Zambian Copper Miners Railway Link May Miss Cargo Target on Work

May 27 -- Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority, manager of the link that connects Tanzania's port of Dar es Salaam to Zambia's copper mines, said cargo volumes may be 14 percent below target this year because of work stoppages.

The strikes may also curb expansion plans, amid pledges by companies including Vedanta Resources Plc's Konkola Copper Mines to triple shipments on the line if capacity is increased, Conrad Simuchile, spokesman for the Dar es Salaam- based authority, said in an interview on May 25. The stoppages were triggered by disputes over the nationality of employees as well as delays in paying wages, he said.

"We have had illegal work stoppages every month for the past 10 months," Simuchile said. "We have lost not less than $4 million over the past 10 months due to work stoppages.

We have had illegal work stoppages every month for the past 10 months,” Simuchile said. “We have lost not less than $4 million over the past 10 months due to work stoppages.”

Zambia is Africa’s biggest copper producer. Shipments of the metal rose 0.9 percent in the first quarter to 200,037 tons, according to data on the Bank of Zambia’s website. The southern African nation is targeting production of 900,000 tons this year, up from 819,000 tons in 2010, according to the central bank.

Tazara, as the company is know, manages the 1,860- kilometer (1,156-mile) railroad that links Dar es Salaam to New Kapiri Mposhi outside Lusaka, the Zambian capital. Tanzanian employees of Tazara, as the authority is known, have complained that the company prefers to hire Zambian workers and that their salaries aren’t paid on time.

The statement quoted the management as saying the authority has begun resolving some of the problems that nearly set off another round of strikes only days ago.

It said new arrangements have been made under which “local cash flow isn’t wholly dependent on revenue collection in Zambia, ensuring that if ever there is any delay in transferring funds to Tazara’s Dar es Salaam headquarters, the railroad carrier gets access to short-term financing from a local financial institution”.

Simuchile called the transfer problem “unavoidable”, saying that was because Zambia is the largest revenue collection point for the carrier and the money has to be consequently moved to the Dar es Salaam headquarters “before it is processed and recapitalised”.

He said all of Tazara’s 2,800 employees have been received their salaries for last month “and salaries for May will be issued on schedule, by the end of the month”.

The statement said the management “understands that it cannot break this vicious cycle of accusations and strikes without the cooperation of its employees”.

“We need the support of everybody,” it said, adding that workers and management would have to “find common ground to move the railways outfit forward”.

Tazara’s statement was a response to recent calls from employees to the governments of Tanzania and Zambia to pressure the carrier to pay their salaries promptly.

The workers argued that the carrier was financially insecure and not in a position to meet its payroll obligations, adding in a statement: “If (Tazara) cannot buy fuel for its passenger trains, how can they pay us?”

In its heyday, Tazara operated a fleet of passenger and cargo trains on the 1,860-kilometre Chinese built line once fondly referred to as the “Great Uhuru Railway”. It is now however reeling under the weight of operational problems.

The railway’s construction then stood as the largest single project ever undertaken jointly by Tanzania and Zambia and the largest single economic assistance project ever financed by the Chinese government.

Meanwhile, Tazara workers in Mbeya have been on strike for three consecutive days to press for payment of their salaries. This has prompted intervention by top officials of the Tanzania Railway Workers Union (TRAWU), with deputy chairman Mussa Kalala telling the workers that they (the union) met Transport minister Omari Nundu recently “and all your claims and demands were presented to him”.

He said the union has given the minister until today to respond to their grievances, including those involving former Tazara employees.

Barrick Reviews Zambian Clearance for Equinox Acquisition

Zambia approved Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX)’s purchase of the Lumwana copper mine as part of a C$7.3 billion ($7.5 billion) takeover of Equinox Minerals Ltd. (EQN), the southern African nation’s antitrust body said.

Barrick, the world’s largest producer of the metal, must let the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings keep its 2.2 percent stake in Equinox as a condition of the approval for the deal, the Zambian Competition Commission said in an e-mailed statement today. It must also honor Lumwana’s existing agreements with a local smelter and suppliers, while limiting job losses, the commission said.

“The Board granted final conditional authorization on the premise that the acquisition did not raise any competition concerns because Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX) had no known presence in Zambia and, therefore, unlikely to lead to a situation that could substantially lessen competition in the mining sector,” it said.

