The Lamba people of the Copperbelt region have called for greater recognition in leadership roles and a fairer share of the benefits derived from the region’s rich resources. This demand was made at the Lamba Lima Royal Council of Zambia’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Baluba Motel, where Vice Chairperson Musa Kafimbwa voiced the community’s concerns.
“We are the owners of the territory called Copperbelt. We demand that we benefit from our resources that are underneath our motherland,” Kafimbwa asserted, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the Lamba people are not left behind in the distribution of the wealth generated by the region’s natural resources.
While acknowledging President Hakainde Hichilema’s call for increased local participation in farming and mining, Kafimbwa expressed concern about the increasing acquisition of land by so-called investors. He lamented that large areas of land are being taken over, leaving the local population with limited access to their own heritage. “We, the Lambas, will rise and protect our land,” he declared, underscoring their determination to safeguard their ancestral territory.
Kafimbwa also recognized President Hichilema’s efforts to revitalize the mining sector and urged for more support for local investors in the region to ensure that the benefits of mining are shared more equitably.
In response, Copperbelt Minister Hon. Matambo acknowledged the concerns raised by the Lamba Lima Royal Council and urged them to focus on reducing succession disputes, which he suggested were hindering progress in the region. He reassured the council that the government, under President Hichilema’s leadership, has implemented significant changes on the Copperbelt and is committed to further developments that would benefit the local population.
The call for increased recognition and resource sharing highlights ongoing discussions about the balance between development and preserving the rights of local communities. It also underscores the importance of ensuring that the people of the Copperbelt, especially the Lamba, have a prominent role in shaping the future of the region and its resources.
