THE Government has shown its commitment in pursuing policy objectives which will ensure sustainable development and creation of decent jobs for Zambians.
To underscore the importance it attaches to this task, in 2013, Government came up with a strategy paper on industrialisation and job creation through foreign and local investment.
This shows that creation of jobs is the Government’s top strategy for ensuring stability of society and overall growth of the economy.
With the prevailing conducive environment for doing business, several investors, especially in labour-intensive industries and enterprises which have huge employment capacity, have been flocking to Zambia.
Many Zambians are eager to be swallowed up by these employment opportunities which are opening up.
However, it is saddening to hear of continuous reports of violence which has characterised the recruitment process and creation of a data base for people to be employed at First Quantum Minerals (FQM)’ subsidiary, Kalumbila Trident Mine in North-Western Province.
We are told this mine, with estimated capital cost of US$2 bilwlion, is expected to produce between 270,000 and 300,000 tonnes of copper per year and generate around 2,000 jobs.
With a lifespan of more than 15 years and potential to extend it further, this should surely be good music to the ears of Zambians and indeed the local community on the outskirts of Solwezi.
Like North-Western Province Minister Dawson Kafwaya observed at the weekend, the opening of this mine is an opportunity for several people to be employed and that locals need to embrace the spirit of ‘One Zambia, One Nation for the betterment of the area and the nation’.
But violence will only retard the development that the area deserves and if not abated could scare away investors who want to change the status of the local community.
Mr Kafwaya called for an end to the violence in the area as Government was worried with the reports of the vice.
Last month, violence erupted at Kalumbila when one of the locals engaged by the mine to register potential workers passed a remark that only Lunda people would be entered in the data base.
That remark angered other job-seekers from Solwezi and the Copperbelt who were in the majority, leading to the fracas.
A data base is a system that mining companies in liaison with local chiefs in the district use to recruit workers for the mines.
Five data base registration centres were opened in Chief Musele’s chiefdom where Kalumbila is located.
Because of the confusion which erupted, the mine was compelled to suspend the recruitment exercise until further notice.
Locals and indeed all the job-seekers should, therefore, avoid violence at all cost if they are to benefit from the mine’s job opportunities on offer and heed Mr Kafwaya’s call for oneness. OPINION