Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader has observed that lack of industries in that country that can process copper ore has cost the Zambians employment opportunities.
Edith Nawakwi has wondered the government can allow the copper to be leaving the country in its role state.
Ms. Nawakwi notes that diversification of the mining activities can help boost employment opportunities for the Zambian people.
She adds that local people have not been benefiting from the mining industry adding that there is need for the locals to empowerment and see to it that they participate in the mainstream economy.
And Ms. Nawakwi has advised the media not to entertain statements that border of character assassination.
She observes that the media in the country focuses so much on what she termed as vindictive reporting adding that the media is expected to publish stories that will give the Zambians valuable information.
And the National Restoration Party (NAREP) has concluded the final draft of its election manifesto 2011 to 2016 which is set to be launched soon.
This follows the release of the preliminary version on 17th August in Lusaka that was subjected for public comment.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Qfm in Lusaka, NAREP acting national secretary Charles Mwenya has described the submissions of the public on what should be contained in the manifesto as overwhelming.
Mr. Mwenya says the party has also received submissions from Zambians in the Diaspora adding that this is a clear indication that people are in need of a comprehensive roadmap for developing the country.
He has therefore rubbished an opinion poll conducted by Synovate Research Company which has discovered that 93 percent of Zambians have not read manifestos of any political party that is taking part in the tripartite elections.
The NAREP acting national secretary explains that the document has spelt out the important benchmarks that his government will follow to improve the country’s economy with regards to investing in people.
QFM
The General and Edith are masters of jokers, after elections they just melt away like nothing happened until the next round of elections in 2016. These two together with the NGIs must have tjeir heads checked
industries in that country that can process.which country?
Poor English
As President Banda made a stop-over at Kwacha market to greet traders, some people were seen walking out of the market in protest and shouting that he had failed to build a decent market for them.
They belong to a group of animals that hibernate. After 20/9 ,they will be in a state of political depression & inactivity until 2016 . She was in grz but because of being in a state of comatose,she could not see the need for copper processing industries in her country.
As much as I do not support one Micheal Sata, I still appreciate the fact that the man has worked extremely hard to put his party on the standing it is today. Even after losing an election the man does not retreat into any state of hibernation but continues to forge ahead and keep government on its toes not these guys that pretend to be opposition leaders and only emerge on the eve of an election. Am sorry Edith you can not funny around with people like this. Just concentrate on your opaque brewery.
A well flogged subject from a smart but has-been politician. Lets face it, there is currently not enough political will in Zambia to break new grounds i.e. Copper based industries. Its all maintenance management politics, and bad ones at it too.
# 5 lesby,wandepula you re crazy.
But all the same it makes alot of sense, requiring following up. Diversification, and vertically integrating key industries are core to employment creation. We have to move a step from over-relying on commodity exports towards manufacturing to minimize the negative side effects associated with barter-terms-of trade.
Good afternoon
The text needs some editing LT: copper in it’s raw state and not “role state”. There is need for the locals to be empowered and not “to empowerment”.
Otherwise, all the points raised by FDD are important and worth implementing but like someone has observed why should they wait until election time to present these arguments? Why haven’t they been challenging MMD’s policymaking on the mines all along? You can’t stop a fire by talking about water and expecting others to act – meanwhile the damage continues…
She is just wasting her last resources,no one will cast the vote on her,not even her simblings.
MMd only belive in shopping malls as development. If They win more of the same with zambia showing off some of the largest shopping malls outside SA with all goods made in SA. Then you are told that is development because you have the money to buy those imported goods.
@Witness, you realise that this debate about copper wouldn’t even exist if the government only thought malls were a measure of development?? Copper output has increased massively over the last couple years because the government has actively sought to get Zambia producing as much copper as it can. The investment it takes to develop new mines leads to other externan jobs being created such as construction related enterprises, which further helps employment.
Its like you’re hoping for a miracle to happen, when a lot of positives are already occurring. You’re free to have your opinions. There is a lot the government is doing wrong. But at least try to be fair in your judgement. You’re too partisan and that won’t help you, or the nation. Some objectivity is always good.
It is important for Ms Nawakwi or Mrs Hambulo to understand that there are processing plants in the country that produce copper concentrates and  cathodes. so it is wrong to say copper leaves the country in it’s raw form as ore. Rather what the learnt madam should have said is that we need beneficiation plants to produce copper products. But without a robust domestic market like that of China and India it is a challenge though not impossible.
13 Thoughts
We have been waiting for 20 yrs of this MMD GRZ for that miracle to happen. Dont you think 20 yrs is long enough to prove one self for a party on performance ?.
Despite having ZAMEFA in Luanshya, companies like ZESCO & ZAMTEL have continued importing cables because according to these companies, ZAMEFA was unable to meet their specifications & standards
In fact there was a scandal where, these cables where exported to South Africa, only to have labels changed and ZESCO and ZAMTEL will import these same cables.
We have not been able to add value to our copper because we are obsessed with the notion that anything and everything imported is superior than that locally made.
what can nawakwi offer. I have never seen such jokers before. Why cant just continue managing her piggery? Napapa sana. She looks like a traditional leader
I am so glad with the comment coming from the FDD leader Ms.Edith Nawakwi on the need to have our own copper processing industries in Zambia. And i only urge our governement to look at such issues.