Be patient about KCM, MCP, Chambishi Metals - Matambo
A SERIOUS pronouncement concerning the unlocking of Konkola Copper Mine (KCM), Mopani Copper Mines PLC as well as Chambeshi metals will be made soon, Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo has said.
Mr Matambo said President Hakainde Hichilema had promised Zambians on the Copperbelt that his government would unlock the mines and that was what he was going to do.
He said the mines may not be unlocked in the first quarter of 2023 as promised, but that a little bit more time would be needed for it to happen as the President also deserved to be given some extra time to do so.
Mr Matambo was speaking when he featured on Diamond TV’s program dubbed ‘COSTA’ on Sunday evening.
“Even in a football match, there is extra time given and the fact that the mines have not yet been unlocked as promised does not mean that they will remain like that. We just want to ensure that everything is in place before we make the big announcement because this government does not want to do things haphazardly,” Mr Matambo said.
Mr Matambo also announced that queuing up of mealie-meal in the province would be a thing of the past as the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) had released 30, 000 tons of maize.
He said 80 percent of the 30, 000 bags of maize would be taken to the Copperbelt.
Mr Matambo said the government together with the millers worked tirelessly to ensure that the commodity was made available to the people.
He added that the government was also working towards making the price of the stable food affordable as promised during the 2021 election campaign.