The sale has generated alot of suspicion with the opposition alleging corruption.
The Minister is obligated to clarify why the government’s 51% stake in Mopani, held through ZCCM-IH, was transferred to Delta Mining without seeking parliamentary approval. Such a constitutional breach by the President constitutes grounds for impeachment.
Although the government announced that Delta Mining Limited, a subsidiary of International Resource Holdings, had committed to acquiring the 51% stake in Mopani with an investment of up to US$1.1 billion, Delta Mining ultimately injected only US$130 million into Mopani.
The government has not clarified the source of the remaining funds, leaving a troubling gap in transparency.
It raises the question: as why the government choose to allocate over US$500 million from NAPSA for the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway, rather than invest US$130 million directly in Mopani Copper Mines to ensure full retention of mineral wealth revenue? Who are the true owners of Delta Mining Limited? These are questions being asked.