Melo News | Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | Kitwe
A group of young people and women in Kitwe, who are part of the Kopala Mining Multipurpose Cooperative Society, are planning to take action against what they perceive as political interference in the allocation of valuable dumpsites.
They claim that certain unnamed UPND leaders are obstructing their access to these sites, which they believe should rightfully belong to them. Bill Kapinga, the representative of the youth, has stated that the same individuals who benefited from the controversial black mountain in Kitwe are now attempting to take control of dumpsites td28 and td52 in Kalulushi, at the expense of the cooperative.
The youths have an agreement with an Australian Mining Company that holds the rights to these dumpsites, but a UPND-aligned cooperative has emerged and is on track to be awarded the sites before they can proceed.
In response, the Kopala Mining Multipurpose Cooperative Society has written to the Inspector General of Police, Graphael Musamba, requesting a permit to march to Lusaka and present a petition to the Mines Minister, Paul Kabuswe.
If the Ministry of Mines fails to address their concerns, the organization, Beautiful Gate Foundation, which Mr. Kapinga represents, has expressed its intention to continue to State House to seek President Hakainde Hichilema’s intervention.
Despite attempts to contact UPND Kitwe District Chairman Shadrack Chataba regarding these allegations, he could not be reached as his phone went unanswered.
