MINERS MEETING IN LIMBO

By ROGERS KALERO THE Emerald and Semi-precious Minerals Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) is scouting for more than K80, 000 to hold elections for new national leadership, General Secretary Shadreck Mwape has said. Mr Mwape said in Kitwe that the current national executive was unable to start preparations for the elections set for this month because it was facing financial challenges, hence the appeal for funds to hold elections. He said he had been prompted to issue a statement on the matter following concerns from the members who were insinuating that the current executive officials were deliberately avoiding elections in order to hold on to positions. The current ESMAZ national executive committee led by Victor Kalesha came into office in May 2016 office bearers. But Mr Mwape said the association was unable to prepare for elections because of lack of funds “There have been complaints from some of our members that the national executive committee, does not want to hold elections because we want to hold on to our positions, but the truth of the matter is that we don’t have funds to start preparing for elections. “We need more than K80, 000 to hold elections.  So, we are appealing to well-wishers and other stakeholders to see how they can help us to raise money for the elections to elect the new executive committee, “ Mr Mwape said. Mr Mwape said members should not speculate but engage the national leadership on the holding of elections and other issues affecting the association “Speculations may create a negative perception about the association hence our members must engage the association regarding various issues as opposed to saying all sorts of things which may even dent the image of the association,” he said