Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Land and minerals: Worth Defending

Land and minerals: Worth Defending
TIME PUBLISHED - Monday, July 18, 2011, 2:16 pm
By Gerald Nkisu Katayi

Word on the streets of copperbelt in the 70s had it that Northwestern province was “backward” and the people from the area were “sleepy.” Today the province is opening up to investments and many Zambians are flocking there for jobs.

The province is not only dishing out jobs but also distributing land and minerals to investors at the expense of the locals. Is this the reason they earned themselves a title “ukushishita?”.

Why should leaders give land and minerals from Lumwana, Kansashi and now in Chief Museli’s area in a very short period of time? Media has it that Mwinilung’a is also going to give up a huge piece of land to a foreign company. In the 70s, Northwestern province had Kansanshi mine.Copper was dug and sold but all the profits went to other provinces leaving the locals in poverty. Is that not lesson enough?

Well, not all of them are “sleepy.” His highness Chief Museli of the Lunda people of Solwezi needs to be supported in his quest to give land to the investors. He is willing to give much smaller land to the investors than what was requested. Others leaders from this part of Zambia should follow his example. If not, Northwestern province will become another “scramble for Africa” kind of experience and it will lead to struggles again for the local people to “liberate” their land.

Leaders should take precautions when it comes to matters of land and minerals. These are things we don’t just give away. The investors are coming in the province to plunder your own natural resources in the name of investment. A good example is that of countries that are rich in copper, oil, diamonds, and gold and yet the locals are still poor.

The spine tingling matter here is that not only land is being given away but minerals as well. Why should they give away their naturals resources for back breaking jobs? This is like Judas Iscariot who sold his Master for few pieces of silver, why should some of these leaders give away so much land just to get toilet cleaning jobs for their own people in return? Giving up more land after all they have already given will be suicidal for the province.

The leaders in this province should learn from Copperbelt province where land was given out but the locals never benefited, chiefs are still poor, their language was hijacked and the political scenario of the province up to now remains in those who came from other provinces. Is this the route Northwestern wants to follow? The motto one Zambia one Nation is the best, but it should be carried out in a sober way where the national cake is eaten by all Zambians.

Politicians should not sell land as a campaign gimmick to win elections as they get kudos from the investors. In Africa many political leaders are easily turned against their own people. But this should not be the case for those in political or traditional leadership in Zambia.
Every province in Zambia has enough supply for her inhabitants if that wealth is well managed. The wealth of Zambia must be well organized and distributed to meet the needs of all inhabitants, province by province.

Labels: CHIEF MUSELE, LAND RIGHTS, MINING

posted by MrK @ 3:48 PM