Maamba
Maamba is a place above the Karibastausees in the Southern Province in Zambia . The place has 10,415 inhabitants (2006 estimate) and is 50 km south of Choma and stretches along the road there. Maamba is 880 meters above sea level. The district of the same name, whose administration is based in the city, has 150,000 inhabitants.
economy
Maamba has been the main center of Zambian coal mining since 1967. The deposits amount to 20 million tons and should last over 100 years at today's production rates. Production rates of up to 360,000 tons per year were achieved and fell to 120,000 tons. The long-term goal is to extract 600,000 tons. This requires high investments that were not made by the Zambian state company until privatization in 2006.
The coal contains a high proportion of ash, which limits its use without treatment. But the rising oil price is forcing Zambia to use coal more in industry. It is mainly sold to Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), tobacco farmers and Chilanga Cement Plc. , as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo .
Social
The open pit has been operated by a Chinese company since 2006 and numerous problems develop.
Environmental protection is not taken into account. Working conditions and pay are below current standards. Workers receive $ 2 a day and work seven days a week with no vacation entitlement. The minimum wage is actually 90 US dollars a month, which is significantly higher, but this remains without sanctions. The Chinese are entering into fixed-term employment contracts to avoid social security contributions and wage subsidies. The lack of communication with the Chinese managers who do not speak English makes it difficult to communicate with Zambia. Also, the conditions imposed by the state hardly seem to allow better working conditions.
Infrastructure
Maamba has a 250-bed hospital, elementary and secondary schools and an airstrip.
See also
- For a map with all districts and provinces see: Administrative division of Zambia
Web links
- Report of the Los Angeles Times to the "Chinese working conditions" in Maamba of 6 October 2006 (English)
Coordinates: 17 ° 21 ′ S , 27 ° 13 ′ E