By Isaac Zulu
Chief Chitina of the Lala speaking people of Mkushi district has bemoaned the continued illegal mining activities taking place in his chiefdom.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Chief Chitina said despite the government’s recent interventions on the matter, illegal mining activities have persisted in his chiefdom.
“Yes, I can confirm that illegal mining activities have continued in my chiefdom. As we speak, my chiefdom has been invaded by individuals who are engaging in the illegal mining of manganese. And I don’t know where they are coming from,” Chief Chitina said. “Recently we had some officers coming from the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Green Economy as well as from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) that came to inspect the mining activities in my chiefdom. But unfortunately despite all these interventions by the government; illegal manganese mining activities have continued in my chiefdom.”
He said his subjects are not benefiting from the mineral wealth that abound in his chiefdom, despite government encouraging them to form cooperatives so that they can engage in artisanal mining.
The traditional complained that whenever he made a follow up on the status of the mining licenses that the government promised, he is told that the board or committee responsible has not yet sat.
“Our people were told to form and register cooperatives so that they can acquire mining licences and start engaging in artisanal mining. Unfortunately none of those cooperatives’ mining licences have been approved,” said Chief Chitina. “Each time you make a follow up with the cadastral department at the Ministry of Mines, you are told that the committee or is it the board has not yet sat. You need to wait until the next board meeting. And now we are wondering if there are board meetings that are held.”
