By MUKWIMA CHILALA
THE planned protest by a consortium of Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) which was initially slated for today has been postponed to next week because the Zambia Police are said to be processing the permit for the procession.
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The CSOs from Lusaka and Copperbelt had applied for a permit to conduct a peaceful protest and march to State House to petition President Hakainde Hichilema on the need to revamp the mining sector.
Samuel Banda, leader of the consortium disclosed yesterday that the CSOs had since been engaged for a meeting next Monday together with the office of the Town Clerk before proceeding with their planned peaceful march.
Mr. Banda, who is also Advocates for National Development and Democracy (ANDD) executive director said the protest would however, be conducted next week on 18th August.
“We wish to inform the public that we shall not go ahead with the planned protest which was supposed to take place tomorrow the 12th August, 2023 because the police are still processing our permit and they advised us also to engage the Town Clerk for guidance on which roads to use as they are the ones responsible for the roads. And the office of the Town Clerk unfortunately advised us that they are not yet done processing our permit,” Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda said the CSOs would be having a meeting with the office of the Town Clerk on Monday next week and were hopeful that their permit would be granted and approved.
He said the consortium leaders were doing everything possible to ensure that the mining industry was unlocked so that the people on the Copperbelt could regain their economic activities.
“We want to inform the consortium members, student movements, the youth, the church and other consortium members from the Copperbelt and Lusaka who were supposed to participate in the protest that hold on. We shall have the protest next week Friday, the 18th August, 2023. We want to assure you that we are engaging the authorities both the police and Town Clerk to ensure that we are granted the permit,” Mr Banda said.
He explained that their interest as a consortium was to see to it that the country developed a viable mining sector to promote socioeconomic growth.
And Zambia for Unity Peace and Development president Ronnie Jere said as the negotiations were ongoing, stakeholders were expecting government to strike a deal that would result in a win – win situation.
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