Government has urged the police command in North Western and Copperbelt provinces to beef-up security measures in a bid to curb illegal mining of copper and other precious minerals.
Last week, two Illegal miners were killed when a tunnel they attempted to quarry copper ore from at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) in Chingola collapsed due to heavy rains.
Mines Deputy Minister Richard Musukwa said the Government will not condone a principle that allows a few selfish individuals to amass wealth by robbing Zambians of their precious mineral wealth through illegal mining activities.
Mr Musukwa who is also Wusakile Constituency Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) said in an interview yesterday that the Government was concerned with how perpetrators would indulge in illegal mining, a scourge which is detrimental any individual’s safety.
“Illegal mining of minerals is unacceptable and as Government we will not condone a principle where only a few selfish individuals benefit from our mineral wealth. I urge the police command in North western and Copperbelt provinces to monitor this situation closely and bring the culprits to book,” he said.
In a separate interview, Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) President Nkole Chishimba said illegal mining of copper should be curbed at all costs to avoid distortion in the economic values realized from the country’s mineral wealth.
Mr Chishimba said stakeholders in the mining sector must come together to devise mechanisms on how illegal mining of copper and minerals can be curbed.
Mr Musukwa u are talking bulu sheet. These are pipo who are trying to make ends meet Illegal mining though may not be condoned, but help create formal jobs for these people then they will be no illegal mining
Problem with u so called officials is you open you mouths after nebulizing yourself with some Ngoni herbs and your brain cells paralysed just like stupid Ndobo