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Zimba District Administrative Officer, Sekani Tembo, says government will not tolerate people that are against development by blocking investors into the country.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting on the Tin prospecting DALED Mining Company Limited in Zimba yesterday, Mr Tembo said it was unfortunate that some people in the district were trying to bar the company from getting a mining license for them to start mining and processing tin in Chilobe area of Zimba.
The District Administrative Officer said Zimba as a new district is thirsty for investors in order for it to develop, adding that it is surprising that some people are influencing the local people to reject the mining project.
Mr Tembo urged the traditional leadership to unite and engage their subordinates and accept the mining company in the area, emphasising that it would bring sustainable development in Chilobe and Zimba district.
He reminded the traditional leadership that they were just custodians of land but that it is vested in the powers of the Republican President.
He added that the PF government under the leadership of his Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu would want to see Zimba district develop and create employment for the local people.
On May 15 this year, during a stakeholders meeting in the area, the people of Chilobe unanimously rejected the mining project for fear of displacements.
However DALED Mining Director for Corporate Affairs, David Bowa, assured the people of Chilobe that the mining company is only interested on the hills where there is tin and not the land the people are occupying and using for farming.
Mr Bowa said no people shall be displaced in the area unless there are some that reside in the hills where the mining company has interest.
He assured that if there are people residing in the hills they will be displaced and compensated by the company.
Mr Bowa said the company wants to bring development in the area through socio-corporate responsibility and creation of employment among the locals.
He said once in operation the company will provide the people of Chilobe with clean water, good roads, build a school and a clinic in the area.
He noted that Education and health are also important factors in Zambia’s economic development but that the people of Chilobe do not have access to them.
Meanwhile, Chief Sipatunyana’s representative, Victor Sindowe, attributed the community’s resistance to the mining project to the woes they faced when they were displaced during the construction of the Kariba dam.
Mr Sindowe said the people of the valley up to now do not benefit anything from the Kariba dam as the electricity generated from the water body is taken directly to the Copperbelt while those who were displaced have remained in darkness.
