By Kombe Mataka
Mines minister Paul Kabuswe says political party cadres will not be allowed to invade mines in the name of exposing illegalities.
He was responding to the action by UPND youths led deputy national youth chairperson for administration Stephen Chikota in which they attempted to gain access into a mining area heavily guarded by police in Mwense district, Luapula Province based on information that illegal mining was taking place.
In a video that has gone viral, youths led by Chikota are seen having an altercation with police who had stopped him from entering the mining area, stressing that procedures were not followed by the angry mob.
But a visibly angry Chikota accused some ministers whom he called criminals for ordering state security to protect ‘criminals’.
“As deputy youth chairman of UPND party, which is the ruling party, I am going into the mine,” Chikota told police manning the entrance to the area. “…You are too young to be protecting foreigners. Excuse me, which procedure? The only people that are supposed to be here is you (police) not those idiots who are there. The licence of that Indian never included…You swore to the President. I also swore when he appointed me. I can only report the the Republic President who is also the party president. So questioning my capacity, I think you are taking us for granted. I will not allow a situation where a Zambian steals you arrest but when a foreigner steals you even give state security.”
Chikota warned police not to frustrate his efforts, before he turned his anger to some government ministers.
“You (police) have continued frustrating our efforts. In the opposition you were beating us but now we are in government, you are protecting criminals. I am telling you heads will roll,” Chikota warned. “It’s either I lose my my appointment or you lose your jobs. I have a list of criminal ministers and I have capacity to organise 200 trucks…even more than the police. I don’t want to go that way. Allow me to the site.”
He later addressed the press and said that he has information that the Indian who had a licence to mine manganese, cobalt and copper had illegally started mining scheelite.
“We have tried to sit down with this Indian man so that we resolve…and see how he may partner with Zambian youths. He has been adamant because he is working with disgruntled ministers. He has never paid attention to us,” Chikota said.
“As I speak to the President and the people of Zambia, these police officers are protecting a criminal. A thief who is mining without documentation. We are not going to sit idle as a party. I have brought in public…we have tried to engage government. The two ministers we have all your information of your manoeuvres…if it means losing my position in the party, I better lose it.”
He announced that he would expose some ministers at a press briefing on Sunday (yesterday).
“I am now going to mention you and the money that you have eating from this Indian. I have the full information,” charged Chikota.
But Kabuswe said President Hichilema was very clear when he said that he would not allow caderism in the country.
He warned that his office would not tolerate invading of mines in the name of exposing illegalities.
“That ministers are corrupt is not the correct position. Zambia is a country of laws and the President has made it clear that he is going to be methodical and he is going to have systems in the way that he runs the country. He has ministers and ministries. So in interns of mining issues, the only ministry that is mandated to determine legality or illegality of any activity is the Ministry of Mines,” Kabuswe said in an interview. “The minister is the issuer of licences to various stakeholders. No political cadre has the mandate to determine whether operations are legal or illegal. It is only the relevant officers in the relevant ministry who report to me and we make a decision. If someone is in breach of any licence, we have the power to revoke that licence.”
And Kabuswe said a company had been given an exploration licence to prospect in the area in question and not mine.
“So what is happening at that mine is that youths who have also sent that video are accusing ministers of criminality have no competence to determine whether the person is exploring or mining that,” he said. “Before this noise started, I had already sent officers on the ground to go and check what is happening. I haven’t even watched the video because I rarely want to get things on social media. I am a minister and I need to get facts. We say ‘can we follow due process and do due diligence’, youths begin to say ‘you are supporting ABCD. You are compromised’. Due process has to be taken so that we are not unfair to investors and government. So anything to the contrary is hearsay. It is fake news. This is trying to twist government and twist the arm of the minister so that someone can benefit from resources by invading mines. They are trying to use illegal means to benefit. Sometimes it is informed by greed.”
He said the licence of the prospector is valid.
“Youths have gone to invade and disturb because they suspect that that person is mining. As ministers we will not work on hearsay. If we make decisions based on rumours and innuendos, we will find ourselves in court and government will lose money compensating that individual,” Kabuswe said.
And concerning mining in Lower Zambezi National Park, Kabuswe said his ministry would give a position on the matter next week.