By 
Policy analyst, James Musonda, says the recurrent violent protests in mining towns are acts of criminality but reflect growing discontent, disconnection, and disappointment with the government’s mining policy failures.
On Friday, illegal miners took to the streets destroying shops in Chililabombwe’s second-class after they were chased from the copper dumps belonging to Konkola Copper Mines they were scavenging copper ore from.
“Behind the criminality are complaints of denial and exclusion from what they rightfully believe is there inheritance which they see given away to foreigners,President Hakainde Hichilema needs to reflect on these things, ” Musonda said in a statement on Saturday.
He said the government must reflect on key questions like how in opposition it pledged not to give Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) back to Vedanta Resources but gave it away when it formed the government?
Musonda asked how the government reconciled the fact that foreign mining companies receive tax holidays and allowed to export raw minerals without paying taxes when Zambians pay significant tax.
“When the police kill the artisanal miners seeking a living in an economy characterised by an unprecedented high cost of living since independence is something worth pondering about,” he said.
Musonda also queried when, without following tender procedures, the government allegedly gave away Mopani Copper Mine’s 51 per cent shares to an unknown foreign company on terms that remain hidden.
He said he was at pain to understand how a government that gave artisanal miners license yet deny them capital.
“A government that conceals mining pollution caused by a foreign company? How can you reconcile the promised employment with empty justifications that continuously blame the previous government?,” he asked.
Musonda said the government should explain the suffering in mining communities against billions of dollars lost through illicit financial flows and corruption as per the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and Auditor General’s reports.
Read more: just-in-illegal-miners-protest-in-chingola-demand-access-to-mine-site-video
He reiterated that improvement in GDP and inflation that contradict the highest costs of mealie-meal, fuel, fertilizer, and basic needs more general in the history of the country was not worth celebrating
He observed that the contradictions were fueling the protests and that the government needed to put an end to this.
“The rising protest illustrates the government’s failure. The government needs to quickly engage the youths to find a lasting solution. This should start with the recognition of the legitimacy of the claims made by the youths,” he said.
In addition to licences, Musonda said youths needed capital, adding increased local ownership of the mines that includes community, state, and a small portion of the foreign private sector was crucial.
He observed that the 30 per cent in the critical minerals strategy was insufficient to lead to a fair settlement of this issue as wealth allegedly remained concentrated in foreigners and a poorly run government.
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