ZNS officers fired for mining gold at Kasenseli
THREE Zambia National Service (ZNS) officers that were deployed to guard Kasenseli gold mine in Mwinilunga, North-Western Province, have been fired for engaging in illegal mining.
ZNS commander Maliti Solochi said there will be no sacred cows and any officer who will be found engaging in illegal gold mining activities at Kasenseli will be dismissed from the Service.
Lieutenant General Solochi said the gold in Mwinilunga is wealth for the whole nation and that ZNS will ensure that it is protected.
“If there is anyone amongst our solders is who will be caught in the web, I think such a person does not deserve to continue serving, especially under the new dawn administration,” Lt Gen Solochi said when he paid a courtesy call on Mwinilunga district commissioner Harrison Kamuna.
He said there have been accusations that ZNS officers deployed at Kasenseli gold mine have been engaged in illegal mining and that the Service’s command has not taken it lightly, hence his decision to visit Mwinilunga.
“The President has told us to be selfless, sacrifice and above all, to be honest,” Lt Gen Solochi said.
Soldiers deployed at Kasenseli gold mine are under intense temptations because they are being offered money by some people to give them access to the gold mine but they have been resisting.
He said to stop the falsehoods that ZNS officers are conducting illegal mining, the command, in consultations with relevant authorities, will extent security to all the community pits.
“People should be patient because the mine will be opened, because things must be done in a methodical way and we should not rush,” Lt Gen Solochi said.
“But I want to assure the people that Kasenseli gold is intact but what they want is we remove the troops from there so that the place remains free for all.”
Lt Gen Maliti said going forward, whoever will try to entice the soldiers deployed at the gold mine will be arrested.
Mr Kamuna said the people of Mwinilunga are looking forward to the re-opening of the mine.
He urged the ZNS to continue protecting the mineral resource for the benefit of the country.
“The men you brought on site are very disciplined,” said Mr Kamuna.
Later, Lt Gen Solochi and his delegation toured Kasenseli to check on the security situation at the three pits – Inonge Wina, Tasila Lungu and Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
Credit: Zambia Daily Mail