UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has said that Small Scale Entrepreneurs are the engine and drivers of any economy in the world including Zambia’s in the quest for economic diversification and job creation.
In a statement released to the media, Mr. Hichilema pointed out that the so called Jerabos on the Copperbelt can easily be organised as small scale businesses or cooperatives that can later be given soft loans to acquire small scale mining equipment that they can effectively use and generate their own income and possibly even contribute to the national treasury and reduce on government borrowing.
Below is the full statement
The Value of SMEs
We took time to meet some Small Scale Entrepreneurs who are the engine and drivers of any economy in the world including ours in our quest for economic diversification and job creation.
We particularly look forward to having more of our people fully participate in small scale mining activities by giving them licences so that they can partner with foreigners.
It is such a shame, for example, to keep labelling our own citizens with derogatory terminologies such as Copper thieves (Jerabos) on the Copperbelt when these can easily be organised as small scale businesses or cooperatives that can later be given soft loans to acquire small scale mining equipment that they can effectively use and generate their own income and possibly even contribute to the national treasury and reduce on government borrowing.
In fact that is one of the many routes we would have used to assist the retrenched miners, especially that they already have the skills and knowledge in the mining sector.
That way we would have assured our citizens of some decent incomes and opportunities as no one rejoices at massive loss of jobs.
Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President
Jerabos….. Interesting
Only people who do not know will doubt this statement, people you should travel to get what HH is saying.
Which is better option here? 1) we let the jerabos loose to do their mining activity illegally or 2) we issue licence to operate so that (i) they pay for the licence, (ii) they employ people legitimately (iii) they pay tax according to the laws of Zambia.
In Australia, Most mines are owned by Australians and Zambia should do the same. We should always remember that no foreigner will be in Zambia to develop Zambia but a Zambian will use most of his money in Zambia.
So make wise choices. Thanks Mr HH for the insight
Naturally, I would have disagreed with HH in his statement. However, I think he did very well to qualify his thoughts/plans to incorporate “Jerabos” (I apologize for still using this bad name) in the economic growth. It is a good innovative and progressive idea from HH. Thats a score for me.
“Mr. Hichilema points out that the so called JERABOS on the Copperbelt can easily be organised as small scale businesses or cooperatives that can later be given soft loans to acquire small scale mining equipment”………..kikikiki. They already have the equipment,and are organised as small cooperatives……..they are even paying tax to ZRA……..take time to visit the Black mountain before issuing statements. What HH has talked about is already happening.
Bwana hh that example,kaya mwe.The statement makes sense though.
@Change have you been to Nchanga Open Pits and see how these guys operate? What equipment, which cooperative are you talking about? Do you mean Youngson thieves on the slag mountain in KItwe. Please travel before you spew lies.
The ***** is drunk with entering state house at all cost..
Wait for 2016, your misery is coming.
It makes sense
It is already done. The jerabos are already in cooperatives and they have equipment and even pay tax to ZRA, however being criminals they still cheat on tax and they still steal copper from other mines to boost their income. These are gangs and they are extremely hard to fully legalise and document their operations.
Next we could introduce a corruption tax to get money back from any corrupt activities..
Ba HH, since when did jerabos become respectable? Take it from me, these are criminals. Their late leader, Kalobo, was my older sister’s teacher at a known primary school in Ndeke Township. She has nothing but horror stories of this guy’s behaviour as a school boy and was not surprised that he graduated into a full time criminal when he left school as a Grade 7 failure. These are the people HH wants to embrace? Kitwe is my home town and I know these characters better than HH does. He had better be careful about characters he chooses to socialize with in his desperate desire to get into State House!
@Maikalange, your story does not add up. Kalobo (Jerabo leader) was your older sister’s teacher, but then you said he was a Grade 7 failure, how did he become a teacher being ended his education in Grade 7, which teaching college allowed him to enter being a Grade 7 failure? Don’t post stories that doesn’t add up just to have something to post, it makes you a liar.
Copper thieves are now heroes in UPND just to go plot one
I agree with your explanation, mj banda, that word Jerabo for HH `s own information means copper thieves. unless they stop using that term them selves it shall always mean copper thieves. Let him not gather some political mileage.
With HH, if it means sleeping with the devil himself to enter state house, he will surely do it! Jerabos are criminals who form organised gangs to steal copper from mines. They then sale the copper to the chinese who mobilise and mix it with bought copper and export it. They are not interested in being legal as that entails, hard work which is documented, books must be done by certified accountants and taxes paid. These are pure criminals who would even kill to lay their hands on copper which doesn’t belong to them.
