Mopani Copper Mines Plc, Zambia’s second largest copper producer by output, a unit of Glencore AG of Switzerland, re launched its logo the first stage of a wider rebranding strategy to make the company more appealing as it seeks to revitalize its operations and meet its investment needs in Zambia.
The strategy, previously announced by the Mr Emmanuel Mutati former CEO and now Chairman of Mopani, will update and modernize all existing communications.
According to the company, the new logo, which retains the Mopani Tree at its centre has been developed in consultation with a representative group of company stakeholders including the management team, employees and trade union officials.
The Mopani Tree has been the symbol of Mopani for over 10 years and was chosen by employees in a company wide vote in 2000. The Mopani Tree is a strong symbol of the company’s commitment to growth and a management philosophy that places hardiness and resilience at its core.
The new logo will soon be complimented by the launch of a new website. The new site will be a modern and comprehensive information portal for anyone wishing to learn more about Mopani and its operations. The old logo will now be gradually phased out on all company property. Recently, Glencore International AG, Mopani’s holding company, honored more than 600 long servicing workers at its Mopani Copper Mine unit in Zambia with a reiteration to increase investment at its operations.
It recognized 664 female and male employees for long service and dedicated to duty, having served the company between 10 to 30 years at its operations in Kitwe and Mufulira. Of the 664 workers recognized, nine were female. Mopani Copper Mine executive officer Emmanuel Mutati, in a statement Thursday said the company was gratified with the contributions rendered by the employees affected and the miner felt duty bound to recognize their contribution to the growth of the company.
The events, held on 12 and 19 August and attended by various senior mining and union officials, marked the 10th to be held by the company since Mopani’s inception in 2000 after the country’s privatization of the mines, initially under Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines conglomerate which operated all operations under one group. The practice of honoring long serving employees was a tradition carried over from ZCCM of honoring employees who had served the company diligently and without a break in service.
Mr Mutati during the occasions stated that management recognized the role employees played in its operations and hoped the senior employees would share their rich work experience with the newcomers and enable a fusion of ideas and initiatives to improve Mopani’s performance in all areas. Mopani seeks to continue investing in all its operations to secure the future of the Company, its employees and the community at large citing the Synclinorium project at Nkana which would extend the life of the mine by 25 years.
At the 70 year old Mufulira Mine Site, the company seeks to undertake the upgrade of the smelter the smelter upgrade project which would facilitate installation of the third converter and associated acid plant. Once commissioned, the investment would besides increasing copper production at the smelter, also ensure the capture of 97% of Sulphur Dioxide emissions, a feat that would elevate Mopani to international environment compliance standards. It is Mopani’s commitment to ensure that the investment at Mufulira operations would help make the environment clean and in particular, free of Sulphur Dioxide emissions which have long affected local people and the environment.
Mr Mutati called for dedicated service among employees and ensure the zero injury target was achieved for both Mopani and contractor employees under the motto If it is not safe, don’t do it. All employees to be safety conscious to ensure the purpose of the long service was meaningful.
On HIV and AIDS, Mopani has initiated deliberate policy to ensure safety for all at work places and cautioned employees to play an active role in the fight against the pandemic. According to data, the company had trained as at June 1st 2011, 341 employees and community volunteers as peer educators, 298 as psychosocial counsellors, 43 as prevention of mother to child transmission counsellors, 57 as trainers of trainers and 22 as counsellor supervisors to facilitate sensitisation as well as voluntary counselling and testing of employees and community members.
The miner is Zambia’s second largest metal producer, Zambian registered company, owned by Carlisa Investments Corporation, JV company between Glencore International AG with 73.1 stake and First Quantum Minerals Limited with 16.9% while ZCCM IH has 10% share. The company operates mines in the towns of Kitwe and Mufulira, which are located on the Zambian Copperbelt.
(Filed by Mr Kapembwa Sinkamba SteelGuru Correspondent Zambia)
