Investors explore for copper in Kabompo

THE Zambia Anglo-American Corporation and Grassroot Copper Limited have started copper explorations in Kabompo in North-western province.
Kabompo District Commissioner Dennis Kanyakula said the two interested mining firms have started drilling in search for minerals in the region.
“On the issues of global partnership for development, two mining firms have started exploration of minerals in the district.  The venture will bring the region on the world map, once the explorations yield fruitful results,” Mr Kanyakula said in an interview on Tuesday.
Mr Kanyakula said Kabompo has had an economy dependent on agriculture but that with the coming of the exploration companies, the district is likely to be part of the mining industry in Zambia.
“We are hopeful that some minerals will be discovered to enable the establishment of the mining industry in Kabompo,” he said.
He said other mining companies have embarked onmineral explorations between Mufumbwe and Kabompo.
He, however, did not disclose names of the firms but indicated that they are already on ground.
On agriculture, Mr Kanyakula said the maize marketing season for 2012/13 has resulted in opening up of 14 Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depots in the area.
He said farmers have started selling maize to the FRA in the area.
“The marketing of maize is going on very well in Kabompo, 14 depots have so far been opened to ensure free flow of farmers to sell their harvest,” he said.
Mr Kanyakula also said the district agriculture and Kabompo district cooperative union have secured a ware house for stocking of fertilizer.
He said government officials were in the district to check on fertilizer storages and that the input is likely to be restocked on time in readiness for distributions to farmers by mid-September this year.
“Farmers are happy with Government’s stance to distribute farming input on time,” he said.
He said in the last farming season, fertilizer was distributed late after the rain season which resulted in farmers yielding poor crops.
Mr Kanyakula said the early distribution of fertilizer has cheered the farmers as this will go a long way to mitigate the problems faced by farmers due to late delivery of farming inputs.
He said poverty alleviation is likely to enable government meet the Millennium Development Goal number one.
“Farmers will increase on production activities and are likely to help to half poverty by 2015 ,” he said.