Speech by the Chairman of Zambezi Portland Cement Limited Dr. Rajan Mahtani at the groud breaking ceremony at Senior Chief Chiwala’s area on Friday 20th June, 2014 at 15.00hrs for construction of 127 houses for families displaced.
Your Royal Highness, Senior Chief Chiwala And Members Of Your Indunas
The Guest Of Honour – Hon. Emmanuel Chenda M.P. Minister Of Local Government And Housing
Hon. Professor Nkandu Luo M.P. – Minister Of Chiefs And Traditional Affairs
Hon. Robert Sichinga M.P. Minister Of Commerce, Trade And Industry
Hon. Fackson Shamenda M.P. Minister Of Labour And Social Security
The Provincial Minsister For The Copperbelt Province
Disctrict Commissioners, His Worship The Mayor, Councillors, And Visiting Officials
Directors And Consultants Of The Board Of ZPC
Distinguished Invited Guests, Ladies And Gentlemen,
All Protocols Observed.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Zambezi Portland Cement Limited, may I welcome each and every one of you , to this ground breaking ceremony for the construction of 127 houses ex- gratia for displaced families as stage one of our corporate responsibility.
Cost over-runs, abnormal circumstances of shareholders’ disputes, the appointment of a receiver by one of the major lenders, delayed the completion of the plant, the consequence of which resulted in the plant being commissioned for production in late November 2009. Operations at the Quarry or the Mine commenced a year earlier to provide the lime stone required for construction of the plant.
At this juncture, allow me to comment on various tabloids that have undertaken a personal vendetta on behalf of the minority shareholders who have been charged for embezzlement of funds to the extent of almost forty million US dollars.
The tabloids have chosen to use cyber conspiracy methods by hiding behind unregistered international tabloids and web sites, and are carrying out a malicious character assassination against only my person. You will be pleased to know, your royal highness and honourable ministers, that I have commenced legal proceedings and appropriate advertisements will soon appear in the local and international press.
I challenge all those involved, including their conspirators, to follow due process and seek redress (if there is any truth in their allegations) through the courts of law or face the consequences once traced and served with relevant summons.
Abraham Lincoln learnt to speak truth and conduct himself with self-respect and dignity, Unafraid of his financial position, from the lap of his mother. When little Abraham shared with his mother that he was disrespected and felt ashamed in the midst of his friends for wearing old and shabby clothes, she told him that he need not feel so. She counselled him that poverty, though viewed in poor light by others, will eventually help him gain respect. Lincoln later in his life declared,
“You may disrespect me, but truth cannot be disrespected. It will emerge triumphant!”
He proceeded on the path of truth and self-confidence taught by his mother and became the President of the United States of America.
ZPC commenced project activities for the cement plant in Masaiti District after approval of the project by ZEMA (formerly Environmental Council of Zambia) in 2006 subsequent to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) undertaken as required by law.
One of the ZEMA approval conditions for the cement plant project was that ZPC would resettle all the people that would be adversely affected by the activities associated with cement production.
The land allocated for this project is located in Senior Chief Chiwala’s Area and identified and planned by the Masaiti District Council for the construction of houses. The preliminary site layout was completed by the Masaiti District Council planning unit. The area was surveyed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The new plots that the Project Affected Households (PAHs) will occupy will be 450m2 each. The PAHs (Project Affected Households) will be given title deeds for the new land that they will occupy. A single house of standard design is approximately 42m2 in area which includes a living area, two bedrooms and a cooking area. VIP toilets containing a toilet and bathroom in an area of 7m2 for each house are also being built. Six bore holes are being sunk at convenient locations to provide water for all 127 households. We expect to complete the construction of these houses and boreholes at a cost of over USD 1Million by the end of this year.
Although the number of households that would be affected was identified as 69 and this was approved by ZEMA in November 2012, the Company went a step further from its obligation to resurvey the possibly affected households in March this year before commencing on the construction of the houses. The team that surveyed consisted of people from the Chiwala Royal Establishment, ZEMA and Masaiti District Council. The Company felt it was important not only to fulfill its obligation but also go beyond its legal obligation in PRIORITY OF clearing the Company’s borrowings or ITS returns to Shareholders.
The affected households are located within and close to ZPC mining licence area. There are three villages located within the mine licence area, namely Belemu, Mafinge and Alitoni located about 200 meters from the ZPC quarry (Mine) and Olo located about 400 meters away from the quarry.