Even if they are given loans, they would still cause chaos in the copper mining industry of this country. HH, katwishi???
HH how can you start validating bakabolala sure these guys deserve to be shamed period. No wonder we will never develop because bakabolala and corrupt chaps are made heroes….shame!!!!
Kikik when we say that HH can’t be a president UPND supporters insult us.When a king of Jarabos Kalabo died in kitwe Kambwili attended the funeral but he was insulted by UPND jst bcoz he attended the funeral of criminal called jerabo according to the UPND supporters and it’s media Watchdog.It’s quiet shocking to hear from HH that he’ll support Jerabos.The man can do anything jst to go to state house.Lol this messiah of certain tribe is not principled.it’s true 2016 he’ll be retired coz we are tired of politics of tribal and insults.It’s nega nega formula in 2016.We have not forgotten how some pipo voted in 2015 general elections.HH can’t be trusted coz he can change like a chameleon.I don’t know now what he’ll say in coppperbelt coz he promised to bring back Anglo America…
CONTI.HH can’t be trusted he can change like a chameleon.I don’t know now what he’ll say in coppperbelt coz he promised to bring back Anglo America.Angro will retrench 85,000 jobs.kkikiki ba guy is desparate after seeing the constitution go thru.Hope the kwacha stabilize to make sure he has nothing to talk about in 2016.Akalila uyu
HH seems too desperate with this statement, does he even know who are this Jerabo’s and what a living hell they bring to the poor citizens in Kitwe…My advise to HH is to carry out his homework very well before going public to make such unreasonable statements in a view of getting supporting for next years elections.
It was very saddening and embarrassing when our head of state decided to even send government officials to the funeral of the so called commander for the Jerabo’s ”Youngson” when he died, honestly how and why? MHSRIP but his life brought misery to a lot of people on the copper belt (especially in Kitwe). Currently the young brother to the late Youngson is in the cells for assault, his another confused and mischievous notorious guy called Cimy…So the next thing…
@Jeremiah Mutombo, I really don’t support what this HH is saying, it could be out of desperation. One correction, the Government did not send any official to attend the funeral for Youngson, Chishimba Kambwili had a personal relationship with the late Youngson that’s why he attended the funeral. As crazy as that guy was, he bought a lot of big names in the Copperbelt, he was untouchable the police could not arrest him. Kambwili used this guy during campaign and other stuff, so in short they were friends. The sad thing in our country is that it looks like people won’t choose HH and that’s the strongest part to take out PF, as a result PF will continue ruling the country miserably.
Ba Jeremiah, HH is always desperate to be president of Zambia at all cost. He actually cannot be trusted due to his samersaults. We were all very upset when Chishimba Kambwili attended Youngson Kalobo’s funeral in Kitwe, because he was celebrating the life of a staunch criminal who raped young women, beat up those that didn’t want intimate affairs with him, store copper incessantly and beat up and insulted anyone man or women who crossed his path. These are not the people one should even contemplate of giving loans to reform them. The name jerabo comes from jail bird, they will simply get the money and go to their second homes, jails as repayment. They definately will not pay ZRA and will beat up any ZRA official who tries to do what they are doing at The Post, despite The post deserves…
they had bitten a jerabo in mazabuka now he wants to get favors from them,now you have seen that KING DANDY has influence ukayefukama ci ka la
Are you surprised? He stole from the mines and Jarabos steal from the mines
Alapena umu guys, now he turns to Jerabos for support!!
People lets talk of solutions and alternatives please. HH is simply trying not to label the suffering youth, but he chooses to legitimize their business which is good for the general citizenry. When small scale miners (jerabos) form cooperatives we shall surely benefit as they will be paying tax. Believe it or not the mafiaso way these guys operate currently is enough to coz serious gang wars and public disorder, we have seen this. They need a coordinated approach which will meticulously benefit all parties involved. Therefore, the ideas HH has are welcome. If illegal settlers are allowed and later given titles, I am pretty certain we can equally do something for our people.
HH’s desperation knows no bounds! Aren’t you the same lot that criticises the PF for associating with the Jerabos? What has changed? You are not fit to be president bwana HH because you cant hold your own, no wander Anglo America want you to rule, you are the perfect African politician they want, they will give you a few Million dollars while they keep looting. You are man who has no shame!
Jerabos declared that CB is a no go area for UPND not long ago….HH has just realised that these guys command a large following of youths on the CB….and they are aligned to the PF….its getting interesting….if this statement came from EL…unprintables would have been showered on him and PF…that i know.
