MINES Minister Richard Musukwa says government will only entertain credible, world-class track records companies to partner with Mopani Copper Mines in the second phase of the restructuring process.

And Mopani Copper Mines has unveiled a new corporate brand identity with a redesigned logo to reflect changes to its shareholding structure.

Speaking when he addressed the MCC board, Tuesday, Musukwa said the employees of Mopani were government’s greatest assets.

He asked for patience among the workers, saying going forward they wanted to ensure that there were liabilities.

“The expectation from our people from the mining industry in this case [of] Mopani is very high. The driving force in order to ensure that these expectations are met sits at the platform of the board and management. It is very key to ensure that there is a strategy focus to ensure that this mine is on the rise again. More importantly, as we complete this first phased process, is to get into the second phased process of ensuring that we get a strategic partner that works with ZCCM-IH and build one the fortunes of our company. We have done our part as government and we would like to see the board, ZCCM-IH transition to another part where we get a strategic partner that helps build the company to another level. And in ensuring that we transition to another level, I want to take this opportunity to urge the board of ZCCM-IH, and the management of Mopani, what is key is our people, the employees, governments greatest assets,” Musukwa said.

“The employees of Mopani are the government’s greatest assets and that any decision that we make, these are the priorities. We hope that going into the second phase you will work round to ensure that the interests of the workers are protected. Going forward we want to ensure that there are liabilities, and I ask for patience among our workers.”

Musukwa noted that there were several entities that expressed interest in partnering with Mopani, but that government wanted to ensure that only credible, world-class track records companies were entertained as partners.

“I continue to note that there are several entities that express interest to partner with Mopani. We want to ensure that only credible, world-class track records companies are entertained as partners. We cannot afford to experiment with partnership at this level. Get partners that have the prowess to execute duties diligently. Government is looking for the earliest turn around in ensuring that romp up of production is achieved. We want to send a very strong message that there is a board in place, there is a system in place. Sound a serious warning to our contractors that they should ensure that they should prove themselves that they can operate above board,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mopani Copper Mines has unveiled a new corporate brand identity with a redesigned logo to reflect changes to its shareholding structure.

According to a statement issued by Mopani public relations manager Nebert Mulenga, Monday, acting chief executive officer Charles Sakanya said the rebranding followed the recent acquisition of major stakes in the mining firm.

“As part of our rebranding exercise following the recent acquisition of the majority stake in our company by ZCCM-IH, it has become imperative that we redesign our corporate brand identity and there is no better way to reflect this than in our resilient Mopani tree logo. While our ever-green Mopani tree and the company name remain unchanged, our new logo now carries a strapline ‘A ZCCM-IH Subsidiary’ to reflect who we are today and our dynamic future as a proudly Zambian-owned mine,” he said.