The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership on the Copperbelt has reacted angrily to Kitwe Mayor Mpasa Mwaya’s appeal that the Government suspends operations at the Black Mountain due to continued disregard for environmental and road safety regulations by operators.
Heavy trucks carrying material from the Black Mountain have been seen emitting dust while dropping part of the slug on Chibuluma Road, Central Street in Nkana West and other roads near the Kitwe Central Business District.
When checking on the impact of transporting material from Black Mountain on the community, Ms Mpasa described the situation as chaos.
But UPND Copperbelt Deputy Spokesperson Sam Mwikisa has issued a reaction accusing Ms. Mwaya of politicizing the New Dawn Government’s empowerment programmes such as the Black Mountain.
Mr. Mwikisa said the UPND on the Copperbelt will not tolerate individuals politicizing the New Dawn Government’s empowerment programmes.
He said the ruling party has taken note of some individuals on the Copperbelt who are playing politics where it is not necessary.
Mr. Mwikisa said negative comments against operations at the Black Mountain borders on frustrating Government efforts to empower Youths, Women and the Communities.
He said the former self centered ruling Party of members are ashamed of how the New Dawn Administration is handling empowerment and recruitment programmes without political or corruption lenses.
“Copperbelt UPND will not tolerate individuals politicizing empowerment programmes. We have taken note of some individuals on the Copperbelt who are playing politics where it’s not necessary. As a party in Government we have been focused on assisting the Government to deliver on our manifesto which is the blueprint of development on which Zambians gave us the mandate to govern the Nation for a term of five years.
However, our colleagues have started playing politics where it’s not necessary while the Government is implementing various programs especially on the Copperbelt,” Mr. Mwikisa said.
“We would like to request those politicizing the black mountain empowerment program to refrain from such politics as it borders on frustrating Government efforts to empower Youths, Women and the Communities with such a programme. As Copperbelt residents we all know that the Black Mountain was just a preserve for TWO families and a few high ranked PF Cadres but now it’s an empowerment program for everyone on the Copperbelt without any form of segregation,” he said.
“We know that the former self centered ruling Party of members are ashamed of how the New Dawn Administration is handling empowerment and recruitment programs without political or corruption lenses. This has disturbed PF as they believe in segregate empowerment and corrupt based recruitment programs. The wild statements being made by PF Leaders on the black mountain is meant to bring confusion and lead to stopping the operations at the black mountain and make Copperbelt residents poorer,” Mr. Mwikisa said.
Mr. Mwikisa urged people on the Copperbelt to support the UPND Government.
“We ask PF leaders with some civic positions or legislative positions to use such positions for the benefit of the electorates not for their political parties. We further want to remind them that this is not time to do politics but deliver for our people. Lastly we would like to request residents of Kitwe and indeed Copperbelt residents to ignore these selfish PF individuals and support the UPND Government under the able leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema. Lastly, to our Copperbelt residents especially in Kitwe, please be informed that the office of the DC, Copperbelt Minister and the Mines Minister are open for you at any time to engage with them for any queries and other programs that your Government has put in place,” he said.
Chaos has continued to characterize operations at the Black Mountain.
Last Friday, some youths rioted near St. Anthony and Kandabwe Compounds in Kitwe to air their grievances regarding the material they are being given from the Black Mountain.
The irate youths, who blocked part of Chibuluma Roads with stones and logs, alleged that they are being given worthless material from the Black Mountain.
The New Dawn Government recently handed over a 30% portion of the Black Mountain to community cooperatives.
New Doom Government…we are truly doomed…Listen to the mayor and i quote Kitwe Mayor Mpasa Mwaya’s appeal that the Government suspends operations at the Black Mountain due to continued disregard for environmental and road safety regulations by operators. And some useless under5 what to start making noise..
Mwikisa is a fool
Mwikisa, Do not threaten our Mayor. She is absolutely right . Everyone in Kitwe knows what a disaster this is. I am not a politician like you. But I can see the confussion and chaos . If you are UPND …..just know that on this one you have failed . Ask you minister Paul Kabuswe. !! He knows the calamity he has bought on the people of Kitwe through this . People died before ……in this mountain.
THE KITWE MAYOR IS RIGHT!
This is a disaster in Waiting!!
LEAVE THE MAYOR ALONE!
YES LEAVE THE MAYOR ALONE
ITS HER TOWN FOR NOW
In civilized COUNTRIES the mayor can easily order the operations to stop without consulting the Upnd. That’s what she was elected for… to run the district. Mwiikisa ( the name says it all ) you have vested interest in the black mountain that’s all.
This Mwikisa needs to be canned with words of wisdom, intellect and logic, rather to ”shambok” his psyche/b>. This is an extreme low-level cadre mentality. He has not even attempted fully to address the subject matter at hand, which is the danger to the environment. All he is interested to talk from his backside looking for 15 minutes of fame.
We took Vedanta Mining to court in London for dumping toxic chemicals in a river in Chingola that caused environmental hazards as people were drinking contaminated water and crops were affected. And we won.
Does he even understand the meaning of the word politicizing? The mayor is only carrying out her Civic duties.
REGULATE TIPPERS ON THE COPPERBELT , TIPPERS ARE BEING USED FOR FERRYING STOLEN COPPER,LOADS OF SLAG,AND WASTE COPPER CONCETRATE THIS TIPPERS OVERLOAD DAMAGING RDA ROADS .WITHOUT REGULATING THE MOVEMENT TIPPERS GOVT SHOULD BLESS IT SELF TO PAY A HUGE COST TO REPAIR PUBLIC ROADS ESPECIALLY ON THE COPPERBELT.
Bo Mwikisa, it’s you who is politicizing the black mountain. The mayor is absolute right. Please as my colleagues have alluded to leave the mayor alone and let her perform her duties. It wasn’t you who voted for her.
People are waiting for what you promised them, K5 per liter, K200 fertilizer, etc.
You are shamelessly destroying a city bequeathed you by Roy Welensky. It was a clean functional land healthy place before we took over.. This is why people are saying colonialism was better.
The Mayor is right. Nkana West roads have been completely destroyed by trucks ferrying black mountain stuff to the Chinese. The whole of central Street and Chibuluma roads are gone. Should the Mayor just watch while Kitwe is being destroyed as politicians try to appease people? Certainly not.
I urge the Mayor to get ZNBC to film what is happening and show it on Northern News to show the nation the disaster which is unfolding as politicians watch.
Aka ka Mwikisa lisaka sana ayi? The Mayor is carrying out her civic duties and you are there contradicting her. Kupusa bati!! And these are the people the New Doom govt intends to send to the people to explain the causes of fuel upward adjustment. Apparently such below par cadres have never had a one on one conversation with me dating back to MMD govt.
The Mayor is Right!! Tipper drivers are a hazard.