Kalaba accuses President Hichilema of having hidden agenda on Konkola, Mopani mines

Citizen’s First (CF) Party president, Harry Kalaba, has accused President Hakainde Hichilema of having a hidden agenda of bringing back Vedanta Resources to run Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) on the Copperbelt

Kalaba said this during a media briefing held in Lusaka on Wednesday at the party Secretariat where he alleged that Vedanta has already been given KCM in the background and is only waiting for formalities.

He claimed that President Hichilema is finding it difficult to announce that Vedanta Resources will be given back KCM because most stakeholders have rejected this decision.

“The people of the Copperbelt are heavily dependent on the two mines and any disruption in the operations of the two mines will have a significant impact on the welfare of the citizens on the Copperbelt,” Kalaba said.

He said it is unfortunate that close to two years of the United Party for National Development (UPND) in government, President Hichilema has neglected KCM and Mopani Copper mines and wants to give back KCM to Vedanta.

“The inertia by government to find investors for the two mines has crippled the economic activities on the Copperbelt as most suppliers are not getting paid and youths are unable to find jobs,” Kalaba said.

He said the country has continued to hear of promises and scandals that seem to point in the direction of government’s lack of a solution to address the challenge of the two mining houses.

Kalaba has also accused the UPND Administration of giving preference to foreign companies at the expense of local firms leading to increased pressure on the local currency as the revenue generated by foreigners is externalized.

“While citizens are subjected to some of the highest taxes on the continent, they have found it prudent to give tax breaks and concessions to foreign mining houses who do not even declare the correct amount of taxable revenue,” he said.

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