This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or an invitation to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or an invitation to sell, any of the securities of Equinox. Such an offer is only made pursuant to the Offer and take-over bid circular, the letter of transmittal, the notice of guaranteed delivery and other related offer materials which the Offeror has filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and mailed to holders of Equinox Shares. The Offer is not being made to, nor will deposits be accepted from or on behalf of, Equinox shareholders in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance of the Offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. Furthermore, the information contained in this press release does not constitute financial product advice. It has been prepared without reference to the investment objectives, financial situation, taxation situation and particular needs of any individual Equinox shareholder. Equinox shareholders should consider consulting with their investment, financial, taxation or other professional advisor before taking any action in relation to their investment in Equinox.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain information contained in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans or future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "believe", "expect", "will", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "continue", "budget", "may", "intend", "estimate" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The Company cautions the reader that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of Barrick to be materially different from the Company's estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to: changes in the worldwide price of gold, copper or certain other commodities (such as fuel and electricity); inaccuracies or material omissions in Equinox's publicly available information or the failure by Equinox to disclose events or facts which may have occurred or which may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information; the ability of the Company to complete or successfully integrate an announced acquisition proposal; legislative, political or economic developments in the United States, Canada, Zambia, Saudi Arabia or elsewhere; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; availability and costs associated with mining inputs and labor; the risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business. Certain of these factors are discussed in greater detail in the Company's most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities.

The board granted final conditional authorisation on the premise that the acquisition did not raise any competition concerns because Barrick Gold Corporation had no known presence in Zambia and therefore unlikely to lead to a situation that could substantially lessen competition in the mining sector,” said Lingela.

“The Commission has placed a condition on ensuring good environmental practices, and since Lumwana Mine may in future extract uranium, there is also a condition that would protect people and the area from potential radioactive hazards that uranium poses.”

He further said the transaction had been granted on condition that Barrick Gold Corporation does not acquire 2.2 per cent shares in Equinox that Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines – Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) holds.

Equinox Minerals Limited is an international mining and exploration company that owns Lumwana Copper Mine, 65 kilometres west of Solwezi.

Barrick Gold Corporation is a Canada-based company which is the world’s leading gold mining company in terms of production, reserves, and market capitalisation and operates gold and copper mines in Canada, United States of America, the Dominican Republic, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Pakistan and Tanzania.

According to statistics, the Lumwana Mining project currently accounts for approximately 19 per cent of Zambia’s total copper concentrate production. Further, Zambia is estimated to possess 16 per cent of the world’s known copper reserves and currently only contributes about 6 per cent to 7 per cent of the global copper production.

Zambia economy strong growth

Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-08 about 6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign.........










Read More:http://wsjr.nl/Zambia.html

Zambia aim for second round

Zambia's coach Herve Renard is targeting a second round finish at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola.

The Chipolopolo, once a powerhouse in African football, have not gone the beyond group stage of the competition since 1996.

This year they are drawn in Group D against Cameroon, Tunisia and Gabon

And their French coach believes the task ahead will be difficult.

"The target is to reach the second round, but it won't be easy," Renard said.

"Playing three good teams is not easy but the target is simple and we don't want to hide anything," he added.

The Chipolopolo are currently training in South Africa where they beat Mozambique 1-0 in a friendly match last week.

The team had hoped to play Malawi and Benin in other warm-up matches but the games were cancelled.

The are now scheduled to meet South Korea on January 9 in another friendly.

On Friday Renard announced his final 23-man squad for Angola.

Germany-based midfielder Andrew Sinkala does not make the squad after allegedly complaining about poor remuneration for players.

Nigeria-based striker Signs Chibambo and winger Danny Hangunyu have also been left out.

Zambia's full team list:

Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Kalililo Kakonje (Amazulu, South Africa), Jacob Banda (Zesco United).

Defenders: Dennis Banda (Green Buffaloes), Kampamba Chintu (Amazulu, South Africa), Hichani Himoonde (Zesco United), Emmanuel Mbola (Pyunik Yerevan, Armenia), Joseph Musonda (Lamontville Golden Arrows, South Africa), Thomas Nyirenda (Zanaco).

Midfielders: Isaac Chansa (Helsingborg, Sweden), Noah Chivuta (Maritzburg United, South Africa), Rainford Kalaba (União de Leiria, Portugal),Francis Kasonde (Al Suwaiq, Oman), Felix Katongo (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Clifford Mulenga (Mpumalanga Black Aces, South Africa), Stophira Sunzu (Zanaco), William Njobvu ((Hapoel Kiryat Shmone, Israel).

