Several people are reportedly to have died while others are injured after the collapse of the infamous black mountain in Kitwe this morning.
Copperbelt Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga who is on the scene in Kitwe has not yet confirmed on the number of people who are allegedly have died and injured.
Ms Katanga said today police will give details of the accident later in the day as rescue operations are still going on.
In February this year government allowed small scale miners in Kitwe to start operating the black mountain as a way of empowering the unemployed youths.
May their souls rest in peace. The mountain itself looks very unstable and I had a feeling something terrible will happen one day. Shame…
– Kambwili was fired from government because of being #1 challenger to Edgar.
– Kambwili joins Mwenya in new Kitwe party NDC.
– State House invite Kitwe Jerabos (notorious blood mountain dealers)
– Jerabos gather youths in streets to sing for Edgar and PF.
– Today blood mountain collapses, killing those who were singing for PF to fight Kambwili.
It’s Stated House Funeral!!!!
Somebody must take responsibility, irresponsible statements like it was just an accident must not come from anybody, how can it just be an accident when it could have been prevented. That was very unsafe mining and no one must appear surprised and shocked. Black Africa
Artisan mining under such deplorable conditions without any concept of safety or basic slope stability physics. death is certain. While death is bad for everyone, I wish all should have been burried their. Those youths are lawless, violent and have killed others over same rubble mountain. #~ Let Kitwe experience some sanity in the meantime until another violent gang emerges
Lungu’s decision to allow these hopeless youths to mine without regard to safety is the root cause of the accident. He struck a deal with Jerabos that they would be allowed to mine the mountain in exchange for Jerabos not to allow NDC & Kambwili to campaign on C/Belt.
Even Mine Safety Department had no powers to enforce safe mining.
Where are the 1-million jobs Mr. Lazy-bums promised the youths?
We are doomed if we have no functional Govt like DR Congo or Somalia.
Barack Obama said: “Africa does not need strongmen. Africa needs strong institutions”
This is an example of the Zambian economy on a miniature scale being run by cowboys..we told you people that you can not let Kaponyas on to a construction/ mining site without zero knowledge on health and safety issues then you call it youth empowerment…these boys death is squarely on Lazy Lungu’s incompetence he compromised with safety in the name of populism.
This black mountain reminds me of that game will played as kids after the rains of taking turns taking chunks of soil out of heap and not letting the stick planted in the between fall …
This is very sad to hear may the souls of the lost Rest In Peace.
Secondly: If the home affairs remain in his position after this tragedy then we are being ruled by a Rat in the office….we told you that this was a dangerous move. But no Kaponyogo and the other minister wanted to get a political milestone.
If this government does not do anything after this then it is really a banana island.
Dweny Mwanba – Zambians are too forgetful..this govt legalized the activities of these boys, do you not remember them visiting State House? Do you not remember them celebrating in the streets of Kitwe? What do you want the govt to do when the created this monster and don’t be foooled if BUFFOON CK comes on showing nonsense..
Zambia needs to have competent fearless lawyers who will begin to hold politicians accountable. Whichever politician allowed these young people to do mining in such a dangerous place should be sued and held accountable. In short the government ought to be held accountable for it’s negligence in protecting it’s citizens from needless harm like this. From what I hear, some corrupt politicians sanctioned this unsafe mining. They need to be identified and held accountable. Shame on them.
Blame God.Is God willing to prevent death, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
First of all, God created reality, and he is supposedly omnipotent. Secondly, free will of someone who only wants to murder, kidnap and rape seriously infringes of their victims’ free will.The first point is correct but not sure how it says anything important. The second point is wrong. Doing something against someone’s free will is not a violation of free will but a violation of rights.
