• VICE-President Inonge Wina hands over a letter of offer to one of the more than 4,000 former miners who have been empowered with land by Government. This was in Chingola yesterday. Picture courtesy of PROXIMITY MEDIA

By SAM PHIRI in Chingola –
MORE than 4, 000 former miners in Chingola on the Copperbelt have been offered land with Vice-President Inonge Wina expressing Government’s commitment to alleviating their hardships following job losses in the mining sector.
It was a joyous occasion for the 4,601 former miners when the Vice-President gave out offer letters at a ceremony in Chingola yesterday.
Ms Wina, who presented the offer letters for land on behalf of President Edgar Lungu, said the Patriotic Front (PF) administration was “walking the talk” through the provision of incentives that would lessen some of life’s challenges among the former miners.
“These job losses did not come as a result of negligence, but as a consequence of poor global economic conditions.
“Government is aware of the pain you are facing as a result of the job losses and we are committed to addressing your plight for the better,” Ms Wina said.
She said the low prices of copper on the international market had negatively affected the mining industry, and caused massive retrenchments.
“President Lungu will continue finding ways of cushioning the impact of the challenges through ways like land empowerment,” she said.
Ms Wina urged the recipients to put their land to good use, as it would be a springboard for creating wealth because it was not a diminishing asset.
National Ex-miners and Allied Workers Association of Zambia chairperson Taulo Chewe praised Mr Lungu for empowering them with land, thereby fulfilling the promise of land empowerment.
Mr Chewe, who spoke on behalf of the former miners, said it was the first time in the history of Zambia that a sitting Head of State had empowered people who had lost jobs in the mining sector.
“We shall make sure we utilise these farm plots you have given us accordingly so that we can better our lives from now onwards. We are more than ready to give the PF 100 per cent votes as ex-miners countrywide,” he said.
He said the former miners agreed with the PF manifesto that diversification of the economy through agriculture was a long-lasting solution to the country’s economic challenges.
The Vice-President proceeded to hold rallies in Kalulushi and Chililabombwe, attracting hundreds of people who chanted PF slogans.
Ms Wina thanked Chililabombwe residents for turning up in large numbers for the rally, and urged them to vote for PF parliamentary candidate Richard Musukwa and other candidates contesting the various positions.
She advised the public against voting for opposition parties as they had nothing to offer.
She said the PF had entered into an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo to create a free trade environment which would provide a ready market for farm produce.
The Vice-President called on the farming community in Zambia to position themselves for the new development.
Ms Wina also called on the electorate in Kalulushi to vote for the ruling party’s parliamentary candidate Kampamba Mulenga and desist from experimenting with leadership.
“Don’t be cheated by the opposition and independent candidates who have nothing to offer. The PF has given you massive infrastructure development and this will continue if you vote for the PF and President Lungu,” she said.
Chief government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili, who also spoke at the two rallies, asked the people not to vote for opposition parties that were founded on tribalism.
He said it was clear that the PF would emerge victorious on August 11 because of its rich manifesto and an all-embracing leadership.