STAKEHOLDERS COMMEND PROTEST BY CSO’S ON KCM-MOPANI DELAYS
Written by Mafken FM Newsroom on 10 July 2023
A Consortium of Civil Society Organizations-CSOs will on 12th August 2023 hold a protest over the delay by government to resolve the challenges at Konkola Copper Mine -KCM- and Mopani Copper Mine.
National Development and Democracy Executive Director, Samuel Banda says the CSOs will proceed to petition President Hakainde Hichilema over the matter after the protest.
Mr. Banda says the CSOs are saddened that the second quarter of the year has ended and yet government has not made a critical decision on addressing the non-functionality status of KCM and Mopani Mines.
And reacting to this, a Mining Expert, Charles Mulila has welcomed the move, stating that it has been long overdue.
Mr Mulila says it is saddening that the country has been mining for almost 100 years but the benefits leave much to be desired.
He has since advised Government to sit down and plan properly and give the nation a clear road map on what will be done to rectify the problems at KCM and Mopani.
Meanwhile, Opposition Green party Leader, Peter Sinkamba has commended the move by the Civil Society Organizations-CSO’s, citing that it is within their constitutional right to protest, provided they do so within the confines of the law.
Mr Sinkamba says the issues at KCM and Mopani are very critical for the development of the country and need urgent attention.
He says the country is limping economically because the two institutions have a challenge in their operations.
The Green party Leader has, thus, called on Government to conclude and resolve the issues as soon as possible before the issue escalates from Civil Societies to the Community.
Meanwhile, an organisation advocating for the resumption of operations of KCM and Mopani mines has observed that the mines risk turning into a ‘Sugilite’ scandal if issues are not resolved.
Speaking in a statement issued to Mafken FM radio, movement Coordinator, Chishala Mwamba says many minerals stand to be looted especially on the Copperbelt if KCM and Mopani are not given to the right investors soon.
Mr Mwamba says there have been rumours already of illegal mining activities at KCM, noting that, it is only a matter of time before they can be confirmed.
He explains that, the levels of anxiety and desperation being experienced on the Copperbelt amongst most people who have been left unemployed might eventually lead to illegalities as was the case in Luapula Province because without mining there is no Copperbelt.
By Kalonje Mumba
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