LET GOLD MINING START - CHIEF MPHUKA
GOVERNMENT should allow gold mining to go ahead in lower Zambezi so youths and people in the areas can benefit, Chief Mphuka of the Chikunda people of Luangwa has said.
The traditional leader said Government should allow gold mining in the area to go-ahead to alleviate the high poverty levels among his subjects. Chief Mphuka said youths in the area were just languishing and that allowing gold mining to start in Lower Zambezi would create jobs for not just the young people but the entire chiefdom. “I insist that the mine should be opened to increase economic activities in the area and employ many young Zambians,” Chief Mphuka said. The chief said this when nominated MP Raphael Nakacinda paid a courtesy on him at the weekend. He also said the province was experiencing hunger because of the poor rainfall pattern this farming season. “We have no food here in Luangwa and we call on the government to intervene,” he said. Mr Nakachinda promised to pass on the message to government for it to intervene. He assured the chief that he would do everything to ensure government acted on the hunger situation in area. “We will talk to the vice president Ms Inonge Wina to increase the aid to your people and the people of Luangwa. We have seen for ourselves that there is hunger in the area and crops have dried up because there is no rains here,” he said. He said the government was doing everything possible to help the people in the province but that what was needed to increase the food because people were hungry.