Over 500 ex miners in North-Western province have thanked government for empowering them with farm land.
Provincial Chairperson Jonathan Banda confirmed that all the ex-miners have received their farm plots within the province.
Mr Banda said the gesture by government is evidence that government does not want any of its citizen to become a destitute after losing employment.
Mr Banda was speaking in Solwezi today during a meeting with Vice President Inonge Wina.
“We are grateful to government for giving us over 500 farm plots in Northwestern province. Let me inform you your honour, that we have about 1,500 ex miners and we are hopeful that everyone will get their land,” Mr Banda said.
He further appealed to government to expedite the process of issuing title deeds and also work on the road network, water and power connectivity.
“We have already formed cooperatives and therefore, we are appealing to government to expedite the issuance of title deeds for the land we have been given.
“We are also appealing to be helped with farming equipment, inputs, good road network, power and water,” Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda also pledged on behalf of ex miners to support government as it means well for them.
And Mrs Wina assured the ex-miners that government is on course in ensuring that every Zambian who owns land has a title deed as proof of ownership.
She commended the ex-miners for engaging themselves in agriculture as a way of creating a livelihood and wealth for themselves.
“Let me commend you for engaging in agriculture as this is the right trajectory that will help you create wealth for yourselves and your families,” Mrs Wina said.
Meanwhile Patriotic Front vice president, Nkandu Luo advised the ex-miners not to sell the land but utilize it for their betterment.
Prof. Luo advised the ex-miners to engage in livestock and aquaculture activities adding that the country’s economy can only recover when every citizen become productive.
“Let me encourage you to use the comparative advantage that you have as ex-miners, form cooperatives and engage in livestock and aquaculture activities,” she said.
Typical example of “empowerment” from the most unproductive and corrupt government this country has ever had!
Uno mwaka ba PF dununa reverse tabaka ipule. Nombaline tukamona ebotuka votelapo. Ifintu tafiweme mu Zambia
Unfortunately most of the beneficiaries of this land think that their land can only be used to grow food just enough to feed their families. They don’t realize that they can make more money than they used to earn in their jobs. The Ministry of Community Development & Social Welfare must go beyond giving charity to teach skills such as agriculture as a business. MoA must also increase extension services. These people require to be guided before they can stand on their own. We’ll turn around Zambia’s economy as long as we look at farming in a subsistent manner. Farming isn’t for retirees. It’s serious business and the earlier you venture into it the better. You can’t begin farming when you’re over 50yrs old. It’s the reason over 50% of retirees that venture into farming don’t live…
First, why not compensate them for their job losses. And you are just creating unnecessary problems for conflicts, these people will be regarded as settlers. In Africa ones claim to land is not a piece of paper (title deed).
It goes way back to your ancestry in that area. Not being dumped by government officials who will not be there to defend you in future,when the rightful owners reclaim their land.
This is the time the government has woken up to give land to ex-miners and other people who do not have land. i wish this could have happened starting from 2013. PF is being driven by UPND to look out of the box for solutions.
You don’t need to thank us for doing the right thing. We were elected by you so as to work for you and improve your lives. We have done just that and we know you will continue to have confidence in our abilities post August
DEFOREESTATION HERE WE COME ??
ROADS MAYBE
CLINICS MAYBE
SCHOOLS MAYBE
AND FUNDS TO DEVELOPE THE LAND ZERO
ANYWAY ITS PF FAREWELL GIFT TO THE EX MINES WHOES JOBS THEY THE PF DESTROYED
Not sure if this is the type of reward we should be giving retirees, not just miners, but any retiree for that matter.
I am not sure why we expect people to suddenly become farmers in their old age. Why just miners though?
farm land, but no training on farming- wasted effort! Farming training should have been implemented first!!! lack of vision.
No shame at all from this old senile Grandma….you have pensioners in Lusaka at govt officers pleading for their money for the last 10 years today you decide to give land to ex-miners. At 80 years she has no shame at all…this wicked woman being used like a tissue!!
Let her continue running about for nothing for Lazy Lungu by August she will be drained out and left to rot alone.
Ba Inonge was saying sense, but chi Luo spoiled by bringing in nonsense of selling land. And Not ifima cooperatives naimwe.