Maravi

Katuka accuses govt of stifling Equinox’s development

Katuka accuses govt of stifling Equinox’s development
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Friday, June 26, 2009 4:01:42 PM

THE parliamentary committee on government assurances chairperson Stephen Katuka yesterday accused the Ministry of Mines of deliberately stifling the growth of Equinox Minerals Limited in North Western Province in preference to Chinese prospecting investors.

Katuka said there was need to allow and support Equinox Minerals Limited’s plans to use the close to US $1 billion Lumwana Mining Company to spread its operation in the province.

He said this when a delegation led by mines permanent secretary Dr Godwin Beene appeared before his committee.

Katuka, who is also United Party for National Development (UPND) Mwinilunga East member of parliament, said there were a lot of irregularities with the issuance of mineral exploration licences with a view to favouring the Chinese.

Katuka dismissed recent statements by the government that some named Chinese minerals investors were planning an estimated US $3.6 billion injection into resource development in North-Western province.

“I don’t see why you should kill a child who is already born just because your wife is about to conceive another baby…,” he said.

Katuka also urged Dr Beene to clean up the many reported cases of corruption allegations at the Ministry of Mines.

In response, Dr Beene explained that Equinox Minerals had reduced on the amount of land under its ownership in line with the new mines and minerals Act which required that no one single entity should possess more than 1, 000 square kilometres of land for exploration purpose.

Dr Beene also assured the committee that he would address the concerns raised regarding the administration of the mining sector in the country.

Labels: EQUINOX, STEPHEN KATUKA

posted by MrK @ 3:02 PM