•PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (far end) in a breakfast meeting with Lamba chiefs in Kitwe, during his five-day working visit to the Copperbelt. Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE

By SYLVESTER MWALE and MILDRED KATONGO –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has described his five-day working visit to the Copperbelt as resoundingly successful after managing to save hundreds of jobs in the mining sector.
Mr Lungu met with mining companies and union representatives in his bid to find a solution to pending job losses in the sector due to falling copper prices on the international market.
“The visit was resoundingly successful,” Mr Lungu said. “But just like they say that you cannot score everything, but if you score eight out of 10, then it is successful and rate my visit eight out of 10.”
The President was speaking at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) on arrival from the Copperbelt where he urged the mines to keep the job losses at the lowest level.
The Head of State is expected to make another visit to the Copperbelt in December this year, but will first visit other parts of the country starting with Eastern Province.
During his working visit, Mr Lungu met with the owners of mining companies and presented firm grounds to secure the majority of jobs that were on the verge of being lost due to low copper prices.
Mr Lungu’s intervention has resulted in ensuring that jobs at Luanshya Copper Mine (LCM) are secured while a fertile ground for dialogue between mine owners and union representatives has been created at
Mopani and KCM.
The President, who also met with CBU students, offered amnesty to erring lecturers at the institution, ensuring any disciplinary actions against lecturers and students in relation to the recent illegal strike were dropped.
Mr Lungu addressed scores of people who saw him off at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola shortly before he left for Lusaka where he described his visit to the province as an eye opener to various challenges being faced by the people in the area.
“I have been on the Copperbelt for a five days; I have seen the challenges and sufferings of the people in the province especially in the mining sector. I have met with mine owners and mine unions to find a way forward, especially on the issues of jobs,” Mr Lungu said.
The Head of State was accompanied by the First Lady Esther, Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma, Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda, his counterpart for Health Joseph Kasonde, Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge, PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri as well as other Government officials.
Mr Lungu said that the Government would not allow any job losses and closure of mines on the Copperbelt.