By Isaac Zulu
Advocates for People’s Prosperity interim secretary general Felix Bwalya has said that Shadreck Kasanda and his co-accused are being used as scapegoats in the KKIA gold scam.
In an interview, Bwalya has questioned the inertia behind the delayed investigations and, subsequent, prosecution of individuals who are alleged to have been involved in the illegal mining of sugilite and gold.
“I wish to air my views as a Zambian citizen over the recent happening in our country mostly concerning our God given minerals and the unlawfully detention of Shadreck Kasanda. First we had issues to do with sugilite where the then Luapula minister (Derrick Chilundika) was even fired and up to now we haven’t heard any news about the truck load of sugilite that was impounded and parked at the police station,” Bwalya said. “We also had some news or revelations of how gold in Kansenseli is being rooted out of the country when we were told that the government is consulting on how to go about it and also from Mpika. We recently had the recent gold scandal at the KKIA Airport where some of the suspects are believed to be linked to State House have been mentioned. My questions are that, how possible is it that someone close to the President who even went with him to Angola just recently can be involved in such a scandal without the President knowing? Why has this case taken so long when it is even bailable? Now that State House has been mentioned, Zambians demand answers. It’s like they want to use them (Kasanda and others) as scapegoats when real thieves are out there in suits enjoying tax payers’ money at the expense of poor hard working Zambians.”
He argued that investigations in the alleged illegal mining activities is marred with witch hunt, saying this should not be encouraged.
“It’s unacceptable! And this witch hunt must come to an end. Government needs to appreciate the hard working of young Zambians entrepreneurs and businessmen like Kasanda who work hard and even help the poor in our communities,” said Bwalya. “We need to embrace the spirit of Africa and protect our own; if we are to develop as a country than embracing foreigners. We have gold, copper, cobalt, nickel, sugilite etc who is benefitting in these minerals? Does it mean that the genuine Zambians that God gave these minerals to are only those in power (the politicians and ministers) and their children? We demand serious answers for gold in both Mpika and Kansenseli as well as sugilite. These minerals belong to the Zambian people and we want to know what policies government has put in place that benefit majority Zambians. Zambia is for us all.”
