GLORIA KANGWA writes
@SunZambian
Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR), in conjunction with the Youth Alliance for Development (YAD), has embarked on a project aimed at strengthening the community voices in the extractive industries area.
CSPR provincial coordinator, Haggai Nyambe, said that the programme is intended to prepare the councillors to actively engage the new mines in Kasempa on various issues affecting the community.
Mr. Nyambe said that, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project will take the councillors through the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) guide resource, on how revenues from the mining activities make their way through government to benefiting the public.
“It is important that you understand the extractive industry for you to know your benefits. You need to understand the mining sector for you to know that you play an important part in the country’s development chain,” he said.
Mr. Nyambe was speaking during an interactive information exchange forum held at the Solwezi Civic Centre hall.
And speaking at the same industry, Solwezi deputy mayor, Nephan Kamwandi, who is also Kimasala ward councillor, said the councillor’s role is to be an eye opener for the people and to channel development to the community.
He urged the councillors to work together because the future generations looked up to them to foster development.
“Kasempa district is 115 years old with 22 wards. Each one of us has a role to play in instigating development even with or without the mines, let us ensure we put political affairs aside and develop our district”, Mr. Kamwandi said.
