Pande
Lusaka, December 18, ZANIS – Government has refuted media reports alleging that the government of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has banned the shipment of copper to Zambia.
Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande says the assertions are false and has since assured the nation that transportation of copper from DRC to Zambia has continued uninterrupted.
Mr. Pande, in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, said Mr. Moses Katumbi, the DRC Katanga Province Governor, met management of First Quantum Limited (FQL) and resolved that First Quantum Limited instead construct a Dry Port as its Lonshi and Frontier mines by June 30 next year.
He said this is for monitoring and accountability purposes in terms of revenue due to the government of the DRC.
Mr. Pande further stressed that issues affecting First Quantum Limited and the DRC should be treated as such and not linked to the relations between the two countries as insinuated in the press.
He said Zambia and the DRC will continue to enjoy warm and cordial relations that have continued to exist between the two countries and peoples contrary to insinuations in the press.
