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| Some Ex-Miners in kitwe |
After loosing their jobs in the Mining Industry, life was in a mess especially for those that had acquired loans from different financial institutions.
The quickest response from government was that they would be offered farm land after being re-trenched a move that brought smiles on many of the ex-miners.
Walking away with a partly K 18,000 that was publicized to the dislike of many, life was never the same as most of them had no starting point due to loans acquired.
Various stake holders have raised concerns as to the delays that have taken place from November last year as to when the farm land will be made available to the ex-miners.
Some good news has come through!
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| Chanda Kabwe - Kitwe District Commissioner |
Government has started giving out letters of offer for residential plots to ex-miners in Kitwe and other towns on the Copperbelt.
Kitwe District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe who handed over the letters of offer to the ex-miners said government had yet scored an another achievement by fulfilling its promise.
"The opposition political parties are ashamed because they thought government under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu would not fulfill its promise, but here we are witnessing this exercise"
"The head of state is walking the talk, today you are getting your plots with all the conditions waved with an exception of service charges, its a first of its kind in so many yes" the excited District Commissioner said.
Mr Kabwe however warned the ex-miners not to sale the residential plots but safeguard them jealously and make them a starting point in life.
Some miners could not hide their joy and thanked government for gesture saying it would ease the burden.
"I have been struggling to get a plot from the council for years, now I can say being re-trenched from the mine was a blessing in disguise I now own a plot" one of the ex-miners said.
The district had more good news, saying in the next few weeks government will start giving out farm land to the ex-miners.
"Land is under demarcation in Luswishi farm bloc in Lufwanyama District and sooner than later u will start getting the land the process is almost complete" he revealed
The hope is that the ex-miners will act responsibly with the land given to them in the new Kitwe which is prime land and will avoid the temptation of selling plots.
Over 4,000 Miners last year in November were retrenched from various Mining Houses on the Copperbelt and Government promised that Miners will be given farm land.
