Maravi

Mining in N/Western Province has not benefitted locals, says Muchima

Mining in N/Western Province has not benefitted locals, says Muchima
By Jane Mwakasungula in Solwezi
Thu 12 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT

INFORMATION deputy minister Elijah Muchima on Monday said people of North Western Province have not benefitted from the mining boom in the province. In an interview, Muchima said the people's outcry in the province was that they had not benefitted from the mining industry because of importing labour from other regions of the country.

He said there was need to incorporate the indigenous inhabitants so that the investment could be protected.

"Indirectly, the people of North Western Province are supposed to be benefiting more than any other in the nation... There are people coming from outside. The outcry of the people in North Western Province is that they have not benefitted from the mines which are making huge profits. We need to protect the investment in the province, but in protecting investments, we need to incorporate the owners. The people are not benefitting, apart from Lumwana which has a different arrangement. The MMD has brought a big development. These are the mines that have landed in Zambia which were not possible in the UNIP era. If you look at the development pattern, it’s not the North Westerners who are benefitting more,” Muchima said.

He said it was saddening that the majority of the employees in the mines were not the locals and wondered why everyone was interested in the once Cinderella province.

When asked about the need for expertise in the mines, Muchima concurred with opposition leaders’ sentiments that there was no need for foreign investors to bring cheap labour when North Western Province had abundant labour.

“Which expertise? A driver, we can train our own drivers. A watchman. We can train a watchman. Even in the field of high levels, there are people also from North Western. There is supposed to be a quarter for the people of the province, the owners of the land. You go to Britain, there are certain quarters for the British, go to South Africa, there are certain quarters for South Africans, the same thing even to the province; there should be a quarter to the owners of the land," he suggested.

Asked whether his proposal should be applied nationally, Muchima said it would be appropriate.

He said there was need to reverse the biased measures taken by the proprietors of the mines and warned that a protest would follow if the act continued.

Muchima accused Kansanshi Mining of importing labour force at the expense of the locals.
Meanwhile, Muchima who is Mwinilunga West member of parliament accused Solwezi council of mismanaging resources.

"Recently, there have been rates paid to the council in billions. But when you come down, nobody knows where these billions have gone. What we hear is wrangles and wrangles and wrangles. We need to put proper management in the council and that is when people are going to benefit. Otherwise, when two elephants are fighting, it's the grass that suffers. The differences being experienced at the council are making the people not see the developments," said Muchima.

Labels: ELIJAH MUCHIMA, NEOLIBERALISM, NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 8:12 AM