PROLONGED NKOMBWA MINE EXPLORATION ANGERS CHIEF

There was need for Government and the firm with prospecting licence to come out clean and explain what had caused the delays to operationalise Nkombwa Hill mines. — Chief Katyetye

THE Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development should look for serious investors to start operations at Nkombwa Mine, Chief Katyetye of the Tambo people of Isoka has said. Chief Kateyetye told the Daily Nation in an interview he would not allow anymore investors to come to the area in the name of explorations because studies have been done and confirmed presences of 15 layer earth metals but nothing tangible was happening. Chief Katyetye said he had for a long time sought audience with the firm that had been doing explorations for past 10 years but nothing tangible had come out. ‘‘I am appealing to the Ministry of Mines to bring African Consolidated Mines director to the palace so that we know exactly how they have planned to open that mine because we cannot continue holding on to resources when my people are suffering because they have no jobs,’’ Chief Katyetye said. Chief Katyetye said there was need for Government and the firm with prospecting licence to come out clean and explain what had caused the delays to operationalise Nkombwa Hill mines. “We need to know exactly what is going on at Nkombwa Hill mine somebody has prospecting licences. I have never seen his office and there is no record where he got consent letter from my predecessor and when we request that those people should come and meet us we do not get any positive response,” he said He said the African Consolidated Resources had been carrying out explorations for some time and had confirmed presence of essential minerals . Chief Katyetye said once fully operational Nkombwa mines could bring about the much-need foreign exchange and contribute to the country gross domestic product (GDP). Chief Katyetye further said operationalising the mine would create employment for the local people in the district and beyond. He appealed to the ministry to look for serious investors.