By Tovin Ngombe
Chief Sinazongwe has expressed disappointment with the Mines Ministry for giving out prospecting licenses to private investors to carry out explorations of minerals in the district without the consent of the local people.
The Chief said at his palace when the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry Director of Industry Siazanga Siakalenge and the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Director Glyne Michelo paid a courtesy call on him.
Chief Sinazongwe noted that most of the land in the district has also been given out to private investors without of the Local Authority’s consent.
He said anyone coming to prospect in the district should visit the local people so that it could assist in directing other people who also intends to conduct similar prospects.
“But investors come and start beckoning at people’s villages this is disrespect and you are the right people to complain to,” the Chief told the delegation.
He explained that Abidon mine has been given a prospecting license to carry out explorations from Sinazongwe to Chirundu in Siavonga.
Chief Sinazongwe also revealed that the entire chiefdom of Senior Chief Mweemba has been given out to Zambezi gases, Musungwa investment, and Indigo Mining Company to prospect gases and coal.
Chief Sinazongwe noted that his area has coal, uranium, diamond, and gold.
“We also have local geologist and hunters who have learnt the art of identifying minerals, and government maps for areas where there are minerals should be shared with my chiefdom so that we can work as one,” Chief Sinazongwe said.
He said government should set up a place that should be reversed for future investment rather than offering license to people that may not have the capacity to mine adequately.
The Chief said currently most of areas where minerals are found in his chiefdom have been taken over and urged the team to consider visiting Chief Mweemba area where there were also huge deposits of coal and other minerals.
ZDA Director Michelo said an Indian company has shown interest to come and invest into coal mining and producing of thermal electricity.
Mr. Michelo said Infrastructure Engineering LTD of India has pledged to pump in one billion USA dollars into coal mining in Sinazongwe district.
Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Director Siakalenge told the chief that the investment would bring in development in the district.
Mr. Siakalenge noted that government would ensure that people that may be displaced from the result of the projected investment in the district were taken care of.
Sinazongwe District Commissioner Laiven Apuleni noted that the issue of investors coming to district without the consent of local people has been a concern to the district.
Mr. Apuleni said in future the district local leaders should be consulted to create an ideal situation development.
[ZANIS]
if the whole country to foreingers in the name of investiment what are going to give to out children.we will remain with no land to inherit and to pass to our children.
This is a second order Mugabe mentality, instead of grabbing land from foreigners we strip our own in the name of economic development which them villagers dont benefit from,its a zero sum game for them and a positive sum game to his family tree.
This idea of bringing in Indians is it really helping us?
Economic hoodlums in public office only care for their personal bank accounts!! Shame that our resources are being abused by pin-headed leaders in government whose view of Zambia is only focused on their personal accountants abroad.
Zambia on the backward move. What century does Mwanawasa live in? the country should be moving on, try and find the utter-most means to empower zambians to take up this opportunities. For God sake, Mr Kateka behave your self , you don’t own Zambia. Presidents will come and go but this king (infumu)will remain so therefore give them respect and learn to counsult them on land issues MANNNN!!!
Investment by people with the resources is good.
You can not investment if you do not have the resources.
The would is a global village. If you have what it takes to invest in a certain sector of the economy of any paticular country, you are free. What the Govt. can do is to make laws which will protect us. One being the CEEC act. Let us take advantage of this intiative by Govt.