Ex-miners appeal for waiver

EX-MINERS who have been empowered with land in Lufwanyama and Chingola have appealed to Government to consider waiving the charcoal production and exposure fees. The former miners said this would enable them raise money from the charcoal which they would produce from the trees in their newly acquired farms. Ex-Miners and Allied Workers Association of Zambia (NEAWAZ) president, Taulo Chewe, said members were not charcoal burners, but farmers who wanted to clear their farms in readiness for agricultural activities. They have thus appealed to the Ministry of Lands to consider waiving the charcoal production and exposure fees. In an interview in Kitwe yesterday, Mr Chewe said the money which would be raised by the Ex-miners if the charcoal production fees were waived, would be used to develop their fields especially that they were just venturing into agriculture. "We need to clear our land for agricultural purposes. We need to cut the trees, but we cannot throw away these trees. No, we have to make charcoal from these trees so that we sell and make money to help us in developing our farms. "This is why we are asking the ministry of lands to consider waiving the charcoal production and exposure fees. We are not charcoal burners, but farmers who want to clear our farms in readiness for agricultural activities, hence the ministry of lands should consider waiving the charcoal production and exposure fees, ' Mr Chewe said Mr Chewe has urged the members to continue working hard and prove that they were ready to contribute to food security and poverty alleviation. About 1,066 Ex-miners who were allocated agricultural land in Lufwanyama last year. Mr Chewe said he was sure that if the ex-miners concentrated on developing their land and start contributing to food security, Government could be encouraged to support them in areas where they were lacking. He said Government's decision to empower the ex-miners with land was a positive direction, which could even contribute to economic diversification.