Job losses in mines will lead to increased poverty- CSPR

The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) says the job losses in the mining sector on the Copperbelt will no doubt lead to increased poverty levels in the country.

CSPR Civic Participation and Advocacy Programme Officer Maxson Nkhoma says the Copperbelt Province has done well in terms of meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number one of alleviating extreme poverty, but notes that the reported job losses will reverse the efforts made.

Mr. Nkhoma has told QFM News that it was anticipated that the low copper prices on the international market may lead to job loses if mine owners, unions and government did not plan well to safeguard the jobs in the mining industry.

He says it is also unfortunate that while President Lungu spent six days on the Copperbelt trying to engage the mine owners on the need to preserve jobs, hundreds of miners are being condemned to poverty through job losses.

Mr. Nkhoma has since called for more effective engagements between government and the mine owner in order to safeguard jobs in the mining sector.