North Western Province Chiefs who are the original and rightful custodians of the wider community interests of the people of the province have demanded for a minimum of 15% revenue share from First Quantum Minerals – FQM from all minerals mined in the their areas that their chiefdoms have awarded to be exploited for mining.
The Chiefs in North Western province have asked the Zambian government to allow at least 15% of the revenue collected from the mining activities in the province to stay in the province to facilitate development as well as enable the local people benefit directly from their God given wealth which they occupy.
Speaking during an engagement meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema ahead of the ground breaking ceremony of the Nickel enterprise Mine, Chief Mumena of the Kaonde who was speaking on behalf of all the respective Chiefs stated that they are looking forward to the results of the reviewing of the mining policy which is ongoing.
Chief Mumena said the assignment is critical to the Communities and the country at large as it addresses the issue of mining revenue and the local benefits to the host communities in north western province and the country at large.
He said submissions were made concerning the mining policy were it was suggested that at least 15% of revenues collected from the mining activities in the province must remain in the province to facilitate development. Chief Dr Mumena said this will mitigate the negative impact that have been arising from mining in the province.
He explained that, “almost all the districts in the province are mining districts, so we want to see the policy that you have escalated and this is on decentralization which we think that one further step towards decentralization will be to ensure that at least 15% remain in the province.”
The Chiefs have further asked for a minimum of 5% equity share for the local host communities as it is going to help in the sense that these are communities that are losing out on the land, water resources, hunting grounds, livelihoods etc that the mining companies have taken over.
Chiefs in Zambia have lost the power and Authority which they had after the colonization of the country. Their role has been diminished with political office holders who are elected officials that have replaced the colonial system enjoying excessive state power but poor at safeguarding national and wider community interests.
