Kagem Mining has set up US$345,000 worth of scholarships for students to study mining at the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) under an agreement signed this week.
Minister of Education, Hon. Michael Kaingu; Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development Hon. Christopher
Yaluma and Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Fackson Shamenda were on hand to witness signing of the
landmark memorandum of understanding at a ceremony in Lusaka on Friday (September 18).
“Kagem has a framework for sustainability that drives long-term development in partnership with the government and society as a whole. These scholarships demonstrate that commitment and show the company is here for the long-term,” said Kagem Director, Dr Sixtus Mulenga.
Under the terms of the scholarship 12 students – six from each university – from the geological and mining engineering departments in their second and third years of study will be selected to receive a comprehensive scholarship for the rest of the duration of their course over a period of eight years.
The scholarships will cover the full cost of education including tuition fees, boarding fees, up-keep, clothing and book allowances as well as a medical
scheme with Kagem.
Students under the scheme will be accorded internship opportunities at Kagem Mining during their recess as well as an apprenticeship upon completion and further training in areas deemed necessary by the company. They will be indentured to work for Kagem for a period corresponding with the sponsorship period.
The agreements are part of Kagem’s efforts to help the government develop more coloured gemstone industry-oriented graduates that are up-to-date with current technical and theoretical knowledge and mining requirements of the day.
Dr Kaingu said, “Education is a partnership. This initiative supplements government efforts developing the human
resources to develop this country.”
However, he added that, “it can also be noted that training for a career in the mining sector can be a challenge for most students due
to the expenses involved. It often takes the dedication of
both the parents and well-wishers as well the student and
many times it does take a toll on finances. The scholarships themselves will cost $345,000 over the eight years for a total
of 12 select students.
The decision by Kagem to roll out these scholarships is
timely as the mining sector in Zambia needs such
development in order to transform the sector by finding
solutions to the current challenges facing it as well as
innovative ideas to advance the sector to world standards.”
Speaking on behalf of both universities, UNZA Acting Deputy
Vice Chancellor, Dr Mick Mwala said,
“This partnership will
not only create graduates, but also scientists, leaders and
innovators. The scholarship will take into consideration the
vulnerable; there are excellent students who may not have
the means. We thank Kagem to this end.”
The world’s largest emerald mine, Lufwanyama-based
Kagem is 75 per cent owned by London-listed Gemfields plc
in a model partnership with the Zambian government, which
owns the remaining 25 per cent.
Since Gemfields took over operation of the mine in 2008 it
has invested US$60 million in turning Kagem from a long
history of making loss to one where it has been able to
increase achievable prices on the global markets tenfold and
become one of Zambia’s larger taxpaying mining
Companies, contributing more than K2.436 billion (US$324.9
million) to Zambia’s direct foreign earnings in the past few
years.
Kagem has generated more than US$40 million in corporate
taxes payable to the government in the last three years,
along with US$12 million in mineral royalties and US$4
million as the government’s share of dividends.
Gemfields and Kagem are at the forefront of developing the
international market and growing demand for Zambian
emeralds by investing in exploration, mining, sales and
marketing in order to ensure a competitive, reliable and
trusted source of responsibly produced gemstones while
pioneering new environmental, social and safety standards
within the coloured gemstone sector.
A key component of its progress has been the use of cutting
edge geological technology and expertise, supported by
sector specific mining methodologies, to develop the mine.
Kagem Mining believes that today’s students are tomorrow’s
workforce and industry champions and is thus motivated to
ensure that all of the values and training required by the
industry is properly communicated to all students via the
school curricula as companies should be able to further
improve their operating efficiencies, and the risks of on-the-
job training, if the education system is better positioned to
meet industry demands.
Kagem has also been supporting several education projects
at primary levels in Lufwanyama district where it operates,
the most recent project being the building of a new
secondary school next to Chapula Primary School, which will
see many more students advancing to secondary levels.
In
the past the students were unable to do so because of the
challenge of distance as the nearest secondary school for
some is as far as 20 kilometres.
Through its shared value model Kagem seeks to share the
benefits of Zambia’s emerald success by empowering and
enabling communities with skills and infrastructure that will
result in their self-sustenance.
”We are extremely proud of the successes we have been
able to achieve within the Zambian mining sector over the
past few years, and the fact that we have been able to turn a
once bankrupt company into a true global champion. We
look forward to continuing these successes way into the
future and a well-educated and highly motivated workforce
forms a core component of our ability to do just that,” added Dr Mulenga. -LT
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