FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURE
24 JUNE, 2022
Kagem an exemplary employer – Lufwanyama DC
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – Lufwanyama District Commissioner Justin Mwalikwa has commended Kagem’s move to honour its staff during an award ceremony held as part of International Labour Day Celebrations, calling the mine an exemplary employer.
Mr Mwalikwa said the Government encouraged such gestures because they demonstrate how Kagem continues to improve staff welfare by recognising the contributions employees have made to the mine’s success.
“Kagem thrives because it appropriately takes care of its staff and motivates them accordingly. We believe that is why everyone puts in their best to drive the company forward,” he said.
The District Commissioner also said he hoped other companies would emulate the example Kagem has set as a company that does well by its employees.
The ceremony, which saw 87 employees receive awards in two major categories – Longevity of Service, and Diligence and Hard Work- was held at the Kagem mine site in Lufwanyama District.
Speaking to an elated audience during the event, Kagem Board Chairman Dr Sixtus Mulenga said that the company’s achievements, such as Kagem being recognised as the single largest emerald-producing mine in the world, and more recently with Kagem’s ‘Chipembele’ emerald having broken the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Largest uncut emerald, would not have been possible without Kagem’s most important asset: its staff.
“Our human resource is the most valuable resource that Kagem has, and we value it accordingly. It is because of the high regard in which we hold our staff that Kagem strives to provide the best employee welfare possible,” he said.
“As further testament to the value we place on our employees, it is worth noting that Kagem is the only company that kept all its employees on the payroll despite the suspension of operations owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. No employee was retrenched during this period despite the company not earning any revenue,” he added.
Dr Mulenga said Kagem had also placed its employees on a well-regarded healthcare package so that they may receive enhanced care while with the company.
Mine Workers Union (MUZ) General Secretary George Mumba praised Kagem’s consistency in awarding deserving members of staff.
The 87 award recipients walked away with cash prizes and assorted home appliances, such as fridges and television sets.
-Ends-
CONTACT
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
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com
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.
Fabergé – an iconic name with an exceptional heritage – is a member of the Gemfields Group. The beauty of Fabergé’s designs and craftsmanship, helps to raise consumer awareness of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones.
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.
Gemfields: Gemfields.com | Investors | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Fabergé: Fabergé.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Kagem Mining: LinkedIn
Montepuez Ruby Mining: LinkedIn