We’ll continue talking of the past so that we don’t make same mistakes – Kabuswe

MINES Minister Paul Kabuswe says government will continue to talk about the past so that citizens know that Zambia needs a sober leader like President Hakainde Hichilema.

And Kabuswe says according to recent research, about six million people are threatened with food insecurity due to drought.

Meanwhile, Kabuswe has insisted that Mopani Copper Mines was not sold, he says it’s a joint venture with IRH.

Speaking when he featured on Sun FM Zambia’s “Special” Programme, Saturday, Kabuswe said the past should be remembered so that leaders do not make the same mistakes.

“This debt restructuring is going to bring benefits. We are not saying the economy is going to be good in one day, no. It’s a process again because this was an economy that was wounded. This is an economy that was hammered and badgered but we are rebuilding it because we are equal to the task. We won’t stop talking about the past, we’ll be talking about it so that we remember and do not repeat it again. When a child doesn’t remember the past, he or she will be making the same mistakes,” he said.

“So, for us to not repeat the mistake, we’ll be reminding ourselves as Zambians that what has made us to be passing through what we are passing through is because we were not living well, we had a lot of cadreism, the people who were leading us were just drinking alcohol, they were celebrating anytime, they were doing nothing. We should remember that so that we see that a leader who should lead us is one who is sober, like the way Hakainde is. A leader who should lead us is one who is focused like the way President Hichilema is”.

Kabuswe said some people had already forgotten about the past and were chanting “UKWA!”

“We’ll be reminding each other as Zambians that here we were wrong in this. If we don’t remind ourselves, we’ll forget like some people have started to and are now chanting UKWA! UKWA! What UKWA? We can’t go back to cadreism. We can’t go back to hurting each other. We can’t go back to playing with the country’s money. We can’t go back to borrowing again, we borrow again and close our throats? Our friends said they didn’t have a solution to pay back the debt but here we are, as a government, we have done it and we are moving with a positive trajectory for the economy,” he said.

Kabuswe said six million Zambians were threatened with food insecurity due to drought.

“One of the challenges we’ve had because of drought is shortage of electricity. What have we done? We have started importing more electricity so that we mitigate the impact of the drought. In terms of food, we have done research and six million Zambians are threatened. Already, donors have started coming on board so that we address the challenges that come with the drought and these are issues that we are working on. It is not time to celebrate or condemn anyone. Our government is focused to make sure that we address the effects and the impact of drought,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kabuswe revealed that Mopani Copper Mines paid K87 million to Kitwe City Council.

“As I was coming Allan to this programme, I was just phoned that Mopani actually has paid Kitwe City Council K87 million in rates in arrears. Now, how can you condemn such a thing? There are pensioners in Kitwe who haven’t been paid for a long time in the council. So, the council now has liquidity. I am sure they’ll begin to liquidate people that have retired in the council for a long time. K87 million is not a small feat. For Mufulira Council, they have been paid and cleared all the rates by Mopani because of this deal. So, the liquidity is not only to contractors and suppliers, now, even statutory bodies, Mopani is becoming current; paying taxes, paying everything and the celebration is so huge for the people of the Copperbelt and Zambia in general,” he said.

Kabuswe added that Mopani had not been sold but was a joint venture with IRH. He said that the latter would get 51 percent board representation and profits while government got 49 percent.

“So really, for me, Mopani is an exciting moment and these issues [of] no, it was illegally sold, no, awe. It was not sold. Mopani is a joint venture with IRH and yesterday I was giving an example that if for example you have a company, you don’t have money but you have the structures, you have everything that can make money, when you invite another person and say, can we have a joint venture, that’s basically what we’ve done with IRH. We have said let’s have a joint venture. Because of the money that you have put in, when we start sharing that money, you’ll be getting 51 and we’ll be getting 49 [percent] when we’ll be sharing when we make profit,” said Kabuswe.

“And because you have put in money, when we make a board for Mopani, if there will be 10 [members], 51 percent of that 10 will be yours because you have put in money so you have to preside over the money that you have jived together. There is no selling there. It’s a project where you and I have said okay, you have the money, I have the company, put in money. When you put in money and I tell you because of the money that you have put in, when we make profits, your share will be 51 percent, my share will be 49 [percent]. That’s what we’ve done. There’s no selling there, it’s a joint venture and this issue of just dwelling on ‘this is a sale,’ no. What is important is what impact this transaction has done on our people?”