The construction of these 127 houses and six boreholes is just phase One of the program the Company has in mind for the area of Senior Chief Chiwala. Besides, setting up an internal road network and refuse collection stations, also under phase one of the program, the Company intends to upgrade the existing basic schools, construct a health facility, churches and a central market over the next few years.
The Company’s production capacity is 1,000 tons per day or 360,000 tons per annum. But with the efficient chemical mix and production methods adopted by the Company, it has been able to enhance its production by over 25%.
Hon. Minister of Labour, you will be pleased to learn that The Company employs over 545 Zambians of whom over 470 are on a permanent employment basis, and over 70 who are in senior and middle management on contract basis. There are six students on attachment at the moment. There are many unskilled and semi-skilled being employed from the Senior Chief Chiwala’s area.
All the workers employed by the Contractor besides the supervisors are from Senior Chief Chiwala area. Preference is given to employ people from Senior Chief Chiwala’s area for general workers who are often needed for specific short term assignments. The Company is, also, planning to expand its operation by the end of this year which will result in employing more people.
In the long term, the Company also intends building houses for workers which will be sold through affordable mortgages. This is part of the employee empowerment plan the Company seeks to achieve for its workers. Your Royal Highness, Senior Chief Chiwala, we may soon be knocking at your door for suitable land to build these houses.
Here I am reminded of the definition of Opportunist:
“a person who starts taking bath if he accidentally falls into a river”
“Laughing at your own mistakes can lengthen your life” – Shakespeare
“Laughing at your wife’s mistakes can shorten your life” – Shakespeare’s wife
The Board and Directors of ZPC are gratified in the knowledge that the Company donated a total of 240 tons of cement to various NGOs, churches and Chiwala area of which 132 tons was for the Chiwala Royal Establishment, 20 tons to Chiwala Secondary school and 10 tons to Chiwala Primary school, over the past 12 months.
May I, in closing, thank His Excellency the President, the Government of Zambia, His Royal Highnesses, the People of Zambia, the management and staff of ZPC for their confidence in me and the support to the institution making ZPC a proud economic contributor to the Country, the Revenue Authority and indeed the empowerment of the citizens through an enabling environment. My gratitude to all our distinguished dignitaries and guests for affording us their presence at this special occasion in the history of ZPC.
It is now my great pleasure in calling upon Honourable Emmanuel Chenda, M.P. Minister of Local Government & Housing to address us.
Your Royal Highness, Senior Chief Chiwala And Members Of Your Indunas
The Guest Of Honour – Hon. Emmanuel Chenda M.P. Minister Of Local Government And Housing
Hon. Professor Nkandu Luo M.P. – Minister Of Chiefs And Traditional Affairs
Hon. Robert Sichinga M.P. Minister Of Commerce, Trade And Industry
Hon. Fackson Shamenda M.P. Minister Of Labour And Social Security
The Provincial Minsister For The Copperbelt Province
Disctrict Commissioners, His Worship The Mayor, Councillors, And Visiting Officials
Directors And Consultants Of The Board Of ZPC
Distinguished Invited Guests, Ladies And Gentlemen,
All Protocols Observed.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Zambezi Portland Cement Limited, may I welcome each and every one of you , to this ground breaking ceremony for the construction of 127 houses ex- gratia for displaced families as stage one of our corporate responsibility.
- to establish a cement plant in order to break the monopoly that existed in the cement industry at that moment and time;
- to create local employment and;
- to meet the growing need for cement in Zambia and the neighbouring region.
Cost over-runs, abnormal circumstances of shareholders’ disputes, the appointment of a receiver by one of the major lenders, delayed the completion of the plant, the consequence of which resulted in the plant being commissioned for production in late November 2009. Operations at the Quarry or the Mine commenced a year earlier to provide the lime stone required for construction of the plant.
At this juncture, allow me to comment on various tabloids that have undertaken a personal vendetta on behalf of the minority shareholders who have been charged for embezzlement of funds to the extent of almost forty million US dollars.
The tabloids have chosen to use cyber conspiracy methods by hiding behind unregistered international tabloids and web sites, and are carrying out a malicious character assassination against only my person. You will be pleased to know, your royal highness and honourable ministers, that I have commenced legal proceedings and appropriate advertisements will soon appear in the local and international press.
I challenge all those involved, including their conspirators, to follow due process and seek redress (if there is any truth in their allegations) through the courts of law or face the consequences once traced and served with relevant summons.