Is this the reason why you are bitter now because HH now has access to the CB? Chama is in Sinazongwe and Lungu was too not long ago despite the fact that PF got very votes there and Chama called them unprintables. Reason?– to try and get a foothold ku Chundu . Have you heard any body saying condemning them? No because mature people use their headsundersatnd that Zambia is for all of us. Let Chama.Lungu canvass for votes in Southern Province and Let HH do the same on the CB. Do not lose sleep over it!
Ba Ndelolesha fye, I think you are misinformed and naïve about the situation on the Copperbelt bwana, please do your homework. You seem not comprehend what’s on the ground.
do you know that HH is illegaly standing for presidence in 2016 according to the upnds constitution?
Well, I don’t agree with HH about Jerabos. Thesse are criminals. This is why we condemn the current govt when they sent the Chief Govt Spokesman to attend Youngson’s funeral with a message from H.E. ECL. It was wrong then, and it is wrong now whether fron ECL or HH. Focus on the genuine SME’s. We will vote for you on that basis. Be assured Jerabos are not a factor on the Copperbelt. RB tried to use them and still lost. Don’t soil yourself.
This group is already in the PF camp. Let them stay there.
you are absolutely right so tell your god to stay away ci ka la twalibelela fwebene styopeti
A disparate man does disparate things, Jerabos are not an exception in this case. Most of them are youths without jobs, take for instance the women along Kafue/ kalingalinga roads who are making ends meet by breaking stones for a living. No person is born a criminal its the environment that will influence his/her personality. Right now we have 80% of the youth some well instructed in various disciplines without jobs or capital for startups. Jerabos provide a good case of remodeling, lets see how we can help them by having an overview a macro and micro view to this issue so that we focus attention on the small details of this big business.
@ Ganakata please have some discipline in the way you express yourself. I don’t know why you should resort to vulgarities. Kindly gives points not F words.
REMEMBER WHAT U DID TO SATA,REMEMBER WHAT U DID TO DANDY,REMEMBER ANGLO ISSUE,REMEMBER YO MPS INSULT THEM EVERYDE SAYING THOSE COPPER CRIMMINALS. DO OR DIE ALEFWAYA AKABWESHE INKONGOLE BUT NOT USING THIS GROUP BAKAMIDILINGA MUKAMBA UKUTINA
Zambiano,
Sorry it was an error that I didn’t notice. My story is very, very true. Kalobo was my older sister’s student at Justin Kabwe Primary School in Ndeke Township.
..or more aptly a ‘pupil’, as we were taught!
For the benefit of underfive, he seems not to relate to the Copperbelt, he should take time to understand the socio-economic fabric of CB rather than exposing his ignorance like this. Jerabos are hardcore thieves, very dangerous criminals. For example didn’t HH read about those Jerabos who terrorised and disrupted a wedding of a poor girl who had declined Jerabo leader’s proposals. They are corrupt, they bought off the police command at one time, they are a law unto themselves and a terror to Kitwe residents. And the term Jerabo is not an insult, they actually pride themselves of being called Jerabo. What the fu’cking hell is HH talking about?
HH: “…….as no one rejoices at massive loss of jobs……”?
Maybe this shows that underfive-HH is out of touch with his own cadres, leaders on the Copperbelt. This info is being given to you HH for free. When job losses were announced by the mines, you should have seen the laughter, the celebrations, the cheers and the drink-ups by your leaders and cadres. They saw a winning formula for you and themselves out of the misery and anguish of poor retrenched miners. And we know that you saw an opportunity for yourself. Is it not your party which quickly mobilised to create anarchy on the Copperbelt out of this unfortunate situation? You knew very well that riots would have followed from this emotionally charged situation, leading to mayhem and deaths. If you don’t call that rejoicing by…
You knew very well that riots would have followed from this emotionally charged situation, leading to mayhem and deaths. If you don’t call that rejoicing by UPMD, tell us the correct word.
Indeed your analysis is very terrible and shallow just like your name.
Jerabos have been stealing material from the Black Mountain period! The Black Mountain is a property of Nkana Alloy. Nkana Alloy bought this asset from ENRC in a legally binding transaction. How can we start supporting and celebrating criminal behavior? What Jerabos are doing at the Black Mountain is pure criminal behavior! Can we get our basics right!
To a lay man this man seem
To layman this may seem laughable
@Ngobola Muyembe. You are back. Appreciated & Missed your insights.
“..shame…to keep labelling our own citizens with derogatory terminologies such as Copper thieves (Jerabos)…”
Evolution of a word: Jailbird-Ex-jailbird-Jeleboy-Jelabo-Jerabo!
No one christened these mafias ‘Jerabos’ but themselves (as a way of showing some kind of toughness being ex-cons), and they enjoy and are proud of it!