By XAVIER MANCHISHI –
GOVERNMENT has urged Kalumbila Minerals to work with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) to get the correct balance of expatriates and local workers at its multi-billion mine in Solwezi.
Kalumbila Minerals, a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals, has invested over US$ 2 billion to develop a mine outside Solwezi which will be fully operational by the end of this year.

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Finance Deputy Minister Christoper Mvunga said although Kalumbila Minerals management had assured Government that it was not importing unskilled labour, it was important that the mine got the correct balance in consultation with the Ministry of Labour and MUZ.
Mr Mvunga said after touring the mine.the issues of unemployment the country was grappling with could only be addressed by allowing Zambian small entrepreneurs to participate in the investments that are happening in various parts of the country.
Kalumbila Minerals and other foreign investors must augment the number of employees by engaging local small-scale entrepreneurs as opposed to importing everything.
The deputy minister said he had a fruitful discussion with Kalumbila management which was beneficial to the investors and the stakeholders who are the Zambian people.
Mr Mvunga said Government was not at cross roads with mining companies as was being portrayed by doomsayers but that the continuous dialogue espoused by President Edgar Lungu was meant to address the challenges in the sector.
Kalumbila Trident mine general manager Rudi Badenhorst assured the minister that during the massive recruitment exercise, the firm had taken into consideration the interests of local people who should benefit more from a mine being opened in their backyard.
Mr Badenhorst said it was imperative that Government engaged in dialogue with investors over a range of issues in order to put things into perspective.
Apart from the mine which is expected to employ over 1,500 people, Kalumbila is developing a full scale town, developing an airport, a sawmill factory making school furniture using timber from the clearing of forests, a clinic and a hotel.
The mine has also partnered with the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) on game relocation of animals in the West Lunga National Park and three other Game Management Areas around the mine licence area.