Abraham Lincoln learnt to speak truth and conduct himself with self-respect and dignity, Unafraid of his financial position, from the lap of his mother. When little Abraham shared with his mother that he was disrespected and felt ashamed in the midst of his friends for wearing old and shabby clothes, she told him that he need not feel so. She counselled him that poverty, though viewed in poor light by others, will eventually help him gain respect. Lincoln later in his life declared,
“You may disrespect me, but truth cannot be disrespected. It will emerge triumphant!”
He proceeded on the path of truth and self-confidence taught by his mother and became the President of the United States of America.
ZPC commenced project activities for the cement plant in Masaiti District after approval of the project by ZEMA (formerly Environmental Council of Zambia) in 2006 subsequent to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) undertaken as required by law.
One of the ZEMA approval conditions for the cement plant project was that ZPC would resettle all the people that would be adversely affected by the activities associated with cement production.
The land allocated for this project is located in Senior Chief Chiwala’s Area and identified and planned by the Masaiti District Council for the construction of houses. The preliminary site layout was completed by the Masaiti District Council planning unit. The area was surveyed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The new plots that the Project Affected Households (PAHs) will occupy will be 450m2 each. The PAHs (Project Affected Households) will be given title deeds for the new land that they will occupy. A single house of standard design is approximately 42m2 in area which includes a living area, two bedrooms and a cooking area. VIP toilets containing a toilet and bathroom in an area of 7m2 for each house are also being built. Six bore holes are being sunk at convenient locations to provide water for all 127 households. We expect to complete the construction of these houses and boreholes at a cost of over USD 1Million by the end of this year.
Although the number of households that would be affected was identified as 69 and this was approved by ZEMA in November 2012, the Company went a step further from its obligation to resurvey the possibly affected households in March this year before commencing on the construction of the houses. The team that surveyed consisted of people from the Chiwala Royal Establishment, ZEMA and Masaiti District Council. The Company felt it was important not only to fulfill its obligation but also go beyond its legal obligation in PRIORITY OF clearing the Company’s borrowings or ITS returns to Shareholders.
The affected households are located within and close to ZPC mining licence area. There are three villages located within the mine licence area, namely Belemu, Mafinge and Alitoni located about 200 meters from the ZPC quarry (Mine) and Olo located about 400 meters away from the quarry.
The construction of these 127 houses and six boreholes is just phase One of the program the Company has in mind for the area of Senior Chief Chiwala. Besides, setting up an internal road network and refuse collection stations, also under phase one of the program, the Company intends to upgrade the existing basic schools, construct a health facility, churches and a central market over the next few years.
The Company’s production capacity is 1,000 tons per day or 360,000 tons per annum. But with the efficient chemical mix and production methods adopted by the Company, it has been able to enhance its production by over 25%.
Hon. Minister of Labour, you will be pleased to learn that The Company employs over 545 Zambians of whom over 470 are on a permanent employment basis, and over 70 who are in senior and middle management on contract basis. There are six students on attachment at the moment. There are many unskilled and semi-skilled being employed from the Senior Chief Chiwala’s area.
All the workers employed by the Contractor besides the supervisors are from Senior Chief Chiwala area. Preference is given to employ people from Senior Chief Chiwala’s area for general workers who are often needed for specific short term assignments. The Company is, also, planning to expand its operation by the end of this year which will result in employing more people.
In the long term, the Company also intends building houses for workers which will be sold through affordable mortgages. This is part of the employee empowerment plan the Company seeks to achieve for its workers. Your Royal Highness, Senior Chief Chiwala, we may soon be knocking at your door for suitable land to build these houses.
Here I am reminded of the definition of Opportunist:
“a person who starts taking bath if he accidentally falls into a river”
“Laughing at your own mistakes can lengthen your life” – Shakespeare
“Laughing at your wife’s mistakes can shorten your life” – Shakespeare’s wife
The Board and Directors of ZPC are gratified in the knowledge that the Company donated a total of 240 tons of cement to various NGOs, churches and Chiwala area of which 132 tons was for the Chiwala Royal Establishment, 20 tons to Chiwala Secondary school and 10 tons to Chiwala Primary school, over the past 12 months.
May I, in closing, thank His Excellency the President, the Government of Zambia, His Royal Highnesses, the People of Zambia, the management and staff of ZPC for their confidence in me and the support to the institution making ZPC a proud economic contributor to the Country, the Revenue Authority and indeed the empowerment of the citizens through an enabling environment. My gratitude to all our distinguished dignitaries and guests for affording us their presence at this special occasion in the history of ZPC.
It is now my great pleasure in calling upon Honourable Emmanuel Chenda, M.P. Minister of Local Government & Housing to address us.