By Mubanga Mubanga
Chief Chitambo of the Lala people in Central Province has complained of being persecuted following his decision to cancel a mining consent issued to some prospecting miners in his area.
Chief Chitambo has said because of his decision to cancel the mining consent, he had been accused of insulting authorities.
Speaking in Chitambo, chief Chitambo said he was accused of insulting those in authority simply because he revoked the mining consent.
He said laws should empower chiefs and not take away their power.
He explained that some people went to his palace and told him that they had been allowed to conduct mining in his chiefdom and what remained was for him to issue a consent letter.
Chief Chitambo said he later asked them for evidence of which they provided and he proceeded to issue a consent letter.
However, he later came to learn that there was an abrogation of the law by the team and this prevented them from conducting mining.
He said after he heard this, he decided to revoke the consent letter and later started hearing that he had insulted authorities.
“After l revoked that consent, then I started hearing stories that I had insulted someone, just because I cancelled the consent that I issued, I am being persecuted,” Chief Chitambo lamented.
He said while this was happening, he had no one to protect him and so he had resolved not to get in the way of those who wanted to do mining in the Chiefdom.
“When you are alone you don’t have anyone to help you, at the end of it you just keep quiet. Anyone who comes, just tell them to go ahead,” said Chief Chitambo.
