Maravi

Kavindele opposes ZCCM-IH investment plan

Kavindele opposes ZCCM-IH investment plan
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Wed 12 May 2010, 04:00 CAT

ENOCH Kavindele has strongly opposed ZCCM Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH)’s plans to invest dividends from Kansanshi Mines to develop agriculture in Central and Copperbelt provinces, insisting that the money be taken to develop North Western Province.

On Monday, First Quantum Minerals (FQM), the owners of Kansanshi Mining Plc presented a dividend cheque of US $18.1 million to ZCCM-IH. During the handover ceremony, ZCCM-IH board chairman Alfred Lungu said ZCCM-IH had to this end identified some land in the Central and Copperbelt provinces for it to undertake some agricultural activities which have enormous potential.

But Kavindele, who is former Vice-President, said there was no way the resources of North Western Province could be used to develop other regions when it also required development.

Kavindele said even if the province was endowed with natural resources, the region equally boasted of strong potential in agriculture development where ZCCM–IH was attempting to diversify its investments into.

“If ZCCM–IH is interested in developing agriculture, two royal highnesses there… chief Kalilele and senior chief Mujimanzovu has surrendered a total of 200,000 hectares of traditional land to the government. So, what ZCCM –IH want to do in other provinces should be replicated in North Western Province because the land is available and we have abundant water resources.”

Kavindele said there was no way North Western Province could cede its resources to the development of other provinces.

Kavindele likened the intention by ZCCM–IH to history repeating itself when proceeds from Zambia copper mines were used to develop other countries at its expense.

“This money has been made in North Western in a place like Solwezi which is in a hurry to see development, so it’s important that ZCCM-IH should also invest where the money is coming from,” he said as he praised FQM for declaring dividend to ZCCM-IH.

“We can’t accept to go back to the federal government The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland where copper mining in Zambia went to develop other capitals. We don’t want the question of history repeating itself.

Kavindele called for the establishment of a fully-fledged university in North Western Province.

“We should enjoy our resources…it’s our birthright and we are also in a hurry to develop,” said Kavindele. “ZCCM–IH should participate in the establishment of a university in Solwezi. We would like to build a university in Solwezi where chief Mumena provided land to government a long time…during the First Republic and this land is still available and that university should be developed as a matter of urgency.”

Kavindele praised FQM for declaring the dividend and at the same time, urged other mining companies to emulate.

“FQM has shown us that Kansanshi privatisation was successful and in fact, there efforts to create employment can be greatly supplemented if ZCCM-IH invested the dividends back into North Western Province, said Kavindele.

Labels: CORRUPTION, ENOCH KAVINDELE, KANSANSHI MINING PLC, ZCCM-IH

posted by MrK @ 4:02 PM