Mining is not benefitting locals in N/Western - Kasonde

Mining is not benefitting locals in N/Western - Kasonde
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sun 30 Jan. 2011, 03:59 CAT

BENEFITS of mining in North Western Province are not trickling down to communities, says Solwezi Catholic Diocese Bishop Charles Kasonde.

In an interview from Solwezi on Friday, Bishop Kasonde reiterated that investment in the province’s education sector was a must especially that the mining companies were creating craters in the ground but benefits were not trickling to the local people.

He said the people that experienced the pollution and failed to sleep due to the mining activities should be the first ones to benefit from the investment. Bishop Kasonde said poverty was the order of the day in North Western Province.

He asked the government to help people by seriously investing in the area.
“We appreciate what the government is doing but they can do much more. These are very critical issues,” he said.

Bishop Kasonde said a lot more needed to be done to develop North Western Province, especially in the area of empowering locals. He said although some locals had been employed in the mines, people were looking forward to a future where a bigger number would be availed an opportunity to work in the mines.

“The literacy levels are quite low and the mines are looking for skilled labour. Most of our people have basic education or no education at all,” Bishop Kasonde said.

He said it was, therefore, incumbent on the government to ensure that investment in education was heightened.

“It should be real investment. It is not just a question of building infrastructure,” Bishop Kasonde said. “They have built a number of schools in here but I have never heard them building a college for teachers.”

On the low figures of registered voters in the province, Bishop Kasonde said there was little political will in the voter registration exercise.