The Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has failed for the first time to produce its state o accounts for March 31, this year due to non availability of information from investor companies, according to the company secretary's office Friday.

Illegal mining in South Africa is on the increase in the face of deteriorating economic situation in that mineral-rich country, according to reliable sources..

South Africa continues to dominate the supply chain for capital equipment to the mining sector of several countries in the immediate neighbourhood of the sub-region, according to available statistics and data.

State-owned copper mining investment holding company wants to branch out into agriculture, energy and manufacturing.

Just as government threatened to withdraw the licences of mining firms which refused to pay the increased taxes so did the mining companies threaten to stop their mining activities.

Dependent upon diesel-driven power plants which supply almost 200MW of electricity to the FQM mining operation at Kalumbila, almost 120 kilometers west of Solwezi the provincial capital needs an extra 30 percent for it to operate at full capacity.