Maravi

Lack of development in N/Western worries Lundas

Lack of development in N/Western worries Lundas
By Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Fri 14 May 2010, 04:01 CAT

THE Lunda Cultural Association of Zambia has bemoaned the lack of serious development in North Western Province despite the region being endowed with rich natural resources.

Supporting former Republican vice-president Enock Kavindele’s position on Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines – Investment Holdings’ (ZCCM-IH) intentions to use the declared dividends from Kansanshi mines to develop agriculture in Central and Copperbelt provinces, association national trust Setty Chitukutuku said the province was in dire need of serious development especially that it had everything required to achieve the desired development.

“The Linda Cultural Association of Zambia on the Copper belt fully supports the statement from Mr Enoch Kavindele in the opposition of the ZCCM – Investment Holding (ZCCM–IH) I from Kansanshi mines to develop agriculture in Central and Copperbelt provinces. In the first place, we as an association thank First Quantum Minerals (FQM) for their gesture to declare the dividends,” Chitukutuku said.

“We accept as a fact that Copperbelt and Central provinces are part of Zambia, but on this matter we remain strong in rejecting the idea. The mines in the province are benefiting other people in terms of employment due to lack of well-qualified personnel. People in the province will no longer accept these excuses.”

He said the people of North Western Province had been denied good teachers and facilities that could see the region develop fully. Chitukutuku also said the association and the people of North Western Province wanted a university in the area.

“When people of the province complain for anything wrong in terms of one sided development, some people use tribe as a weapon to frustrate and scare our leaders for demanding what belongs to them,” he said.

He said the traditional and political leaders should support Kavindele over the statement he made that dividends from the mines in North Western Province should not be used to develop other regions.

“ZCCM Investment holdings should appreciate that North Western Province needs development at any cost and we shall not rest if this money is not ploughed back to the province,” said Chitukutuku.

Kavindele has strongly opposed ZCCM – IH’s plan to use dividends from Kansanshi mines to develop agriculture in Central and Copperbelt provinces. Kavindele has insisted that the monies should be used to develop North Western Province.

Labels: DEVELOPMENT, DIVIDENDS, ENOCH KAVINDELE, LUNDA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, MINING, NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 4:04 AM