Kagem donates items worth over K200,000 in the continued fight against Covid-19
LUFWANYAMA, 13 JUNE 2022
Kagem Mining Ltd has donated items worth over K200,000 to health facilities in the Lufwanyama District to support government efforts in the fight against the deadly coronavirus.
The items, which included disinfectants, overalls, goggles and nasal prongs, were delivered to Lufwanyama District Hospital and the Provincial Health Office, with the latter awaiting distribution to various health facilities within the district.
Kagem Senior Manager – Corporate Affairs, Wesley Chibamba explained, “Kagem is proud to assist the government once again in tackling one of the biggest health challenges besetting the country. Our donation will complement Government efforts in managing the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Mr Chibamba said the mine would continue working alongside the Government in addressing some of the country’s most pressing issues.
Lufwanyama District Health Director Dr Jacob Ng’ambi thanked Kagem for its active role in helping to alleviate Covid-19 in the district, explaining the materials would greatly benefit patients in the local health centres.
“These are essential items in the management of Covid-19. They will go a long way in helping our patients,” he added.
Lufwanyama District Commissioner Justin Mwalikwa reiterated Dr Ng’ambi’s sentiments and urged other companies to emulate Kagem’s example of supporting Government efforts in bringing development to communities.
Since the outset of the pandemic, Kagem has provided several donations in the prevention of Covid-19 to various health centres in Lufwanyama, including the District Hospital, Nkana Health Centre and the Provincial Health Office.
The most recent donations were made to recognize World Health Day and demonstrate Kagem’s continued commitment to supporting healthcare in the communities around its operations, as part of its community sustainability programmes that are aligned with government policies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030.
-ENDS-
ENQUIRIES
| ENQUIRIES | Gillian Langmead Langmead & Baker Ltd Tel: +260 979 060705 info@langmead.com |
| HEAD OFFICE | Helena Choudhury Head of PR and Communications Tel: +44 (0)207 518 3420 / +44 (0)7493 237598 helena.choudhury@gemfields.com |
NOTES TO EDITORS
Kagem responsible sourcing highlights
- Kagem is committed to ensuring that the community continues to benefit positively from its operations through various sustainability programmes focused on alleviating poverty and aligned with government policies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030
- The mine has spent more than USD 2.8 million on community projects, including:
- Rehabilitation of the 18.7km road connecting Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s chiefdoms from Kandole to Kafwaya village in Lufwanyama district
- Construction of the Nkana Health Centre
- Construction and equipping of a new Chapula Secondary School
- Construction of new buildings at Chapula Primary School
- Building of teachers’ accommodation at Kapila Community School
- Support for the Blessing, Kapila Green Farms, Twende and Twasanta projects
- Improvements to Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s palaces
- Kagem has renewed its partnership with the University of Zambia (UNZA), committing to a new USD 172,500 scholarship programme which follows the previous commitment of USD 345,000 to sponsor students from the geological and mining engineering departments at the School of Mines at UNZA and Copperbelt University (CBU) over a period of eight years.
- Kagem has pledged USD 220,000 to support the Lumpuma Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society farming initiative.
- Kagem currently provides 1,150 direct jobs, with 94% of the workforce being local.
About Kagem Mining
Kagem Mining Ltd, based in Lufwanyama, is believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine. Kagem is 75% owned by Gemfields, in a model partnership with the Zambian government.
Kagem aims to emulate the values of Gemfields and operate in a way that contributes positively to the national economy, while taking a leading role in modernising the coloured gemstone sector and building sustainable livelihoods for the communities around the mine. Kagem believes that coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values – transparency, legitimacy and integrity.
Gemfields is a world-leading miner of responsible coloured gemstones. In addition to Kagem, Gemfields is the operator and 75% owner of Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique (at one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), as well as bulk sampling licences in Ethiopia, amongst others.
Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a consistent supply of coloured gemstones to the global jewellery market.
As well as supplying a significant share of the world’s rough rubies and emeralds, Gemfields initiates activations to build desire for coloured gemstones: for example, collaborations with international jewellery brands and other creative partners. Often surprising, unexpected and unique, these collaborations are chosen to promote consumer awareness and increase the appeal of coloured gemstones, raising their profile, and, in turn, providing greater benefit to their place of origin in Africa.
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