NO JOB CUTS-ECL TELLS MINES
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu (right) First Quantum Minerals Limited Director Operations Matt Pascal touring Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi on Friday,May 15,2015. PICTURE BY SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE
President Edgar Lungu says he will not allow mining houses to retrench workers based on the new tax regime.
President Lungu says retrenching workers will not be allowed under his leadership because the mines are owned by Zambians.
Speaking upon arrival at the South Down Airport in Kalulushi, President Lungu said if mining houses are aggrieved with the new tax regime, his government is ready to dialogue with them.
He says there is no reason why the mining firms must threaten to close the mines or cut jobs when they haven’t spoken to government.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has congratulated the Patriotic Front for having conducted free and fair elections from the branches to the district.
The head of state says the party on the Copperbelt has shown the country that the region is a bedrock of democracy.
President Lungu has advised those aspiring for positions at the provincial level to accept the outcome of tomorrow’s elections.
Earlier, when outgoing Patriotic Front Copperbelt Chairman Stephen Kainga told the President that the party on the Copperbelt is intact.