DEAL WITH ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN SUGELITE SCANDAL
By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
Until recently, Mr. Mooya Lumamba has been a long-time Director of Mines Safety in the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.
He was recently appointed by President Hakainde Hichilema as Permanent Secretary in September 2022.
He has ben fired..He joins five other senior government officials that have been fired.
On the Sugilite scandal of the Muombe Mine in Sub-Chief Kunda-Mfumu chiefdom in Chembe districts, we want to know;
■ Reports from the traditional authorities state that 3 trucks left Muombe Mine in Chembe for Lusaka. Where are the other two trucks as only one truck was impounded?
■ Who provided police security for 3 weeks when the illegal operations and illegal mining was taking place?
■ Who provided authority for police security and police escort for the 3 trucks?
■ The current owner of the mine is Bayarn Company which currently holds mineral exploration rights. What was their role?
■ Last year, on February 3, 2022, UPND Deputy National Chairperson for Administration Stephen Chikota (who is now Council Chairperson for Mwense District) had a confrontation with Police in Muombe area following his attempt to force his way to the mining site. He charged that illegal mining of the rare gemstone was being done, despite the thhee restrictions that of such a licence.
Chikota accused Luapula Minister, and Cabiner Ministers from Lusaka of abetting illegal mining of the Sugelite Gemstones.
Instead of Government investigating Chikota’s allegations, they concentrated on criminalizing Chikota’s tresspass action at the mine.
President Hichilema has failed to attend to the credible reports that the mine owner and Cabinet Ministers wereallegedly engaged in illegal mining and export of the rare gemstones.
Therefore the recent actions against public officials appear a knee-jerk and belated reaction to a long-standing problem of illegal mining and theft of the mineral!Until recently, Mr. Mooya Lumamba has been a long-time Director of Mines Safety in the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.
He was recently appointed by President Hakainde Hichilema as Permanent Secretary in September 2022.
He has ben fired..He joins five other senior government officials that have been fired.
On the Sugilite scandal of the Muombe Mine in Sub-Chief Kunda-Mfumu chiefdom in Chembe districts, we want to know;
■ Reports from the traditional authorities state that 3 trucks left Muombe Mine in Chembe for Lusaka. Where are the other two trucks as only one truck was impounded?
■ Who provided police security for 3 weeks when the illegal operations and illegal mining was taking place?
■ Who provided authority for police security and police escort for the 3 trucks?
■ The current owner of the mine is Bayarn Company which currently holds mineral exploration rights. What was their role?
■ Last year, on February 3, 2022, UPND Deputy National Chairperson for Administration Stephen Chikota (who is now Council Chairperson for Mwense District) had a confrontation with Police in Muombe area following his attempt to force his way to the mining site. He charged that illegal mining of the rare gemstone was being done, despite the thhee restrictions that of such a licence.
Chikota accused Luapula Minister, and Cabiner Ministers from Lusaka of abetting illegal mining of the Sugelite Gemstones.
Instead of Government investigating Chikota’s allegations, they concentrated on criminalizing Chikota’s tresspass action at the mine.
President Hichilema has failed to attend to the credible reports that the mine owner and Cabinet Ministers wereallegedly engaged in illegal mining and export of the rare gemstones.
Therefore the recent actions against public officials appear a knee-jerk and belated reaction to a long-standing problem of illegal mining and theft of the mineral!