By ANDREW MUKOMA
ZAMBIANS for Unity, Peace and Development (ZUPED) has commended government for assuring the nation over the future Kansanshi Copper Mine (KCM) and Mopani Mine’s future.
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ZUPED president Ronnie Jere said the recent pronouncement by Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe that government will at the end of this month announce the company the government has settled for to operate the two mines.
Mr Jere said it has been the cry of the people on the Copperbelt for government to state clearly who will run the mines.
He said ZUPED is elated that the minister stated clearly that the standoff between government and Vedanta will be resolved in the next two weeks.
Mr Jere is hopeful that the new dawn administration will consider returning the operations of the mines to Vedanta.
He was speaking during a press briefing in Livingstone over the weekend.
Mr Jere said the assurance does not only bring good news to the people of the Copperbelt but indicates that the government was in good talks with the mine investors.
He said people on the Copperbelt had suffered a lot, a situation that had led to youths being jobless and women vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Mr Jere has expressed worry that the UPND in Livingstone was awarding contracts to its members under the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) at the expense of quality works.
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