Strikers: Christopher Katongo (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht, Netherlands), Emmanuel Mayuka (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel), James Chamanga (Dalian Shide, China), Given Singuluma (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Collins Mbesuma (Moroka Swallows, South Africa).

Source:bbc.co.uk

Zambian media is under siege – Sata

PF leader Michael Sata yesterday said the Zambian media is under siege and urged media practitioners to be ready for unlawful detentions because President Rupiah Banda is indirectly reintroducing Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s notorious preservation of public security Act (PPSA) under the guise of media regulation.

And Sata warned President Banda and Vice-President George Kunda that they would be the first victims of their draconian pieces of legislation.

In an interview, Sata said Dr Kaunda has united with President Banda to enforce the oppression of Zambians. He said the media in the country were under siege.
“Rupiah is indirectly reintroducing the Preservation of Public Security Act that’s why Kaunda is supporting him. No wonder they are introducing this media regulation law because media regulation is the king-pin of the PPSA in many oppressive states. Very soon they will link media regulation with espionage and once they link it with espionage you will have no bail. Whenever you write and they are unhappy they will lock you up and throw away the keys,” Sata said.

“That’s why George Kunda is threatening people with treason whenever the government is criticised. Have you noticed that these days Kunda is busy shouting treason, treason, almost on everything? Very soon there will be rampant unlawful arrests and detentions in this country. Kaunda made the PPSA, all those laws just to enforce oppression. So even journalists when you write a story they will arrest you.”
Sata said people in the MMD, especially Vice-President Kunda should wake up and read the past.

“During Kaunda’s era, the late Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe was the strongest ally to Kaunda and he was in support of the PPSA. But as soon as the Act was there, Kaunda knew that he was equipped so he could fix his perceived allies. We appreciate Rupiah employing Kapwepwe’s daughter but that’s not enough. We are very grateful with the gesture from Rupiah to employ Kapwepwe’s daughter but we will never forget the way they treated the old man Kapwepwe,” Sata said.

“George Kunda as a lawyer should know how Kapwepwe was treated by Kaunda. The same law they are trying to support will turn against them. Kapwepwe was a very strong and brave politician but that law reduced him to nothing, even people like Justin Chimba, Belly Lombe. So Kunda should be careful.”
Sata said Vice-President Kunda would be the first victim of the very media laws he is trying to enact.

“God doesn’t like abnormal laws. If you set a nail that you want somebody to step on it, you will be the first one to step on it. Rupiah must be careful, can’t you see what happened to Chiluba? Have you seen now Rupiah has dumped Chiluba for Kaunda who is much more stronger politically,” Sata said.

And Sata said President Banda was quick in launching projects that personally benefit him and that’s why he hurriedly commissioned the K290 billion Chipata-Mfuwe road project because his farm is on the same road. He said President Banda was more concerned about himself and not the suffering majority in the country.

“Zambians must wake up and see that this man - Rupiah - is only commissioning projects where he has benefits just like on the dubious privatization of Zamtel,” Sata said. “Even on the commissioning of that 104 kilometre Chipata-Mfuwe road at the cost of K290 billion, he hurriedly commissioned the road because his farm in Chipata is on that road.

“That road is not a priority but it’s a priority for Rupiah Banda because there is commission for him or he has done that because he wants that tar road to go to his house. And the amount they are saying they are going to spend on that road is too much.”

Sata wondered why President Banda had not bothered to work on several roads countrywide that have been in a state of despair since independence.
“For 45 years people have been waiting for the Samfya-Luwingu road, Kawambwa-Luwingu road, Nchelenge-Chienge road, Chienge-Kaputa-Mporokoso-Kasama road, Kasama-Luwingu road,” Sata said.

“Even in Eastern Province itself, people have been crying for the Katete-Chadiza-Vubwi-Chipata road. People have been crying for 45 years for the Lundazi-Chama road and the Chama-Matumbo road. In North-Western Province it’s the same problem… the cry for better road infrastructure has been the same as other provinces. The Mutanda-Chavuma road has been a topic of discussion for some time now.”

Sata said when President Banda was campaigning during the Chitambo by-election, he promised to construct a number of roads.

