Youths leading the way out of illegal mining



Suzyo walks out of class at KIHSR in Kafue

By DOREEN NAWA 
THROUGH a journey of self-discovery, 22-year-old Suzyo Kumwenda is focusing on a future of unlimited possibilities.
Suzyo, an ex-illegal miner in Chingola, has flipped to a new profitable page in life.
Suzyo is a role model for several Chingola youths, who had fallen prey to a syndicate of copper thieves commonly known as Jerabos, a cliché for 'Jail boys or ex-convict.'
As Suzyo pursues a three-year Diploma in Clinical Medicine, at the Kafue Institute of Health Sciences and Research (KIHSR), his bold decision to abandon illegal mining is impacting on his peers hundreds of kilometres away.
Suzyo's colleague Christopher Chola, aged 25, also an ex Jerabo desire to enter into law school by 2014. "Suzyo is our leader, he has inspired all of us," Chola told Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Chairman Navin Agarwal and Chief Executive Officer Jeyakuma Janakaraj recently.
This strong point is shared by reformed 20-year-old Davies Sinyangwe, who is working hard to accomplish his wish to become a mechanical engineer.
Davies went back to pursue his secondary education at Kabundi High School. KCM and other mines have persistently fought to rid some of their assets of illegal mining, which police say is being driven by the selfish desires of the Jerabos.
Enhanced policing around its Nchanga Open Pits by KCM officers and Zambia Police has scored many successes so far.
However, the model to empower the youths through the Youth Talent Club, which is being funded by KCM and implemented by the Development Aid from People to People (DAPP), is impacting positively on youth behaviour.
Suzyo is credited by many youths as the leader for change in the entire matrix. "I became irresponsible when I was in Grade 11 in 2007 and a friend of mine introduced me to the Jerabos. I joined the group of copper thieves because of some challenges I faced since I lost my father," recounts the medium-built Suzyo as his eyes spin with remorse.
Although his ill-gotten cash from selling pilfered copper ore enabled Suzyo to buy food and cover other expenses, he recounts the undertaking was too risky and the money inadequate to count for a decent life. Additionally, it just kept eating-off his conscience.
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE
Accordingly, he learned one secret in life, 'rush not.' "It pays to wait patiently, if something is meant to be yours, the best is to wait and it will surely come rather than forcing matters. I got into illegal mining because of my being impatient, my involvement with the 'Jerabo-life' was because I needed quick money," Suzyo says.
"We used to go into the pits around 19:00 hours every day after school and came back after midnight... it was very dangerous" Suzyo recounts a touching experience one night when his colleague died instantly after being trapped in the tunnels.
"Even though I feared for my life, I had no option but to continue," says Suzyo, who wasted three years in the illegal and dangerous activity.
uzyo initially thought there was nothing else he could do apart from straying into the Nchanga open-pits.
But soon he realised there was a better life elsewhere and he credits his friend Chris Musonda for introducing him to the Youth Talent Club.
"As Chris started telling me about the Youth Talent Club and the benefits of joining the club, I never believed his story because it looked like a waste of time. I saw stone-picking as a very lucrative business," says Suzyo.
As his friend persisted, Suzyo visited the Youth Talent Club and was part of a seminar overwhelmingly attended by reform-minded youths.
POOLING RESOURCES TO FOSTER CHANGE

Suzyo in his class at KIHSR in Kafue

"One day I decided to follow him to the club, and we were taught how to manage businesses. That time, I was at cross-roads not knowing which way to go whether to continue with picking stones or start-up my own 'clean' business," says Suzyo.
In February 2011, Suzyo and nine other youths received a K3 million DAPP soft-loan. This amount was not enough to start-up a meaningful business and the 10 youths consented to form two groups of five each.
Suzyo and four others pooled their K1.5 million total capital to start a chicken rearing business, while the other group started a kiosk business.
"We started with 100 chicks, and after selling the chickens, we moved to 150 chicks," Suzyo explains.
A few months later, three of the group members quit and got into formal employment. Soon after that Suzyo was running the business alone.
"I made some reasonable cash, which I managed to save. I had some challenges but I did not succumb to the difficulties," he says.
As time progressed, Suzyo's mother handed him an acceptance letter from the Kafue institute and his K3 million savings and a K1 million bonus from his mother was enough to pay fees for his tertiary education.
Suzyo's strong desire to be in school tallied with his mother's wish for the son's better education.
"So when mummy gave me the acceptance letter, I looked at it as a blessing and accepted it whole-heartedly," he says.
Though in school, Suzyo has not abandoned the chicken business back home. "My sister is in charge of the business. I cannot afford to stop the business because it is the only means of raising funds to pay for my school fees." Suzyo's determination has inspired Chola to open a bank account.
A LEADER IN THE MAKING
"I have managed to save K9 million and by the end of (October) I will raise my savings to K9.5 million," says Chola, whose talent for artistic crafts made using paper, beads, cassava, glue, wood and grass earns him a minimum of k60,000 per artefact.
Chola says he has managed to construct a small house on his mother's plot in Kapisha Township in Chingola.
"We were used like slaves by the Jarabos," Chola recalls. "I want to tell my fellow youths that it is unprofitable to engage in illegal mining."
At the centre of the Youth Talent Club is the selfless widow Ireen Chola, a DAPP Section Leader in Kapisha, who recruits the youths in the club. KCM, which has spent K450 billion on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes in the last six years, finances the DAPP to implement numerous sustainable livelihood programmes.
These programmes have changed the lives of many youths, men and women in its areas of operation - Nampundwe, Chingola, Chililabombwe and Kitwe.
"I have one son and I would not want him to be involved in illegal mining because it is extremely dangerous.
As a result, I help the youths to change their lifestyle by encouraging them to pursue something profitable in life," Mrs Chola says.
"She is our mother-figure!" exclaims Davies Sinyangwe, the changed Grade 11 Kabundi High School student.
"Above all, I thank KCM that they have this programme for the youths, which is truly changing our lives."
Suzyo summarises thus, "nothing will stop me from achieving my goals!" Reading Suzyo's mind creates a strong impression of a leader that will impact young people for generations to come. Pursuing a decent future takes many forms and some reformed youthful illegal miners in Chingola are showing a unique path to success.