HH HEADS TO CB TODAY

HH HEADS TO CB TODAY

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is today expected on the Copperbelt for a two-day working visit.

Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Kasongo said President Hichilema is scheduled to officially hand over Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to Vedanta Resources Limited in Chililabombwe today.

Vedanta Resources has paid about US$246 million to creditors to regain control of KCM after a five-year protracted legal battle.

The payment paved the way for reinstatement of the KCM board and return of full management control to Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta.

KCM was put into provisional liquidation by the Patriotic Front (PF) government, which accused Vedanta of lying about expansion plans and paying too little tax.

Speaking during a media briefing in Ndola, Mr Kasongo said the President is expected to arrive at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola in the morning.

“He will proceed to Chililabombwe to open a newly-constructed hospital before proceeding to the official handover ceremony of KCM,” he said.

Mr Kasongo said President Hichilema is later expected to have an engagement meeting with Chingola residents at Chiwempala grounds.

He said President Hichilema is tomorrow expected in Kitwe to commission the Chamboli and Chimwemwe level-one hospitals.

Mr Kasongo said the President will later proceed to Lufwanyama, where he is expected to interact with party members before returning to Lusaka tomorrow.