North-Western Province Council of Chiefs Chairperson, Chief Mumena has called upon the Zambia Chamber of Mines to ensure that there is more transparency in the mining supply chain.

Chief Mumena expressed concern that small and medium enterprise companies from North-Western Province always have to plead on their knees for the mining companies to include them in mine’s business model.

The traditional leader said this at the Zambia-Canada Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) forum held in Solwezi district of North-Western Province.

“Talking about contractors I think the big major contractors that are known in all the mining firms those are having their fair share of their businesses because even their negotiations is at a very high level sometimes international but my concern is on the SMEs and the smaller contractors that are locally based, Why should these be pleading to be included in your business model as mining”

“Why should they every time be going on their knees before they can even be considered to supply two rims of paper”

He said these are the things that the Zambia Chamber of Mines should look at to ensure that there is more transparency for the smaller companies to be given an opportunity.

Chief Mumena said this will bring about  proper inclusion for the local small and medium enterprise (SMEs).

He said when measures are too stringent just to have a company enlisted, this opens a room for too much corruption.

“When shall they grow when we give too many conditionalities for them to join your  supply chain systems”

“They need to grow just like the other big companies have grown…they started this way…we need to do the same..and give an opportunity to the smaller companies” he said.

Chief Mumena has since called for the responsible business model to be critically looked at.

He said there are too many cries of those that have been denied business.

And Chief Mumena called on the mining companies in the province to put up signature projects such as schools and hospita;s that will have a lasting legacy and stand the test of time.

Chief Mumemna bemoaned the fact that the province that boasts of three giant mines does not have a modern hospital to talk about nor a school that could match the standards of Copperbelt schools such as Mpelembe Secondary School.

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He said it was time mining companies in the province moved away from practising Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Social Investments which will have meaningful development and a lasting legacy.

And speaking during at the same function a representative from the office of Canadian high commissioner to Zambia Solomon Milimbo said Responsible Business Conduct is at the nexus of many priorities for Canada such as such as the respect for human rights, taking actions on Climate, promoting inclusive trade, and upholding the rights of indigenous people.

Mr. Milimbo further said Canada has a balanced approach to Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) which includes prevention, legislation in specific areas and access to non judicial disputes resolution mechanisms.

“Canada and Zambia have a lot in common, both Countries are committed to attracting and supporting responsible business Conduct that generate benefits for the Citizen.