Zimba District Administrative Officer, Sekani Tembo, says government will not tolerate people that are against development by blocking investors into the country.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting on the Tin prospecting DALED Mining Company Limited in Zimba yesterday, Mr Tembo said it was unfortunate that some people in the district were trying to bar the company from getting a mining license for them to start mining and processing tin in Chilobe area of Zimba.

The District Administrative Officer said Zimba as a new district is thirsty for investors in order for it to develop, adding that it is surprising that some people are influencing the local people to reject the mining project.

Mr Tembo urged the traditional leadership to unite and engage their subordinates and accept the mining company in the area, emphasising that it would bring sustainable development in Chilobe and Zimba district.

He reminded the traditional leadership that they were just custodians of land but that it is vested in the powers of the Republican President.

He added that the PF government under the leadership of his Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu would want to see Zimba district develop and create employment for the local people.

On May 15 this year, during a stakeholders meeting in the area, the people of Chilobe unanimously rejected the mining project for fear of displacements.

However DALED Mining Director for Corporate Affairs, David Bowa, assured the people of Chilobe that the mining company is only interested on the hills where there is tin and not the land the people are occupying and using for farming.

Mr Bowa said no people shall be displaced in the area unless there are some that reside in the hills where the mining company has interest.

He assured that if there are people residing in the hills they will be displaced and compensated by the company.

Mr Bowa said the company wants to bring development in the area through socio-corporate responsibility and creation of employment among the locals.

He said once in operation the company will provide the people of Chilobe with clean water, good roads, build a school and a clinic in the area.
He noted that Education and health are also important factors in Zambia’s economic development but that the people of Chilobe do not have access to them.

Meanwhile, Chief Sipatunyana’s representative, Victor Sindowe, attributed the community’s resistance to the mining project to the woes they faced when they were displaced during the construction of the Kariba dam.

Mr Sindowe said the people of the valley up to now do not benefit anything from the Kariba dam as the electricity generated from the water body is taken directly to the Copperbelt while those who were displaced have remained in darkness.

INVESTORS in the mining industry of Zambia have been urged to adequately plough back to the community by heavily investing in projects which are aimed at improving the lives of surrounding residents.

Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said mining investors were making a lot of money and hence they needed to start investing heavily in projects which would make a difference among the local people.

Mr Mukanga urged mining investors to consider supplementing Government efforts in constructing better roads in residential areas and other surrounding places where they were operating from.

Speaking in an interview in Livingstone, Mr Mukanga noted that mining companies were making huge and noticeable investments to improve the lives of people in other countries.

“We want mining investors to plough back adequately into the community. Some of them are taking the people of Zambia for a ride and we don’t want that investors who take people for granted.

“I want to see better roads in the residential areas upgraded by mining firms and I also want to see these firms sponsoring our children to go to school and even think of constructing a university in their area,” he said.

And Mr Mukanga, who is Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) for Kantashi Constituency in Mufulira, has urged Mopani Copper Mines to do more to improve the lives of people in Mufulira.

“Mopani Copper Mines cannot be writing notices to residents in Kankoyo to say vacate while we are starting up a smelter. That is wrong and unacceptable.

“I am not very happy, I am not an MP for Kankoyo but I am an MP for Kantashi in Mufulira so I am concerned as a resident of Mufulira,” Mr Mukanga said.

He claimed that investors at Mopani Copper Mines had not heavily ploughed back into the community ever since they took over the facility.

“The ploughing back they are talking about is repairing the Shinde Stadium and the rest. Is that the ploughing back we want?

“As an MP, I don’t think that is a correct thing and I think the mining company is taking us for a ride. I want the people of Mufulira to get jobs and I need to see a difference,” he said.

Mr Mukanga said every investor operating in Zambia, apart from those investing in the mining industry, should think big by ploughing back heavily to the communities where they were operating from.

“I need projects that can change the lives of people. Those clinics in Mufulira were constructed a long time ago when I was working for Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM).

“I want to see a different set of programmes. Even drilling boreholes is not acceptable from bigger firm,” he said.

THE Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) has expressed optimism that the upgrading of the construction of the international terminal building at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport will be completed by September this year.

This follows the securing of USD $5 million or K 37million, a commercial loan from ZANACO bank for the completion of the new Terminal Building.

ZACL Managing Director Robinson Misitala said aid the Corporation was eager to complete the works by September this year following the securing of funds for the project.

Mr Misitala said this on Thursday when he led a tour of facilities at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport.

He said the major outstanding works were the installation of Elevators, Electrical Reticulation, Installation and Commissioning of the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Systems and Builders’ Works.

Mr Misitala disclosed that once completed, the new terminal building would have features such as a banking hall, upper floor VIP and business Lounges, upper floor restaurant and viewing terrace, holding lounge, elevators, curtain walling, duty free and retail shops and a water feature outside the front of the building symbolizing the Victoria falls.

Other amenities would include electronic advertising spaces, flight information displays, CCTV and access control, modern central air-conditioning equipment, fire alarm system, security agencies offices, smoking lounges, four entry gates and two exit gates.

“We are pleased that we are providing airport facilities that are state-of-the-art to Livingstone town, because this will increase the number of airlines that will be flying to Livingstone thereby increasing tourism activities that will ultimately generate revenue for the country,” he said

Mr Misitala said ZANACO also financed the initial phase of the project at a cost of USD $7.5million.

And Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport contractor Peter Kapala said the delay of the completion of the works had in the past been necessitated by lack of funds.

“The major problem has been resolved now because the client has enough money for the completion of works, and I will ensure that works are completed within the time frame been given,” he said

The old building at the Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport, which was built in 1952, is currently used for VIP and domestic services. The building will, however, undergo refurbishment under phase three of the project.

The terminal building was partially opened for passenger facilitation on 15th August 2013 ahead of the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly held in Livingstone in August 2013.