CB MINISTER SLAMS ALARMISTS

By ROGERS KALERO

THERE is no   plunder of earnings  from the Black Mountain by senior  UPND and such allegations are the work of  enemies of progress, Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo, has said.

The Black Mountain saga has resurfaced with accusations of  massive plunder of earnings, a move which has left youths seething with anger because they feel leaders have not shared fairly.

Mr Matambo however rubbished the allegations from some suspected UPND youths that the ‘Black Mountain’ has been mismanaged by selfish corrupt leaders and that they should be reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for appropriate action.

The minister’s reaction follows accusations of plunder of Black Mountain earnings where the youths feel left out.

Mr Matambo, who is also UPND Copperbelt Provincial Chairman,  in an interview, rubbished the allegations and instead accused the enemies of the party particularly the opposition of coming up with cheap propaganda to dent the image of the ruling  party which was firmly on course towards achieving economic recovery and poverty alleviation.

Mr Matambo said he had seen and read the allegations where some youths were accusing some government and party leaders of all sorts of things, but rubbished it saying it was the work of the opposition who were jealous of the good works of the New Dawn government

“Those allegations are a cheap propaganda from our enemies, the opposition. They are not coming from our youths because, as far as, am concerned, all the cooperatives or companies under the consortium benefited from the Black Mountain. Find time to interview them and get their views on the matter

“Every company under the consortium got the right share and benefit from the Black Mountain and I don’t see any reason why some youths could accuse senior party and government officials of being corrupt and selfish. This is why Iam saying this is the work of our enemies, particularly, the opposition,’’ Mr Matambo said

But some suspected UPND youths said the mismanagement of the black mountain money by selfish corrupt  leaders should not be condoned and warned Copperbelt Provincial Treasurer and Consortium of unspecified action.

“The mismanagement of the black mountain money by selfish corrupt leaders shouldn’t be condoned. We mean business.  We are putting our records straight in warning the Copperbelt Provincial Treasurer and the Consortium Treasurer.

“We are not forgetting the person penning down the approval (signature) on our money , these people have massively become rich within the shortest period of time, enriching themselves by neglecting party structures, by fattening their own bellies at the expense  of the poor youths. The scattering of party activities on the Copperbelt is sponsored by the consortium  working hand in hand with the Copperbelt provincial team,’’ said the youths in a letter which has gone viral on social media.

The Youths who identified themselves as Watch Man Media Team has since called the republican President Hakainde Hichilema to intervene in the matter urgently before the UPND youths on the Copperbelt resolve to pass a vote of no confidence in their  leaders.

As Watch Man Media Team, we are also appealing to the Secretary General at this point to wake up and act accordingly. Let’s separate from being a minister and a chairman, it’s the reason why Copperbelt province is becoming unattractive in terms of politics