Vedanta Has Betrayed Copperbelt Youths, Says Governance Expert
Governance expert Wesley Miyanda has accused Vedanta Resources, through its management of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), of betraying the hopes and expectations of young people on the Copperbelt, many of whom had welcomed the investor’s return with optimism.
Speaking in a strongly worded statement, Miyanda said he has engaged with several youths across the mining towns who now feel disillusioned and abandoned due to the lack of job creation and economic opportunities.
“Over the past few weeks, I’ve spoken to young people across the Copperbelt who feel frustrated, misled, and increasingly hopeless,” he said. “These are the same youths who stood up and supported Vedanta’s return, believing it would bring jobs, business opportunities, and life back into our towns.”
Miyanda revealed that some desperate youths have been pushed into illegal mining activities in order to survive — a reality he described as painful and deeply troubling. He stated that the return of Vedanta has so far failed to deliver tangible benefits to local communities and warned that the signs of past mismanagement are re-emerging.
“To the many citizens who were against Vedanta’s return, I hear you. You were not wrong,” Miyanda said, citing lingering concerns about poor working conditions, unpaid suppliers, environmental harm, and broken promises from the company’s previous tenure.
He urged Vedanta to take its second chance seriously by recapitalizing KCM, creating decent jobs, and empowering local businesses.
“You don’t rebuild trust by talking. You rebuild it by doing better,” he emphasized.
While praising President Hakainde Hichilema for unlocking the KCM impasse and opening space for investment, Miyanda said such efforts risk being wasted if the investor fails to act decisively to uplift communities.
“If Vedanta cannot meet the expectations of the Zambian people, then government must listen to the voices on the ground and begin exploring alternative options,” he said. “We cannot allow KCM to remain a symbol of lost opportunity.”
He concluded by calling for a broader national reflection on mineral governance, insisting that Zambia’s natural wealth must translate into meaningful development.
“This is our home. Our future. And our moment to demand better, not just from Vedanta, but from anyone who seeks to do business on our soil,” he said.
