By Francis Chipalo
The Democratic Union has slammed the government’s plan to produce 3 million metric tonnes of copper by 2031, calling it “misplaced” since Zambia does not control the mines.
The UPND government aims to boost copper production to 1 million metric tonnes in 2025 and 3 million by 2031, citing policy stability and fiscal incentives.
But Njobvu argues that the focus should shift to benefiting Zambians, not just meeting production targets.
Njobvu has advised government to rethink its position, saying continuing on this trajectory, President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration will be betraying Zambians.
“We cannot set such an ambitious target when we do not have control over the mines. We have given the mines a lot of tax incentives, and again we are giving them a bonus that a mine more and take it out of the country. This for me is misplaced,” Njobvu said.
Njobvu said in an interview that the country can only set such a target when it has total country over the mines, adding; “then we can set such an ambitious target because we will know that whatever is being mined, the capital remains in the country. We need our people to begin benefiting from the mining resources instead of allowing other countries to benefit”.
He said it is laughable that Zambia mines among other minerals, gold, but yet has nothing to boast about in its reserves due to misplaced priorities by government and a lack of leadership.
The outspoken leader has emphasized on the need to promote local direct investment where citizens invest in the mining sector, adding that doing so would enable the resource remain in the hands of the citizens.
For this to happen, Njobvu has called for a radical change of leadership in next year’s general elections where a leader (s) with fresh – innovative ideas takes charge as Republican President.