CHIEF Chisunka of Mansa District has expressed happiness with the intended investment by a Chinese mining company in his area.

The traditional leader said Tycoon Mining Company was currently undertaking explorations for manganese deposits but that its initial work plans for the future were impressive and would greatly benefit the people in his chiefdom.

He said the company had already erected a two-story office building in his area, which was in the outskirts of Mansa and that it intended to put up 120 houses for its workers.

Chief Chisunka said it was clear that the Chinese company would provide a lot of jobs for the locals once it resumed operations.

He said the company had assured that it would set up a state- of- the- art manganese production facility in the area immediately it completed its initial works.

Chief Chisunka said he desired investment that prioritised corporate social responsibility and would demand this from any investors coming to his area.

He said he was concerned with developments at the Amanita Batteries owned mine in his area because there was no communication on how his area would benefit from operations there.

Chief Chisunka said the company had engaged Genesis Procurement Company to extract its manganese from the mine but he questioned the company's ability to invest in an effective corporate social responsibility.

He would not allow the operations to proceed because he was not comfortable with the arrangement that involved Genesis.

But Genesis Procurement managing director Willie Crook said the company had worked a lot with the people of Mansa and Government in provision of various amenities.