By DERRICK SILIMINA
Pridegems Mines Ltd, a subsidiary of the Grizzly Group of Companies, has donated a Toyota Land Cruiser VX automobile worth K400,000 to Senior Chief Kasempa of the Kaonde-speaking people of North-Western Province.
Company General Manager Barbra Shilengwe said in its quest to enhance its corporate social responsibility programmes, the mining firm has taken it as an obligation to plough back into the community where it operates.
“Having identified the transport challenge over the past three years, Grizzly Copper Mines Limited requests that you accept this token of appreciation, in form of a Vehicle (Toyota Land Cruiser VX), which we pray will help His Royal Highness with ease of mobility,” Shilengwe said during the hand-over ceremony held at Snr Chief Kasempa’s palace in Kasempa district on Friday.
She noted that from its inception in 2016, the mining firm has been accorded an enabling environment through Snr Chief Kasempa’s royal establishment and for this reason, Grizzly copper mines looked forward to a continued cordial working relationship with him and the people of Kasempa district.
Shilengwe pledged that the mining company would continue to partner with the chiefdom in a bid to enhance its corporate social responsibility in the community.
Speaking at the same event, Pridegems Manager Joseph Manyepa said despite the negative effects of Covid-19 pandemic on the company’s operations, works on the proposed mine site have reached an advanced stage.
Manyepa disclosed that as geologists gets down to work from soil sampling up to mine drilling in a bid to kickstart mining, operations would hopefully start soon.
“We are hopeful that from the preliminary studies that we have done, soil sampling and the aerial survey we conducted, Zambia Wildlife Authority and the Forestry were informed as the results where good,” Manyepa stated.
He expressed optimism that once mine operations start, the entire chiefdom would be empowered with direct and indirect employment and various CSR programmes.
Snr Chief Kasempa expressed gratitude to Grizzly group of companies’ for meeting his transport request which would ease the performance of his duties.
“I would like to thank Grizzly Mining for giving us the vehicle for His Royal Highness Snr Chief Kasempa as this gesture has come at the right time. So, we are sending our blessings that as Grizzly operates here in our chiefdom, they should achieve their goals,” Kasempa Royal Establishment Vice-Secretary Caren Kamanga said.
“We are really in support of the Grizzly mining company and since they came here in Kasempa, we have been in good terms with them and we look forward to partner with their investment,” she said.
