FIVE MILITARY GUNS, 6 TIPPER TRUCKS, 250 SCANNERS & GOLD DETECTORS, OVER 20 PRIVATE VEHICLES, ONE EXCAVATOR CONFISCATED BY POLICE AS GOVT MOVES IN TO HALT ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES AT MUFUMBWE’S KIKONGE AREA ON SUNDAY
Police reinforcements from the Mobile Unit have successfully dispersed off over 25,000 illegal gold miners from Kikonge area of Mufumbwe District in the North-Western Province following their arrival in the area.
A check at the Kikonge Old Pit and the Chief’s Pit today by a team of Cabinet Ministers led by Defence Minister, Mr Ambrose Lufuma, revealed that the illegal miners have run away to nearby areas following the security intervention.
Mr. Lufuma told journalists the Ministry of Defence will not allow lawlessness in Kikonge as they are not just a health hazard but also recipe for conflicts and other social ills
Mr. Lufuma said the defence and security wings have cordoned-off a 120-kilometre radius of Kikonge area, which is rich in gold in order to stop the illegal mining activities.
He bemoaned that illegal mining leads to loss of revenue to the government and environmental damage to the ecosystem, especially with the many pits that have developed in Kikonge, 21 kilometres from Mufumbwe Boma.
Mr. Lufuma explained that government wants the area cordoned off so that a well-structured mining operation can start in the near future, and one which will benefit the whole nation.
And Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Mr. Jack Mwiimbu has disclosed that over 20 vehicles, over 100 scanning machines and gold detectors, and five guns have been confiscated from the illegal miners following the police operations.
Mr. Mwiimbu said some of the seized guns were military ones, a situation which shows that the illegal miners were also armed to the teeth apart from mining without authorisation.
He narrated that on the day the illegal miners rioted, they injured five Police officers who were currently being treated in hospital.
Mr. Mwiimbu said more reinforcements will be sent to Mufumbwe to deal with the problem of illegal mining which was still prevalent.
He directed the police officers to ensure they disperse everyone who was still hanging around Kikonge area following the cordoning of the area.
Meanwhile North-Western Province Minister Robert Lihefu has discouraged people from the area to stop illegal mining.
Mr Lihefu said there was need for those who want to engage in mining to work the government so that they can be organised.
Others on the ministerial entourage were Zambia Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni, Zambia National Service Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff Major General Reuben Mwewa, Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba, Zambia Correctional Service Commissioner General Frederick Chilukutu and Zambia Army Chief of Operations Brigadier General Barry Mutale.
Six military-style firearms confiscated in Mufumbwe. The Government of the Republic of Zambia ought to disclose more information. Firearms made for the exclusive use of the military can be checked with manufacturers. It’s possible to trace which country’s military they were exported to. Is the HH administration ready to do that? HH, you are not governing only the great unwashed. There are informed people keeping a critical eye on your government.