Government has reinstated the Collum Coal Mine licence and
issued the colliery with a large-scale operations permit, a decision that
is expected to save over 600 jobs and create an additional 200.
And Collum Coal Mining Industries Limited has appointed Lusaka
business executive Suzyo Nyika as board chairman of the Sinazongwe-
based mine in Southern Province.
The mining company has since been directed to ensure strict adherence
to safety, health and environmental standards as it resumes operations
early this month.
In a letter dated March 30 this year addressed to Mr Nyika and copied to
the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development, Geological
Survey department and head of mining cadastre, director of mines
development Mooya Lumamba informed the company that a decision
had been made to reinstate the cancelled licence.
Mr Lumamba advised the company’s new management team in liaison
with the Mines Safety Department to conduct a thorough audit of the
mine and come up with a checklist of activities that need to be
undertaken to ensure adherence to all mining regulations.
“The Mines Safety department shall also develop new guidelines on
safety, health and environmental standards that you will be expected to
adhere to. Please contact ZCCM-IH over the matter and ensure a smooth
handover of the management of the mine,” Mr Lumamba states in the
letter.
This follows Collum Coal Mining Industries’ successful appeal to
President Lungu over its cancelled licence.
The 12,000 tonnes per annum producer of the heating substance chiefly
used by the mines for production of various metals was shut down in
February 2013.
Among concerns at the mine were alleged flouting of labour laws, poor
safety and sanitary record at place of work and failure to remit taxes.
The mining licence was cancelled due to a number of unresolved
disputes involving owners of the mine and the workers.
Collum Coal Mine director Xu Jianglin has announced that the mining
company had appointed Mr Nyika and hopes all stakeholders will give
him and his team support as they endeavor to resume operations and
contribute to the economy of Sinazongwe and Zambia as a whole.
“We hope the new chairman will be given all the support by
stakeholders to steer the mine to progress that will impact the people of
Sinazongwe positively,” Mr Xu said.
In October 2010, two Chinese supervisors allegedly shot at protesting
workers and injured 11 of them. The two supervisors were arrested and
charged with appropriate offences but the matter was discontinued in
the courts of law through a nolle prosequi.
In 2006, the then provincial minister Alice Simango openly wept after
seeing miners during emerge semi-naked and barefoot from the tunnel.
Ms Simango, who was blocked from entering the mine by the mine
owners, later recommended that it be closed to protect human life. LT
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