North Western Province Chiefs who had earlier demanded for a minimum of 15% share from First Quantum Minerals – FQM Kalumbila mine revenues and other mining firms harvesting minerals from their chiefdoms have expressed confidence that their requests will be granted by Zambia’s head of state – President Hakainde Hichilema – HH.
Chiefs in North Western province who are the original and rightful custodians of the wider community interests of the people of the province had asked the Zambian government to award at least 15% of the revenue collected from the mining activities in the province to be re-invested in the province to facilitate development as well as enable the local people benefit directly from their God given wealth which they occupy.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Chief Mumena, a prominent Chief from North-Western Province said the head of state assured the traditional leaders that he will respond in due course as to give direction on the matter.
Chief Mumena said, “Am confident that the head of state will grant our request for one reason, the head of state has been present advacote for local community empowerment and beneficiation of the local communities that are hosting these entities.”
“And I know that this is not only the position of the North western Province, but it should be the position of every province in the country as all the ten provinces stand to benefit from the implementation of such a policy,” he said.
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.
“It is just a matter of time, this thing will be done and we are anxiously waiting because we know it is going to help local communities and it is also going to help mitigate the other sufferings that are brought about by industrialization.” He added.
Earlier during an engagement meeting with President HH ahead of the ground breaking ceremony of the the $800 million Nickel Enterprise Mine, the Kalumbila Chiefs on top of the 15% revenue share further asked for a minimum of 5% equity share for the local host communities.
The Chiefs argued that the basis of getting such an equity stake would go into helping the locals 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 since taken over.
