By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
MORE than 100 ex-miners who were recently retrenched have received offer letters to own plots in Mufuchani in Kitwe, sparking jubilation among the recipients.
Speaking at the handover ceremony  yesterday, Kitwe District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe said Government would remain steadfast to fulfill promises as enshrined in the Patriotic Front (PF) manifesto.
“President Edgar Lungu promised to give free land to the miners who were recently retrenched and we have started implementing the presidential directive,” Mr Kabwe said.
He said President Lungu was devoted to change ex-miners’ lives and that is the reason the plots were being given without any charge.
Mr Kabwe said recipients would only pay for water and electricity connections and urged them not to sell plots but build houses.
“You are special in the eyes of the President ,that is the reason he decided to waiver processing fees for the plots to make your lives better, so don’t sell, make sure that you build houses on the respective plots,” he said.
Ex-Miners and Allied Workers president Taulo Chewe thanked the President for fulfilling his promise.
“More offer letters are coming, we have been telling people that President Lungu is a listening president and what we are witnessing today is a testimony to that,” Mr Chewe said.
He disclosed that more than 4,000 hectares of land in Chingola was earmarked to be distributed to retrenched miners in the town alone with more land in Lufwanyama District already secured.
An ex-miner Lucy Banda who could not hide her joy, described the PF Government as a listening one.
“This will change my life, plots are cost a lot of money nowadays, I will now have my own house, we thank the President for coming to our aid,” Ms Banda said.