Kalulushi MP assures farmers of compensation

Kalulushi Member of Parliament (MP) Rayford Mbulu says over 90 farmers in Chambishi whose crops were burnt by the sulphur dioxide emissions from Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) mine will be compensated next week.

Mr Mbulu said this in Chambishi yesterday when he visited the affected farmers in Chambishi’s Musakashi Ward.

He told the farmers that over KR100 Million will be paid to the farmers and out of the 100 affected farmers four would not be compensated as they had taken CCS to court over the matter.

The MP explained that farmers would not be paid the same amount, but would be given according to how much crops each farmer lost.

Mr Mbulu further said that the money which CCS had already given the council would be paid to the affected farmers starting Monday next week.

He however, said that the farmers were seating on the Multi Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) which was not suitable for farming.

Boas Katoka an affected farmer said their crops were destroyed in February this year and most farmers were wondering as to when they would be paid.

Mr Katoka said most of the people in Musakashi Ward depended on farming.