Copperbelt economic hardship far from being over - Sinkamba

…says people on the Copperbelt no longer get excited to see President Hichilema because of KCM, Mopani which are not fully operational

PETER Sinkamba, the interim chairperson for People’s Pact and Green Party president says people on the Copperbelt are not excited with the visit of President Hakainde Hichilema to the province because KCM and Mopani are not fully operational which has resulted in economic hardships.

Mr Sinkamba, who resides on the Copperbelt said in an interview that the economic situation in the province was gloomy and so President Hichilema’s visit would not excite people.

“The problems here (Copperbelt) are deep. A visit is not good enough. Mind you, he (President Hichilema) was here only about two weeks ago. The people want to see a productive mining sector,” he said.

Mr Sinkamba said the mining sector on the Copperbelt was not about the President visiting the province but concerned key mining operations running on a full scale.

He said the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) issues were not yet resolved and it was not even clear when the investor would be on the ground.

“There are so many job losses. People are depressed. The mining equipment has deteriorated greatly because it is just on care and maintenance. There is no production. So, a visit makes no difference,” Mr Sinkamba said.

He said people at Mopani Mine had been given a raw deal because of the way things had been structured and that was the reason people were not excited about the mine.

He explained that if Mopani and KCM were not functional, there was no hope as Chambishi Metals was still closed as well as

Chibuluma Mines.

Mr Sinkamba said people could not be excited about President Hichilema’s visit.

Yesterday, President Hichilema started his five-day working visit to the Copperbelt.

Top on his agenda was officiating at a ground-breaking ceremony for the dewatering of Shaft 28 in Luanshya.

President Hichilema is also expected to commission the Chingola-Chililabombwe – Kasumbalesa road project which is estimated to gobble US$31 million.