“So what is this commissioning a road that passes by his farm, is it tribalism or regionalism? As much as we appreciate Rupiah’s road Chipata-Mfuwe, he should extend that road to Mpika through Nabwalya up to Mpika because we are also human beings here in Mpika,” Sata said. “You just look at the landless corner - Mumbwa road, the Monze-Namwala road, Lukulu-Zambezi road and the Serenje-Kasama road.

In fact, that K290 billion they are saying they will spend on that road can do the Serenje-Kasama road.”
Sata said the MMD was also trying to raise campaign funds through the Chipata-Mfuwe road project.

“This is just a conduit for campaign funds. That contractor was given the Petauke-Chipata road and they haven’t done anything. They have spent almost ten years on the Luwingu road and the project hasn’t finished up to todate. Besides, I doubt if that K290 billion is even in the yellow book,” Sata said.
Sata also said President Banda had back-peddled on his own words.

“Some time back when the Zambia Wildlife Authority bill was taken to Parliament, Rupiah was the one who led a walk-out involving some members of parliament,” Sata said. “His argument was that ‘we can’t respect animals more than human beings’. But he is now favouring a road that leads to a game park where animals live. He has swallowed his own words.”

Source:postzambia.com/

Zambia: Richard Sakala attacks LAZ and disbanded Task Force

Former State House Press Aide, Richard Sakala has castigated the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) for demanding the resignation of Director of Public Relations (DPP) Chalwe Muchenga.

Mr. Sakala said the demand by LAZ for the DPP to resign is not only illegal but and irregular but also shows the worst hypocrisy on the part of LAZ.

He has since accused the association of being politically inclined.

Mr. Sakala said this at press briefing in Lusaka today where he also launched his book “Mockery of Justice” experience with the criminal justice system (2001-2008)

The former State House Press Aide said he was disturbed that LAZ was becoming political instead of instead of defending the constitutions of Zambia .

He said he was jailed by the now disbanded Tasks Force on corruption which was an illegal entity but the LAZ failed to act on it despite him requesting its intervention.

He said LAZ appears to be very selective in the cause they champion accusing them of been silent and turning a blind eye to gross abuses.

Mr. Sakala has since called on LAZ to be fair in the dealing arguing them to uphold the constitution of Zambia.

“I was personally prosecuted and sent to prison by the task force on corruption which was totally an illegal and unconstitutional body.

” I wrote to LAZ for their intervention but my complaint has been left pending on their file. This is neither just, fair nor proper “he said.

Mr. Sakala has also called for the opening of investigations in the establishment of the task force on corruption where more than US$ 25 million was spend.

He charged that LAZ are now attempting to demonize and eliminate the Vice President as a way to divert attention from the gross financial and legal abuses by the Task force.

Mr. Sakala has also observed that unfair and unbalanced stance by LAZ and some section of the media have the potential to disrupt the peace and order the country has enjoyed since independence.

ZANIS

Source:lusakatimes.com/

Zambia: Zambia performed well in fighting piracy last year- Nkonde

Intellectual Property Specialist Kingsley Nkonde says Zambia performed very well in the fight against piracy last year.

Mr Nkonde told ZANIS in an interview, yesterday that, the success for Zambia making a mark against piracy is mainly due to the introduction of the Intellectual property unit by the Zambia Police.

He said the establishment of the unit had greatly assisted the country to effectively fight Piracy and other counterfeit products through intensified patrols.

He further said the fight against piracy and counterfeits, last year, also enjoyed political will by government.

Mr Nkonde noted it was with for this structural reason that Zambia was the only country in the region that had exposed a lot of counterfeit products not only in the music industry but in the manufacturing sector as well.

He has also paid tribute to the alert members of the general public who he said helped counter pricacy and counterfeit products in the country.

The Intellectual Property Specialist said Zambia curbed a lot of industrial counterfeits products such as fake Kiwi Polish , batteries and Vaseline among others.

He paid tribute to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) and the police have done a lot of sensitization fight against piracy and counterfeit products to the public and added that a lot of people nterrogate their products before buying.

Mr Nkonde however said that the Music Industry performed badly last year as a number of local and international music products were pirated.

He noted that the problem has been that the people who pirate have also advanced in the equipments.

He noted the need for government to put in place security measures which will distinguish original products from counterfeit products.

ZANIS

Source:lusakatimes.com/