ANDD CALLS UPON THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT TO REVERSE THE MOPANI DEAL
28th November 2024, Lusaka, Zambia
The Advocates for National Development and Democracy (ANDD) wishes to express its deep concern and disappointment over the recent Mopani transaction, in which Delta Company acquired 51% of Mopani Mine shares through a deal involving the Government of Zambia, ZCCM IH, and International Resources. We call upon the Honourable Minister of Mines and Mineral Development, Honorable Paul Kabuswe, to immediately reverse this deal, as it was executed in direct violation of the constitutional guidelines of our Republic.
Article 210 of the Constitution of Zambia is unequivocal: any sale, disposal, or transfer of state assets must receive approval from Parliament. We, as an organization committed to ensuring the principles of governance, transparency and accountability are upheld, believe that this deal should have been subjected to parliamentary scrutiny as required by law.
In the interest of safeguarding the integrity of our national resources and ensuring public trust, we urge the Minister to reconsider the Mopani transaction. As a democratic state with a functional constitution, it is essential that any sale of government assets be transparent and fully compliant with constitutional processes. The failure to adhere to these principles calls into question the legality and fairness of the deal.
We also wish to commend the Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Madam Nelly Mutti, for her steadfast commitment to ensuring the interests of the Zambian people are protected. Her repeated calls for the Minister of Mines and Mineral Development to explain why the Mopani deal bypassed Parliament have been met with insufficient responses. We applaud Madam Mutti for her unwavering stance on this issue, demonstrating both patriotism and integrity in her leadership.
Once again, we emphatically call for the Minister to reverse the Mopani deal. This decision is crucial in restoring public confidence and ensuring that state assets are managed with the utmost transparency and accountability.
We also urge the Minister to refrain from dismissing concerns raised by stakeholders and citizens who demand clarity regarding the management of Zambia’s strategic assets, including Mopani Mine and Konkola Copper Mine. The people of Zambia deserve better than arrogance when seeking transparency in the handling of their national resources.
As an organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development and protecting human rights in Zambia, we will continue to demand accountability and transparency from those entrusted with the management of our national assets.
Samuel Banda
Executive Director
Advocates For National Development And Democracy