About thirty-seven illegal gold miners in Lumezi district of Eastern Province have been arrested whilst twelve juveniles have been released.
National Parks and Wildlife Park Ranger, Joseph Bwalya has confirmed the arrest to ZANIS in Lundazi today that the suspects were apprehended on Tuesday morning in Lukusuzi National Parks following a patrol conducted by a team of wildlife officers.
Mr. Bwalya named the youngest among those arrested as Lawrence Mwale aged 21 of Kangoti village and the eldest as Lyson Nkhoma 69 of Kamwendo village all of Chief Chinunda in Chipangali district.
He said the suspects were intercepted as they were in the process of setting up camp in the national park so that they embark on mining without necessary documents; adding that twelve juveniles aged between 10 and 15 who accompanied them have been released.
Mr. Bwalya disclosed that wildlife officers recovered various items from the suspects which they wanted to use in illegal mining such as picks, shovels, buckets, axes and meshi wire among others.
He says all the thirty-seven suspects are currently detained at ZAWA offices in Lundazi and will appear in court soon charged with illegal entry into the park with the intent to conduct illegal mining contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Meanwhile the Park Ranger has warned people to refrain from entering the national park without authority, saying those that are interested in mining must obtain legal documentation from the Ministry of Mines.
Barely three months ago when twenty-two illegal gold miners in Lumezi district were arrested after being found conducting illegal mining in Lukusuzi National Park.
Meanwhile you have legalized those on the Copperbelt, the govt set bad precedent with the Jerabos on the copperbelt by legalizing their illegal mining activities. Now every Jim and Jack thinks they can just be mining at will. PF should have set it right that illegal mining is dangerous and prohibited by the law. Now these poor villagers in Chinunda what will they do to them considering the situation of the black mountain.
All this gold is leaving the country with no benefit to the local economy. Really sad.
What de fukc!? Are you going to name all 37 unemployed men?
Let them legalize this operation and form a co-operative right away. If the land is not gazetted for such functions, find a way to legalize that too for the economic benefit of the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise.
Let’s roll …
These are the so called jerabos which government will honour in the near future. Meanwhile that is not illegal mining but job creation as part of government promises. Wildlife officers are you not aware?
IF IT WHERE CHINESE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN LET SCORT FREE, NOW SINCE ITS A POOR ZAMBIAN WHO CANT OFFER A CUT TO THE OFFICERS YOU END UP ARRESTING THEM. YOUR DAYS ARE COUNTED.
Life is not fair, Jerabos on the copperbelt are enjoying While abakuchipata ukwafuma Lungu game naikosa.