The Mine Workers Union of Zambia-MUZ has disclosed that it has resolved to take a lead in participating in mining activities in order to create job opportunities for its members and local Zambians.
Union President Joseph Chewe said the union has been representing and protecting workers’ interest and the country at large in terms of beneficiation for some time now which has not benefited a lot of its members hence the need to acquire a mine that will support members.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Chewe said the union has resolved to acquire a mine in Northwestern Province and is only waiting for the Cadastre to open so that it can push for its exploration license.
Chewe said so far, the union has received favourable response from both government officials and the royal highnesses on the plans to acquire a mine in the province.
He said the Chiefs in Northwestern province have shown delight in the plans by indigenous Zambians to be present in mining activities and create jobs which will to some extent compete with some foreign investors.
The Union representative said the ultimate goal of the union is to create jobs as a local investor and hopefully stakeholders who are Zambians, government and any other investor group will support the move.
Chewe said the investment and the number of jobs that are to be created will only be disclosed once the union acquires an exploration license as he feared that some people might want to sabotage the plans.
He mentioned that what will be mined will depend on the minerals that will be found adding that the country is blessed with a lot of minerals and the union will go with the flow of the minerals available.
“We don’t want to disclose more information on our plans because we know there are some people that want to sabotage us”, he stressed.
