By Isaac Zulu
Mines minister Paul Kabuswe says he will give a comprehensive response on the reported illegal mining activities involving UPND cadres who have gone on rampage conducting illegal activities at some portion of slag dumps belonging to Jubilee Metals of South Africa and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), as he is busy with the tragedy that has befallen the nation in Chingola.
And the police command on the Copperbelt has bemoaned the continued illegal mining in the country, despite claims that they have put in place measures to [pp-logged-users] curb the vice.
Information has emerged that scores of UPND cadres on the Copperbelt have gone on rampage conducting illegal mining activities at some portion of slag dumps belonging to Jubilee Metals of South Africa and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), with Mines minister Paul Kabuswe and the UPND administration impotent to stop the illegal activities.
Sources say the two sites affected by illegal activities taking place are TD52 belonging to Jubilee Metals of South Africa and a Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) copper slag dump, situated in Kitwe.
Sources told Daily Revelation that some stakeholders have been pushing to have the illegal activities stopped and even reported the matter to police, but their efforts have not yielded results.
Contacted by Daily Revelation on the same, Kabuswe said he will only issue a comprehensive statement on the matter once the exercise of retrieving illegal miners has been finalised.
Kabuswe, who constantly said he will issue a comprehensive statement when the exercise of retrieving the bodies of miners that are believed to have died at “an illegal mining site” is completed.
“Bakalamba, I have told you that I am still busy with the national tragedy that is before us. So, for now, I cannot comment,” said Kabuswe, who is also Chililabombwe member of parliament.
And Copperbelt Province Police Commissioner Peacewell in an interview said the Police Command on the Copperbelt Province has noted with concern that people who are engaging in illegal mining activities have continued with the scourge despite the police putting in place measures that would avert illegalities among small scale miners.
“We have intensified investigations in all sites where alleged illegal mining activities are taking place. Investigations are still ongoing. Like the case we have here in Chingola, investigations are still going on,” Mweemba said. “And when it comes to retrieving the bodies, we are making progress, we are almost there.”
Asked to comment on assertions that the Police are failing to police mining sites where there alleged mining activities by some suspected UPND cadres, and are reluctant to take action on the same, Mweemba insisted that investigations are still going on and would comment on the matter.
National Union of Mineworkers and Allied Workers (NUMAW) president Saul Simujika has called for enhanced safety standards in all mining sites in order to avert the reoccurrence of accidents in mining companies.
Last week, Chingola recorded a mine accident of drowning which occurred on November 30, 2023 between 21:00 and 22:00 hours at Cop A (Kasenseli) Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) Open Pit.
Several people were reported to have drowned in the tunnels where they were digging copper ore after heavy rains and landslides buried the tunnels and all were suspected to have died.
The Police, KCM rescue team and fire brigade visited the scene and it was discovered that there were two sites within the pit where the victims were buried and by press time, the bodies were not yet retrieved as efforts were being made to retrieve them.
Speaking to Daily Revelation in an interview, Simujika said the recent mining accident that happened in Chingola is worrying, saying that the Mine Safety Department should come up with stringent measures that would avert the reoccurrence of such tragedies.
“I am currently coming from the farm. But I be in Chingola with other colleagues from trade unions. At the moment what I can say is that I think that the MSD (Mine Safety Department) should enhance its sensitisation on mine safety. Additionally, the Mine Safety Department should put in place stringent measures to avert the reoccurrence of such accidents,” said Simujika.[/pp-logged-users]
