Chinkuli
First Quantum Minerals (FQM) country manager, General Kingsley Chinkuli has hailed as positive the unique bond Zambia’s largest copper producer has with the Lunda people in North Western Province.
The Lusaka, Toronto and London-listed metals and mining company also reiterated its commitment to foster development in Zambia, particularly in North Western Province where its operations are concentrated.
“We celebrate with the Lunda people and community and thank them for extending this unique privilege and opportunity to develop the mining resource so demanded by the rest of the world,” General Chinkuli said this when he paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Kanongesha during the Chisemwa Cha Lunda held on the weekend.
“FQM will support the Lunda people to seize the social and economical development opportunities presented by its huge mining investment in the province while ensuring that the environment was protected,” he added.
In keeping that pledge, the company has made unprecedented investment in education, health, conservation farming and other areas aimed at uplifting the standard of living in the province in a sustainable fashion.
On the environment side, FQM would plant five trees for every tree uprooted by its mining activities at its Trident project, a new large-scale mining initiative where the first of the three potential MINES Sentinel is being developed at the cost of US$2 billion.
This year’s celebrations of the Chisemwa Cha Lunda had special significance as it marked the 30 years of Senior Chief Kanongesha on
the throne.
FQM contributed financial and material support towards the hosting of the ceremony.
Good initiatives if actually implemented.
The general is still around. From Chibombo. I will buy him a watch once l visit Zambia
This is the only ex-general who is doing well in life. did i forget miyanda? Good work FQM
We the Lunda’s will wait patiently for your BUFI to see if it will be implemented
stop making promises if you are not sure u will implement them coz the lundas or North westerners in general are very volatile people……………u might as well run out there without knowing how
Why specify the Lunda people in NorthWestern Province? Why not just state that NorthWestern Province will benefit? Because it appears as if Lundas will have to start wearing labels as a tribal group in order to be identified by FQM. If this is due to minerals being located in their area, then the Tongas in Gwembe Valley must seek DIRECT benefits from ZESCO for the location of the Kariba Dam for hydro energy!! What is good for the Lundas, must be good for the Tongas too!!
When Tongas claim a tribal party and a tribalpresident it is ok. When Lozis want to claim a territory where they are not even the majority it is ok. When someone just says working with the Lunda people (where the mine is specifically located) that seems to be a problem? Mulisondokede ba mwananga…