BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes
@SunZambia
MOPANI Copper Mines (MCM) of Mufulira has helped raise K158, 000 from local contractors and suppliers, to be allocated to the 317 traders at Malela market as start-up capital after the premises went up in flames last year.
Mopani’s chief executive officer, Chris Vermeulen said the move by the company was to make the Malela marketplace an upgrade in every sense.
Mr Vermeulen told Zambia Chamber of Mines magazine ‘Mining for Zambia’ that MCM had also created an all-weather access road to the market in addition to constructing an ablution facility and shower rooms for both ladies and gents..
“For ladies, we constructed five toilets and two showers, and for gents there are three toilets, four urinals, and shower rooms.”
He explained that an all-weather drainage system was constructed around the market to prevent flooding.
“Although our initial target was to cater for the 317 affected traders by the fire, we have constructed a total of 338 stands at this reconstructed market,” Vermeulen said in December last year.
Mr Vermeulen explained that the company deliberately erected the trading stands using concrete to avoid the incidence of any possible future fire outbreaks.
“We trust that this kind of collaboration with our contractors and suppliers will continue as we all work towards bettering the lives of Mufulira residents,” he said.
