By CHILA NAMAIKO –

THE Government has warned that it will not tolerate politicians inciting residents of Zimba District to block Rosinvest Zambia Limited from setting up a multi-million tin mining project.
Some residents of Chilobi area in Simwatachela chiefdom in Mapatizya Constituency where the project is being set up have vowed to reject the mine for fear of being displaced.
The company, however, has assured that it would concentrate on mining around the hills where the mineral had been found and would not temper with pieces of land occupied by the local people.
District Commissioner Elizabeth Kalaluka said in an interview yesterday that Zimba, being a new district, required massive development such as mining which would radically improve the living standards of the locals.
“We had several meetings over this matter where some politicians are inciting the locals to block and reject this mining investment which will significantly benefit everybody,” she said.
Ms Kalaluka said following a recent consultative meeting involving her office, Chief Simwatachela and his subjects, the investor was given a go-ahead over the project.
She was happy that the project would bring about sustainable development in the chiefdom in improving education, health and road infrastructure.
In a separate interview, one of the directors of Rosinvest Zambia Limited, Yury Zhukov said that although the company was waiting for a mining licence from the Government, it had already carried out ground works and was empowering the community.
He said the company, through its corporate social responsibility, would build a clinic with two staff houses by July this year to enable the community access health services within their locality.
So far, the company has renovated an old borehole for the community to access water and has drilled another one. The community will also benefit from upgraded road networks such as the one joining the main Kabanga Road from the mining area.