I am really just a ceremonial person at this stage – Scott

DR GUY Scott says he will spend his remaining days as acting President commissioning more projects so that he can have his name embedded on plaques. And acting President Scott says he is happy with most companies on the Copperbelt for complying with the payment of taxes and other laws. Meanwhile, Zambezi Portland Cement Limited chairman Dr Rajan Mahtani says his firm was created to break the monopoly that existed in the cement industry at the time. Speaking during the official handover of 129 houses to displaced people in chief Chiwala’s  area on Thursday, acting President Scott said he was just a ceremonial person at this stage. “I am really just a ceremonial person at this stage. I have got four more days in my acting seat, so I am running round Zambia putting my name on copper plates everywhere. There is four more days, then the president turns black again. It is like a traffic light,” acting President Scott said, after sports minister Chishimba Kambwili introduced him to the audience as the only white president in Africa. Acting President Scott further joked with Mahtani, saying the latter should consider giving him one of the houses which Zambezi Portland Cement Limited was giving out to the displaced families in chief Chiwala’s area.

“I look forward to look at these houses. I probably would not have a government house to go back to… you know politics. So one of these 71 houses, is there one you can spare for me?” he asked. And acting President Scott said he was impressed with the standards of corporate social responsibility and paying of taxes by some companies on the Copperbelt Province. He cited Kagem Mining Limited as a very good example of those companies after the firm paid US$36 million of taxes last year and spent US$5 million upgrading a school and a clinic in Lufwanyama. “I am not here to glorify them but I had the chance to hear and get the figures and also to say that the standard on the Copperbelt is high, the praise is not automatic of level social corporate responsibility, you need to raise the standards . You need to raise the standards and I am sure you will raise your standards. I am sure you have not spared…you have not cut any corners and you have done things in the accordance of your own moral beliefs.

We are expecting more miracles from Zambezi Portland,” said acting President Scott. Meanwhile, Dr Mahtani said Zambezi Portland Cement Limited was established to create employment, enhance competition and meet the growing demand for cement in Zambia and the region. “The installed capacity of the plant is 1,000 tonnes per day or 360,000 tonnes per annum. I am glad to announce that the company produced 473,985 tonnes of cement during the year 2014 due to efficient chemical mix and production methods adopted by the company,” Dr Mahtani said. He said the company was committed to investing further in chief Chiwala’s area by setting up a lime plant. Dr Mahtani said a concrete block-making facility has since been launched, with a capacity to manufacture 8,000 blocks a day. Zambezi Portland Cement limited is expected to construct a total of 129 houses, with 71 so far built, for the displaced families. The US$2 million housing project will include the sinking of six boreholes, construction of three churches, a clinic and a market. – See more at: http://www.postzambia.com/news.php?id=5458#sthash.MHBc7Qum.dpuf

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