Ex-miners ‘cry’ for access roads in agro areas

EX-MINERS and Allied Workers Association of Zambia (NEAWAZ) president Taulo Chewe has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) and mining firms to put up access roads in farming areas where Government has resettled them.

Last year, Government allocated land in Lufwanyama on the Copperbelt to more than 1,000 miners who were retrenched from mining firms.

Mr Chewe urged ex-miners and mining companies to work together in opening up access roads, while waiting for Government to put up permanent roads.

He was speaking in an interview in Kitwe at the weekend. Mr Chewe also appealed to MPs in Lufwanyama, Kalulushi and Kitwe to support the ex-miners in various ways as they take up farming.

“We have a challenge of bad roads in the area and we cannot continue crying to Government every time, especially that it has given us agricultural land. We need support from other well- wishers to open up access roads in the area.

“It is for this reason that we are appealing to MPs and other well-wishers to support us in various ways in order to set a firm foundation in developing the agriculture sector in Lufwanyama,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Chewe has urged his members to fully utilise the land allocated to them and prove that they are ready to contribute to food security and poverty alleviation.

Mr Chewe said the 1,066 ex-miners who were allocated land in Lufwanyama last year should ensure they remained self- sustaining after being retrenched from the mines.

He said while ex-miners could be facing challenges in getting acquainted in the agriculture sector, they must eventually grow from small scale to large scale farmers.

“For those who were involved in agriculture even during the time they were working in the mines, they may not have a lot challenges, but for those who are engaging in agriculture for the first time, they may face challenges, but they must do it.

“I am urging the 1,066 ex-miners who have been given agricultural land to work hard so that we can bring joy, pride and happiness to the Government over this initiative,’’ Mr Chewe said

He said Government’s decision to empower the ex-miners with land was positive direction, which could contribute to economic diversification.

“Economic diversification cannot be single-handedly driven by the Government. It needs other stakeholders to actively get involved. In this case, Government has provided land which should be fully exploited.

“So the challenge is up to those who have been given land to put it to good use. So stakeholders like ex-miners must set the stage for the effective economic diversification by developing their agricultural land,’’ he said.