Govt playing mind games to force Zambians to accept a ‘raw’ deal on Mopani, Konkola mines —Musonda

Former miner, James Musonda, has accused government of engaging in delay tactics over the Mopani Copper Mine (MCM) and Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) deals.

Musonda said this had created desperation among Zambians and that this could force them to accept the bad deals that would materialize from the negotiations.

On Monday, Mines and Mineral Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, who last month, together with other government officials, promised to unveil investors for both ‘troubled’ Mopani and KCM on July 31, 2023, held a briefing asking for more time.

Musonda who is a hard-core critic of government’s mining policies said the delays in announcing the way forward was to create enough anxiety and vulnerability among Zambians for them to accept the bad deals coming from MCM and KCM.

In an exclusive interview with Zambia Monitor on Tuesday, Musonda said: “They are creating a desperate situation so that people reach a point where they are ready to accept anything.”

He observed that the government gave KCM back to Vedanta Resources when it withdrew the case from the courts.

Musonda said since then the government had been giving false declarations and claims.

“All these psychological games are meant to ensure wide acceptance by Zambians of the raw deal coming from this transaction,” he said.

Musonda said the deal that would come out from the KCM negotiations would be worse than what late President Patrick Mwanawasa signed.

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