recession that the world suffered as the year 2009 beckoned would be used as the reason for the management of Luanshya Copper Mine to cease operations and declare hundreds of workers redundant.

President Rupiah Banda happened to have assumed office at this unenviable time and the task of resolving the impending closure of the mine lay squarely on his shoulders.

The matter assumed political dimensions with the opposition heaping the blame for the closure on the new Government which was just settling down.

The calmness with which the president handled the care and maintenance period must be commended because he assured residents, especially the miners that Government was keen to source an investor who would carry on from where J&W had left.

It is this assurance which has finally paid off because an investor in the name of China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Company was settled for, and the massive investment so far staked out by the new owners is a statement enough that they mean business and they are here to stay.