1,300 Chingola ex-miners in land galore
MORE than 1,300 ex-miners in Chingola are expected to be re-settled in Mutimpa area under phase two of the Governmentinitiated land empowerment programme for retrenched miners.
In Solwezi, 500 Ex-miners will be resettled at Maheba resettlement scheme under the same programme for retrenched miners to get involved in agricultural activities.
National Ex-miners and Allied Workers Association of Zambia (NEAWAZ) President Taulo Chewe said the ex-miners were grateful to President Edgar Lungu for demonstrating his commitment of empowering them.
Mr Chewe said in an interview in Kitwe at the weekend that ex-miners had formed cooperatives in Chingola , Kitwe , Solwezi and Kalulushi to support agricultural and farming activities so that they could also contribute towards food security and poverty alleviation.
“When President Lungu decided to empower retrenched miners, he had set the tone for individuals to contribute to economic diversification, promotion of food security and poverty alleviation.
“We are happy that this programme has been on course with a number of ex-miners being re-settled.
In the next few weeks, 1,300 ex-miners in Chingola will be re-settled in Mutimpa area under phase two of this project while in Solwezi, 500 will also be resettled in Maheba,’’ Mr Chewe said.
Mr Chewe said government has released K700,000 for survey of land for Kitwebased ex-miners who would be re-settled in Luswushi area in Lufwanyama district.
He said the 1,066 Ex-miners woul be given five-hectare of land each where they would be expected to engage in agricultural activities. “On Thursday, we are expecting surveyors to come and show ex-miners their pieces of land in Luswishi area of Lufwanyama.
“They will be given five hectares each,’’ he said.
Mr Chewe advised ex-miners who would be re-settled in various parts of the country to fully exploit the opportunities.
He said the ex-miners were grateful to the Government and Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) for facilitating the purchase of two tractors for use in their fields.