Government has suspended mining operations at Copa Investments in Chingola district on the Copperbelt for breaching mining regulations.
Speaking after a conducted inspection of the mining firm, Senior Inspector of Mines ABUID SAKALA said the mining firm has breached the mining regulations of appointments and operational standards which are in breach of the mines and minerals act number 11 o
2015.
Mr. SAKALA said the mining firm is operating without professional personnel and safety matters have not been taken into consideration.
He ordered that the mining firm should only resume operations once the neccessary requirements are put in place, and that the right procedure be followed.
This came to light when Chingola Member of Parliament CHIPOKA MULENGA, visited the the mining firm on a fact finding mission after residents complained of the said mine contaminating underground water and the environment.
And Mr. MULENGA has urged the mining firm to quickly put in place safety measures that will stop the contamination of water and suppress dust.
He said it is unacceptable for the mining firm to be generating supernormal profits at the expense of people’s lives.
Mr. MULENGA said he expects to see the company puting inplace the prescribed measures not later than Friday this week.
And Copa Investments Assistant Director, COLIN LIN said the management will immediately start making amends.
Mr. LIN said that management will sit and discuss the way forward in addressing the issue of water contamination and the pollution of the environment.
There’s regulatory capture here. Where’s the fine imposed on the firm? I saw it on tv news and it spoiled my viewing. I saw residential properties nxt to mining operations as if there’s absence of government in Chingola. I may hv to join politics to rescue the country from such wilful failure to serve the long-suffering people of Zambia.
THE CHINES E RECORD ON SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT IS ZERO AS LONG AS THEY ARE MINING AND MAKING HUGE PROFITS. I HAVE SOME CHINESE FRINDS AND THROUGH INTEREACTIONS THEIR THINKING AND WAY OF DOING THINGS IS VERY TOTALLY DIFFERENT. THEY CLEARLY STATE THAT ZAMBIANS SPEND MORE HOURS DOING OVER NIGHT PRAYERS AND EXPECT MIRACLES TO SOLLVE PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF TACKLING THEM HEAD ON, OUR WOMEN PRAY FOR MARRIAGES TO HAPPEN IN CHURCH INSTEAD OF GOING OUT THERE TO INTICE WOULD BE SUITORS, WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME AND RESOURCES ON NATIONAL MOURNING INSTEAD OF CHANNELLING SUCH ENRGIES AND RESOURCES TO BETTER OURSELVES. SO DEALING WITH THE CHINESE OUR GVT OFFICIALS NED TO BE TOUGH AND NOT GET TEMPTED TO BE BRIBED BECUASE THEY BRIBE OR CORRUPT BIG.
I don’t blame the miner but the MSD. Before one can start a mine matters like water and waste rock are dealt with first. And it’s only when the Mine Inspector has been satisfied that operations can start. Where were the inspectors when this miner can be allowed to start anything.
Where was the mines ministry all this time for this corrupt operation to come to the fore only after the residents complained about contaminated underground water? Heads must role!!!. How can a mining licence be issued to situate such a big mining operation just a few meters from a residential area? There is another Chinese-owned lead processing operation in Kabwe’s Kasanda compound, just behind the Kasanda MpH clinic.
Why are you pretending like you don’t know what was going on during pf misrule?
UPND should check out ALL Chinese PF business operations. Chinese too much illegality just like their brothers PF.