By Michael Kaluba in Kitwe
An investigation by a group of journalists under the Free Press Initiative-FPI on the Copperbelt on mining activities at the black mountain has established that some serving and former Patriotic Front-PF- officials abused the youth empowerment to their benefit and formed parallel structures to this effect.
Among those named by numerous sources close to the operations are former Luanshya Mayor and Copperbelt Province PF Chairman, Nathan Chanda, former Youth and Sports Minister Emmanuel Mulenga and former PF Copperbelt Chairman and Kalulushi District Commissioner Steven Kainga among others.
Mr. Kainga spoke to investigators under the Free Press Initiative and confirmed his involvement in the operations but was quick to mention that his part in operations at the black mountain was sanctioned by the PF secretariat on behalf of the youths.
PF Copperbelt Province Chairman Nathan Chanda declined to comment on the findings but hinted that the mining activities at the slug dump were done by the community and not the party, while former youth and sports minister Emmanuel Mulenga could not respond to the query and has kept differing to accept his involvement.
Those who confirmed the involvement of at least 6 high ranking PF officials in the black mountain operations for personal benefit were, Kitwe District PF Chairman Evaristo Chilufya, 2 other different PF Kitwe District officials, members of the Chapamo Mineral Resources group of companies, some small scale miners and two separate youths who were part of the operations and all chose to remain unnamed.
The investigation also established that there was no implemented system or a paper trail of these operations on the part of the PF party officials with Mr. Chilufya alleging that the party had no direct involvement but once witnessed some PF youths receiving a K50, 000 from their exploits at the black mountain.
In 2017, the PF government issued its 10 percent share of the mineral rich slug dump popularly rendered to as the black mountain marking it as youth empowerment for those in Kitwe.
PHOENIX NEWS