By ADRIAN MWANZA
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is determined to protect the interest of Zambians by securing the ownership of mines into Zambian hands unlike other leaders who have secretly made deals to give the mines back to multinationals, Patriotic Front Member of the Central Committee Given Lubinda has said.
Mr Lubinda said yesterday at the PF virtual rally that some opposition leader was in the habit of sending profits abroad and not in the country which contributed in the weakening of the Kwacha.
“This individual is also asking payment from Vedanta and promising to hand over the mines to the former owners but I must assure that the mines will be run by Zambians,” he said.
Mr Lubinda has assured that President Lungu will return the authority of the economy from 2021 to 2026 in the hands of Zambians.
He said that President Lungu was not experimenting but walking the talk when it came to the country’s economy.
He said he was emulating the late Kenneth Kaunda who made sure that most companies were in the hands of government to ensure that Zambians benefitted.
He said the President put his foot down and indicated that Zambia’s endowment was not meant to be exploited by foreigners but that Zambians were meant to be given priority to the resources that were given by God.
Mr Lubinda said KCM and Mopani wanted to arm twist Government and wanted to put the mines under care and maintenance because they wanted to make profits since copper prices were low.
Mr Lubinda said mineral resources were for Zambians and that that’s why Government reached at a point of taking over the running of the entities if they failed to manage them.
He said the President was setting up an empowerment fund for companies that wanted to have shares in mining firms.
Mr Lubinda said it was difficult to grow the economy if it was left in the hands of foreigners but we should allow Zambians to control their economy.
And PF secretary general Davis Mwila said President Lungu was a tough tested individual who worked in various portfolios.
Mr Mwila said the country needed a very serious person who would lead the 18 million Zambians in the right trajectory and Mr Lungu was highly qualified.
He said some leaders were quiet on issues of violence which sent a very strong message to the people who wanted to vote for him.
Mr Mwila said the country would not have any rerun come August 12 elections because the PF would win the elections.
“We have delivered in all sectors and we have even paid the benefits to miners after the government took over the mines,” he said.
And PF Chongwe Parliamentary candidate Japhen Mwakalombe said President Lungu set Zambia on the right development trajectory by addressing the power deficit.
Mr Mwakalombe said President Lungu had been prudent in the implementation of fiscal and monetary policy to ensure the Kwacha appreciates against major convertible currencies.
“I wonder what the opposition will come to do because everything has been done by President Lungu and the Patriotic Front,” he said.
