Over 300 hundred villagers from nine villages in Chieftaness Mungule’s area in Chibombo district of Central Province have rejected a project by Sable group of companies to construct three dams on Mwembeshi river for sugar plantation.

The irate villagers at a meeting held at Mbosha Basic School today also passed a vote of no confidence in all the headmen involved in the alleged deal with Sable saying the project would not benefit them but would only displace most of them.

Sable group of companies has plans to put up the dams to hold water for irrigating sugar fields at the company farm but the villagers turned down the project.

ZANIS reports that the villagers said they could not accept the project from an individual or a company because they feared displacement and that they would only accept if this was initiated by Government because it would be genuine with minimal conditions and they would benefit from it.

In a speech on behalf of the villagers, Headman Shandiongo said the matter had brought about sleepless nights among the subjects as no consultations were made between them and traditional leaders .

He said people had lived in respective places for a long time adding that it would be unfair for the headmen to engage into a deal with Sable company with a view to having dams constructed because the villagers would be villagers displaced.

Headman Shandiongo said that traditional leaders who allegedly dubiously had clandestine meetings with Sable company management were not fit to be community leaders because they did not have a a heart for the subjects.

And many villagers who contributed to the discussion, said it was embarrassing and shameful that the interest for money some headmen had, resulted in them selling land which was occupied without thinking where their subjects could go.

Sable representative, Saint Siamalambo explained that the purpose of constructing the three dams was not only to hold water for irrigation but to enable the villagers go into small holder schemes where they would be allowed to grow sugar and sell it to the company.

Mr. Siamalambo said the people along the river would also be allowed to grow vegetables and also allow their animals to drink from the dams adding that the company felt the move would help people develop their respective areas.

However, he said his company would not go ahead with the project because people had rejected it outrightly adding that all arrangements that were being made such as surveying the area, would stop immediately.

Meanwhile, village headman Fumpa, confessed after villagers pressurised the headmen to confirm having meetings with Sable management, that nine headmen were called for a meeting at Sable where the company management asked for authority to go ahead with the project.

Headman Fumpa told the meeting that there was no money involved in the matter adding that people should not think that the village headmen were paid money for them to allow Sable carry out the project.

The villages involved include Mbosha, Mulela, Fumpa, Mubamba, Mbongolo, Shamasamu, Shandiongo, Shangala, Mapulanga, Shimanimamba, Ndendula and Liteta in chieftainess Mungule of Chibombo district.

Headman Chikasha and Mbongolo did not attend the meeting but they are also involved in the matters.

And reports reaching ZANIS from Shandiongo indicate that headman Shandiongo was yesterday evening clobbered by headman Chikasha who felt embarrassed after he was tipped off by another headman about what transpired at the meeting.

ZANIS

North Western Province Permanent Secretary Fabian Mumba says government is doing everything possible to ensure that the mining industry contributes the development of the province.

Mr. Mumba says contrary to assertions that the people in the province are not benefiting from the copper mining industry in the province, the people are happy that the province is developing at a faster rate.

He says government will continue encouraging investors in the mining industry in the province to ensure that they plough back some of their profits in communities in which they operate from.

Mr. Mumba was speaking when a delegation of Zambian Heads of Missions abroad paid a courtesy call on him in Solwezi.

He disclosed that another mine to be known as Kalumbila will this month be commissioned making the province the largest copper producer in the country.

Mr. Mumba appealed to the Zambian envoys to continue doing more to encourage foreign investors to consider opening up mines in North Western province saying there were still a lot of green field waiting to be explored.

“We are happy to be the copperbelt of this country because we are now seeing the benefits of such huge investments especially in the mining industry.

“We would even be happier if you as our ambassadors aggressively marketed our potential in not only mining but other sectors as well because we strongly believe we can do it,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary also commended the mining companies in the province for partnering with government to improve the welfare of the people in the province.

He disclosed that Kansanshi Mining Plc has allocated about K11 billon towards the upgrading of Solwezi General Hospital into a modern health facility besides the companies contributions in education and other important facilities.

Mr. Mumba also disclosed that in partnership with government and other stakeholders, the mining company will commence works on the expansion of Solwezi Airport to enable it handle bigger aircrafts in view of the increasing economic activities.

He said Lumwana Mines was also investing heavily in construction of clinics and health centers and other social facilities in the province.

He told the envoys that a number of well recognized businesses such as Pick ‘n’ Pay have also expressed interest in building shopping malls in Solwezi while ZCCM also intends to put up another modern shopping mall.

And Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Ambassador Lucy Mungoma called for increased partnerships between government and investors in North Western province to meet the challenges on the economic transformation the province was going through.

Ambassador Mungoma said this was necessary so that the pace of development is in tandem with the economic status of the local community.

She appealed to all investors in the province to work with government and contribute positively to the welfare of the people.

The Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary stressed that this was the only way people will feel part and parcel of the economic transformation of their area.

“We need our investors not only in the mining sector but all other areas to seriously positively contribute to the growth of this province in terms of infrastructure so that people can appreciate their existence in the province,” she said.

And Dean of the Zambian Heads of Missions abroad, Ambassador Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika appealed to the provincial administration to encourage investors to invest more in education.

Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika said investing in education is equally important because the sector is sustainable.

She said with massive economic development the province was recording, an educated citizenry is critical.

The envoys are in the country for a high level meeting commencing tomorrow at Protea Hotel in Chisamba.

ZANIS