This is where fiction comes in. God is supposed to be perfect, but he’s a representation of a mass genocide murderer. You might say, we don’t know why God…
Blame God.Is God willing to prevent death, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
CONT’D…
First of all, God created reality, and he is supposedly omnipotent. Secondly, free will of someone who only wants to murder, and kidnap seriously infringes of their victims’ free will.The first point is correct but not sure how it says anything important. The second point is wrong. Doing something against someone’s free will is not a violation of free will but a violation of rights.
Dont put God mufyabupuba.
Chipuba ni wiso…You are even blogging because of revenue from copper sales
Get your facts straight.
GET behind US Satan. WE know how you sound.
God doesn’t view death the way you view it. He is more concerned of the second death from which there is no resurrection.
CONT’D…
First of all, God created reality, and he is supposedly omnipotent. Secondly, free will of someone who only wants to murder, kidnap and rape seriously infringes of their victims’ free will.The first point is correct but not sure how it says anything important. The second point is wrong. Doing something against someone’s free will is not a violation of free will but a violation of rights.
CONT’D…
This is where fiction comes in. God is supposed to be perfect, but he’s a representation of a mass genocide murderer. You might say, we don’t know why God works but how can measure goodness if the entity that we worship is the definition of evilness? This is extremely contradicting therefore we could all assume that God is a work of fiction and he is not true.
A Congress of Baboons indeed gathered by the Black Death Mountain! This National Geographic has really kept us entertained. This is Natural Selection and Survival of the fittest!
@Constantinople Chiwenga…are you a Zambian, an African? Are you a black person? Do you realize that the terms you’re using, calling black people baboons, are the terms white racists use against black people, to debase then, humiliate them, and characterize them as subhuman? Your statement sounds like it came from a Neo Nazi, or some KKK member…and if it wasn’t for your profile name, I would’ve taken it for granted that it was some racist white person who wrote it. If you’re black, shame on you. You’re a pathetic self hating negro.
I’m very sad about though it not surprised. When we choose being populist at the expense of laid down rules and regulations that is what we get. Government leaders have killed these ignorant young people. Where was Mine Safety, was the risk assessment done? Because the directive came from the top, all the rules were disregarded and no one could stop them…very sad state of affairs and this kind of politics must come to an end.
As far as I can remember there were numerous meetings between Government and the Copperbelt Jerabos regarding the Black Mountain. At one time even HH during his campaign messages promised to give the same mountain to the Jerabos once voted into power. Now what is surprising is that NO one cared to follow the rules after the final deal was struck to give 10% to these Jerabos. One of the rules were that these operations will be monitored by Mopani Copper Mine Safety personel. Secondly, officers with Blasting Licences with be engaged before any attempt to use explosives. Thirdly, there must be order during operations on the mountain by deploying Security Officers to conduct head count for people accessing the area. Fellow Zambians all we asking is for the Minister of Mines Musukwa to…
It’s a shame that lives have been lost and may all their souls RIP. However, I disagree with people’s stance to place blame on the Authorities. The Authorities did their lot and ensured safety measures through an EIA were put in place. It is lack of adherence to those measures that needs to take the blame! God Bless ZAMBIA
No my King. That place was not safe. Too much negligence from authorities. How many Governments ignored calls to operationalize black mountains? Could current authorities share with public safety assessment report before awarding our people the offer?
I recall mines minister saying”black mountain is not disaster in waiting.” so then what is this? How many households complained about their houses tearing apart due to blasting?
I would love to hear answers to these and many other questions the masses have.
Somebody must take responsibility, irresponsible statements like it was just an accident must not come from anybody, how can it just be an accident when it could have been prevented. That was very unsafe mining and no one must appear surprised and shocked. Black Africa
You cant work on Black mountain without safety. Dont ignore safety.God bless jerabos.
From Black Mountain to Death Mountain Memorial Park.
You have no shame to even comment ..as you are the selfsame dingbats who called others bitter/jealous for condemning the legalization of these jerabo thugs.
