By Staff Reporter
Former Commerce minister Bob Sichinga is wondering whether it has become the new UPND government mining policy that Zambians are better off owning dumpsites and not a mine where they have to dig copper, as said by Mines minister Paul Kabuswe.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Sichinga said he was shocked beyond words to hear that such utterances were coming from a minister in charge of mining in the country.
“Firstly, my concern is in the fact that the statements about Zambians having greater benefit more by having the so called ‘black mountain’ than starting a mine. 2.So this means that as far as the minister is concerned, Zambians should not develop mines, only foreigners should establish mines. 3. So, what will Zambians who own mining licenses be doing with those licenses? So who is mining copper from underground now, is it the foreigners or Zambians?” Sichinga asked. “4. If it came from someone else who has never experienced mining life, I would have understood that it is ignorance on their part, but Hon. Kabuswe is a miner’s son, who has grown up in Chililabombwe and whose parents, both Dad and our mother, worked on the mines. They have served so many people in the Chililabombwe communities. I therefore expect that he already knows the situation on the mines well enough.”
Sichinga urged Kabuswe to be cautious with his statements.
“Since Hon. Kabuswe is the Minister in charge, are we to understand that his statement reflects the UPND’s government policy now? My counsel to my young brother is to be cautious before making off-the-cuff public statements, because they reflect government policy,” said Sichinga.
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