Mundubile promises to overhaul mining sector
By Ludia Ngwadzai
NATIONAL Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has unveiled a Copperbelt recovery plan.
In his plan, Mundubile has promised sweeping reforms to restore the province’s economic fortunes through better wages for mine workers, youth participation in mining and direct benefits for traditional leaders.
Speaking to journalists after his Copperbelt camp aign tour, Mundubile said his government would ensure wealth generated from mining translated into improved living standards for host communities.
“The policy will eliminate wage disparities and protect employees working directly for mining companies as well as those employed by contractors and subcontractors,” he said.
Mundubile said the centrepiece of the plan was the introduction of a sector-specific minimum wage, citing mining, agriculture and transport among many.
He pledged to reserve the black mountain slag operations, tailings reprocessing, and dump site mining exclusively for Zambian youths.
He urged large mining-scale investors to focus on exploration and developing new greenfield mines.
Mundubile said his government would formalise small-scale mining and provide equipment, technical training and financial support to young miners.
“Our goal is to allow young people to build sustainable businesses while creating decent employment,” he said.
He said it was unacceptable that chiefdoms hosting some of Zambia’s richest mineral deposits, such as the Chief Nkana area, had continued to lag in development.
Mundubile said he would establish a legal framework through which chiefdoms would receive a direct share from mining royalties to fund community projects, women’s empowerment, education and other social services.
He challenged mining companies to embrace shared value beyond tax obligations.
“Roads, water systems, health facilities, schools and workers’ housing should once again become part of the mining industry’s contribution to the communities from which it derives its wealth,” Mundubile said.
He was committed to free quality education through reduced classroom congestion, free textbooks and free school uniforms.
Women’s cooperatives would be equipped with sewing machines and working capital to manufacture uniforms locally, creating jobs and supporting vulnerable families.
“We shall ensure that we promote professionalism in all sectors of the economy and governance. We shall depoliticise the Zambia Police Service, improve officers’ welfare, and restore policing to its constitutional mandate of protecting citizens,” said Mundubile.
