The Chililabombwe District commissioner – DC has denied allegations that that the youths or cadres who earlier (on Saturday 28 May) petitioned to the Minister of Mines through her office in Chililabombwe were sponsored by the ruling United Party for National Development – UPND.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times –ZBT, Chililabombwe DC Precious Njekwa said government or ruling party could never sponsor such a thing as it will mean being insincere to the Zambian people.
Njekwa said Government has no position on that petition as it is supposed to be taken to cabinet adding that the petition was based on freedom of expression and it need to be respected regardless of the status.
There has been mixed messages in the new dawn government were President Hakainde Hichilema categorically states that Vedanta will not be allowed back but his party functionaries and at times senior appointees are later seen to be entertaining the very idea that seem to have been put to rest, in the process resurrecting it.
The Chililabombwe DC said the youths only took advantage of the minister of mines Paul Kabuswe who is also Chililabombwe member of parliament presence during his visit his constituency to demand for the return of the mining firm.
Chililabombwe DC has since warned that those that are saying the petition was sponsored should be very careful as they might be called to show who exactly sponsored it. She stated that the allegations were a total lie and no government official had sponsored that as it was just the voice from the youths of Chililabombwe.
Njekwa reiterated to ZBT that, “government does not want Vedanta back and it has no position to state whoever they want, so there is no position actually from government.” She further said the UPND government is a listening government and will listen to what the people want and if they say they want Vedanta back, then it has to sit down and come up with the better solution.
Recapitalization of both Konkola Copper Mines – KCM and Mopani Copper Mines have dragged delaying the rebound of the Zambian economy despite record high copper prices. ZCCM IH who currently owns the two mines have been mute on securing financing even for the medium term, thereby making the two mines operations much more difficult.
