Chiefs speak out on North-West wealth: mining of copper now taking place at large scale

NORTH-WESTERN Province is touted as the next copperbelt, as mining of the metal is now taking place at a large scale.

Although some dispute this nomenclature – copperbelt – being bestowed on North-Western Province, based on the outline of the deposits, which are not arranged in belt formation, but in fields.

But still, North-Western Province now accounts for over 40 percent of the national annual copper output.

And most recently, gold has also been discovered in the province, and is attracting prospectors in droves.

But the traditional leaders, who see themselves as the guardians of the natural resources, are urging caution with the exploration of the natural resources in the province.

At the second North-Western Province Chiefs’ Indaba held in Solwezi recently, the traditional leaders voiced out their concerns.

The indaba was held under the theme: “Land, environment and accountable mining.”

The meeting was attended by 16 chiefs and representatives in the province, who discussed issues affecting development in the province.

Chief Mumena of the Kaonde in Kalumbila district said there is a cartel of individuals fueling and sponsoring conflicts and wrangles in chiefdoms for selfish reasons.

He said there is a group of people causing confusions in chiefdoms whose leaders refuse to bend the laws that govern land management.

He said in turn, the chiefs are distracted and spend more time fighting one another at the expense of developing their chiefdoms.

“God has provided us with these natural resources such as gold so that the common man can benefit. But we spend more time sorting out sponsored differences that are meant to distract us from delivering development to our people,” he said.

Chief Ishindi of the Lunda people of Zambezi district dispelled allegations that some chiefs are selling land to investors.

Land in Zambia is divided into state land and customary land, where state land comprises about 6 percent and 94 percent of the land is owned under customary law. It is believed that different land tenure systems have their advantages and disadvantages.

Customary systems, which are often based on traditional, unwritten, and locally relevant rules about how to use and allocate land and resources, facilitate social cohesion, but activists believe may not be able to withstand increasing pressure on land and resources both from within the community and from the outside, compared with statutory systems which provide written legal rules or written case law about these issues.

In that vein, Chief Ishindi suggested that a law to allow chiefs to be entitled to a certain percentage of the total revenue generated from investments within their chiefdoms be formulated.

“That money can then be put in a chiefdom trust fund for the benefit of the people. We shouldn't be begging, if anything, it is you that should be begging from us,” he said.

Senior Chief Musele of the Lunda people of Kalumbila district said the Government should take keen interest in addressing the challenges being faced in chiefdoms.

“There isn't enough political will from the Government and this has been a major problem on our part. We also want a share of the money realised from the mines that are in our land,” he said.

Speaking earlier when he opened the indaba, North-Western Province permanent secretary Willies Manjimela called for prudent management of the resources.

“The province is endowed with many natural resources and it does not give us the authority to plunder the resources that God has given us,” said Mr Manjimela.

He said land in Zambia remains an important natural resource and tool for national development, hence the need to nurture and protect it from degradation.

He said there is a need for the customary land administration system to be transparent and effective to the benefit of those that depend on it for their livelihood.

He said over 60 percent of Zambia's population depends on customary land, mostly for agricultural purposes.

As is the case with most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, land is a central means of production in Zambia, where agriculture remains a source of livelihood for most people in rural areas.

A study done by Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Research and Learning in Africa (SAIRLA) in 2019, said that the majority of the Zambian population depend on agriculture for all or part of their livelihoods, therefore, access to land plays an important role in eradicating poverty in Zambia.

Indeed, the message seems to have resonated well with the traditional leaders who among other things resolved to uphold the aspirations of their subjects.

Other resolutions that were made at the indaba include reviewing and reconciling chiefdom boundaries to mitigate wrangles, documenting well tabulated succession plans in chiefdoms, and also the promotion of periodical dialogue among chiefs in the region.

The indaba was sponsored by a consortium of 14 civil society organisations with support from Swedish faith based organisation Diakonia under its Strengthened Accountability Programme (SAP) II project.

Diakonia country director Geoffrey Chongo said even as chiefs struggle to reach consensus regarding land management, they must remain steadfast and be champions of peace and harmony in the province.

He said they should not be distracted by the poverty and under-development levels in the region but keep lobbying for better ways of mining and environmental protection.

“We are gathered here to fight a common enemy in the name of poverty, misery and under-development. Let us fight social ills together as you are the custodians of peace and culture. We acknowledge the potential that this province holds,” he said.

Among the 14 CSOs include Extractive Industries Transparency Alliance, Caritas Zambia, Action Aid, Media Institute in Southern Africa, Zambia Land Alliance, FODEP and Youth Alliance for Development.