🇿🇲 CAMPAIGN BRIEF | Gold Sites Become New Battle for Copperbelt Vote
Access to small-scale gold mining has become a late campaign issue, with Tonse Pamodzi Alliance running mate Makebi Zulu accusing President Hakainde Hichilema of describing Copperbelt residents as “foreigners” in mining areas of North-Western Province.
Writing on Facebook today, Zulu addressed Copperbelt voters directly: “Ba KOPALA, did you hear what Hakainde Hichilema said in Mufumbwe?” He alleged the President had told residents not to allow people from the Copperbelt to work in gold-mining areas around Mufumbwe and Kikonge, before asking: “How have you become FOREIGNERS in your own country?”
The statement follows an earlier campaign promise by NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile on the Copperbelt. Mundubile told youths his government would allow them to return to gold-mining areas from which artisanal miners had been displaced following government intervention involving security forces earlier this year. Tonse is now attempting to connect the two issues and present access to gold sites as part of its closing appeal to Copperbelt youths.
But the argument has another side. The promise previously generated questions in North-Western Province over why youths from the Copperbelt should apparently receive priority access to mineral resources located in another province, and what opportunities would remain for local communities living around those mining areas.
The full context of the remarks Zulu attributes to Hichilema has not been independently established by The People’s Brief. Until the President’s complete statement is available, it would therefore be premature to conclude that he described Copperbelt residents as foreigners or advocated their exclusion from North-Western Province.
The policy question, however, is legitimate whichever side is speaking: who should benefit from small-scale mining? Copperbelt youths have a right to economic opportunities across Zambia. So do youths in North-Western, Luapula, Eastern, Southern and every other province. The emerging campaign argument will therefore require both sides to explain whether they are proposing national access to mining opportunities, preference for host communities, or some combination of the two.
Three days before voting, gold has moved from the mining pits into the political battlefield.
© The People’s Brief | Francine Lilu