MINISTRY of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana says starting April, government will begin penalising mining firms that are not implementing the provisions of the Local Content SI. Meanwhile, when asked to clear claims that the US government was seeking to secure Zambia’s mineral resources in exchange for support in the health sector, Kawana said such claims were “lies”. Speaking when he featured on Peopos Radio in Kalulushi, Saturday, Kawana said mining companies which were not contracting Zambians would be penalized. “If you remember yesterday during the conference, the President emphasized on the policy we have put in place regarding the local content now that the mines are open. Some businesses should be given exclusively to Zambians. So, the...