A youth in Solwezi District has expressed confidence that Sulphide Three (S3) expansion project at Kansanshi Mine will help create employment for the local people.

 

One of the youths, Henry Banda, says the project could not have come at a better time than now, given the high unemployment levels among youths in the District and the Province as a whole.

 

He told ZANIS in an interview in Solwezi today that he is optimistic that the expansion of the project will spur economic growth and accelerate development in the District.

 

Mr Banda has also appealed to the government to ensure that the benefits of the project trickle down to Solwezi residents, especially the youths.

 

” We have qualified youths in Solwezi who can contribute to the growth of the mining sector in Zambia,” he stated.

 

Mr Banda added that once locals are empowered with employment, household income will increase, thereby reducing poverty levels in communities.

 

He Banda has since called on the mine to invest in infrastructure development, such as roads and housing, adding that the current facilities are not sufficient to cater for the growing population.

 

” The infrastructure we have at the moment is not adequate with the expansion of the project. We would like to see the mine investing in more modern infrastructure,” stated Mr Banda.

 

He has further stressed the need for mines to scale up the copper production to contribute towards achieving the set 3 million tonnes of copper production per annum by 2031.

 

President Hakainde Hichilema is today expected to commission the 1.25 Billion United States Dollars S3 expansion project at Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi District.