By RODGERS MWIMBA
THE Advocates for National Development and Democracy (ANDD) has called on stakeholders in the mining sector to support government progressive mining reforms in the mining industry.
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Samuel Banda, the executive director of ANDD says reforms such as the Mineral Regulation Commission should be supported by all Zambians because the reforms are aimed at benefiting Zambia.
Mr Banda said the Mineral Regulation Commission would promote integrity, transparency, address illegal mining activities and ensure that investors adhere to our mining policies and regulations.
He called on the government to promptly find an equity partner to run Mopani Copper Mine (MCM), saying the giant mine had should also begin its full operations so that Zambians on the Copperbelt could be revitalized their lives.
The statements by President Hakainde Hichilema that Government will soon open and unlock Mopani Copper Mines is a progressive statement. It has actually given us and the people of Zambia hope, especially the people of the Copperbelt who depend on the mines for employment and business opportunities and other economic activities.
He said his organisation was happy that President Hichilema had made a solemn commitment to ensure the mining sector was revamped and take Zambians on the Copperbelt out of unemployment and poverty.
Mr Banda says the people on the Copperbelt were hopeful that President Hichilema would expedite the process of unlocking Mopani after giving back KCM to Vedanta Resources.
He acknowledged that one of the reasons investors misbehaved was the fact that the country did not have policies to regulate the mining sector.
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