Katumbi only banned copper exportation, Parley told
Katumbi only banned copper exportation, Parley toldBy Times Reporter
PARLIAMENT heard yesterday that Katanga province governor, Moses Katumbi, did not order the closure of Kasumbalesa border post but only issued a decree banning the exportation of copper concentrates from his province so that the products could be processed within that country.
Acting leader of Government business in the House, George Mpombo, told Parliament that such a decree was without a notice, hence the confusion that surrounded the alleged border closure. The minister was responding to a question by Chipili MP, Davis Mwila (PF), who wanted to know the background and Government’s immediate reaction to the alleged closure of the Katanga border with Zambia and the halting of copper and cobalt exports.
Mr Mpombo, who is also acting Minister of Home Affairs, said the report from the consulate-general of the Republic of Zambia in Lubumbashi, advised that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government in the actual fact did not close the border. “What actually happened is that on March 6, 2007, Katanga governor, Mr Moise Katumbi, issued a decree, banning the exportation of copper concentrates from Katanga Province so that the same could be processed within that province and thereby promoting the local industry. The ban was without notice,” Mr Mpombo explained. He said owners of the concentrates, most of whom were Congolese nationals but with links outside the DRC, challenged authorities in Lubumbashi demanding that the export merchandise be allowed to get to its intended destinations but to no avail.
“For its part, the Zambian consulate held discussions with the office of the governor so that a solution could be found as most drivers happened to be Zambians and had been rendered destitute with some of their visas expiring. “Further, the provincial leadership on the Copperbelt also made frantic efforts to have the situation resolved and were promised that the trucks would be allowed to proceed as of today (yesterday) March 21, 2007. This undertaking by the Congolese is yet to be put to rest,” Mr Mpombo told the House. He said as testimony to the fact that what happened was not a border closure per se, other vehicles which were carrying cargo other than copper concentrates were allowed to enter or exit the DRC.
Mr Mpombo said the number of trucks marooned at the border kept increasing and that as of yesterday, there were more than 400 trucks. He explained that immediate repercussions of the actions by the Katanga governor would be loss of employment and therefore, income by Zambian drivers. He said owners of trucks involved in transporting the copper concentrates would also lose business.
In a follow-up question, Nkana MP, Mwenya Musenge (PF), wondered whether the sour relations over the border was as a result of the Task Force on Corruption and the Katanga governor issue to which Mr Mpombo said it was not true. Mufulira MP, Marjory Masiye (PF), asked Government to assure the nation that ties with Congo DR would not sour to which Mr Mpombo said the two countries enjoyed good relations. Nalolo MP, Mubita Mwangala (MMD), asked what Government action had been and Mr Mpombo said he was informed that a team of DRC ministers had flown to Katanga to rectify the problem.
Labels: MINING, Moses Katumbi, PARLIAMENT
posted by MrK @ 4:56 PM
1 Comments:
So Katumbi is now running amok in his home town Katanga. It's the strangest thing--discredited plunderer one day, respectful governor the next.
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