Musukwa must be arrested for misleading the nation. He announced that the Mines Safety Department was going to superintendent the mining operations. Not long ago he argued that it wasn’t a disaster in waiting, this was after people raised concern about the blast. He must be made to explain what he meant. This is another proof of increased lawlessness. PF must learn to consult major stakeholders on important issues
And you believed him as you are docile….Its folly for anyone to supervise a bunch of self employed youths who have been empowered by the Head of State
Either musukwa lied to the nation or his mining safety inspectors lied to him. Its time to clean house. And for the rest of the jerabos, realise that if u want enough rope to hang yourself, your politicians will give it to you, and that’s because they don’t know any better than you do. Now watch the so called politicians come around to the funeral houses. Its a damn shame.
This falls squarely on Mr. Lungu and his friends. Despite several warnings that this was an unsafe endeavour, he still went ahead and gave it to them to do “mining”. No rules, no safety standards, no PPE. All for political mileage. smh
I hope you are happy Mr. President.
Dont put God mufyabupuba.
This falls squarely on Kambwili, NDC and Lungu. There is irrefutable evidence in which NDC’s Kambwili wanted the black Mountain handed over to the Jerabos. Sad for Zambia.
Lets get HH in. Ba Lungu Fyakanikana.
They even swiftly registered the company ….if only we had smart lawyers in Zambia they would be at the funeral homes of these Jerabos persuading the families to take legal action…
Why has the relevant authorities allowed illegal mining at the black mountain, in as much as its has provided for a living for alot of families, its also a dangerous site, working there is more risky than even a legal mine. do we need tragedy for us to stop certain things???? its so sad to lose people like this but i will also say this could have been avoided.
politics greed for power is what has caused this. factories could be opened to create jobs for the youth instead of giving them a time bomb.
There was jubilation when the black mountain was handed back to jerabos. Kitwe town came to a stand still. Too bad today there is a funeral in Kitwe. We have a serious problem in Zambia. God help us.
It’s the government to blame on this accident it was illegal to allow Small scale miners to continue mining without proper documents, lets follow the correct procedures to prevent re-occurrence of the same.
All the time blaming government even for personal foolishness.
This was an indirect way of exterminating them.They became a thorn in government’s flesh by demanding employment.The easiest way was to kill them by giving them black mountain minus consideration for safety measures.It was a cruel way of crucifying the unemployed youths.The government should be held responsible for such a catastrophe.It was one way of hoodwinking the unemployed youths that it has provided employment.That black mountain is like gas chambers which Hittler constructed to exterminate the Jewish population.A lot of youths will be consumed by that mountain if this careless government does not act.
This was an indirect way of exterminating them.They became a thorn in government’s flesh by demanding employment.The easiest way was to kill them by giving them black mountain minus consideration for safety measures.It was a cruel way of crucifying the unemployed youths.The government should be held responsible for such a catastrophe.It was one way of hoodwinking the unemployed youths that it had provided employment.That black mountain is like gas chambers which Hitler constructed to exterminate the Jewish population.A lot of youths will be consumed by that mountain if this careless government does not act.
We’re a nation in dire straits. The governed is hungry for food; the govt, for power. And our desperation has driven us to take unthinkable paths in in our quest to quench our wants.
Time to tither our appetite or disasters of such nature will be a regular occurrence.
The Minister of Mines must resign on moral grounds. He misled the nation. It really does not need an expert to make a correct assessment on the dangers of mining in that slag. This is why we have failed to run the mines despite so many degree holders in this country. What a shame! Lack of jobs is what forces those people to risk their lives in that slag. It should be shut down till sound safety measures are put in place.
Resign on moral grounds????
In Zambia that word is not in any of the ministers vocabulary…it’s up to the president to be a leader and fire these non educated ministers…but we have a weak president. So this will be business as usual for these fools. In a normal country people are answerable to such actions.
We will watch this space and see how the so called government handle the situation.
The demise of our brothers has now reveled the importance of leaving certain things to people with skills and specialization.
Many factors alluded to the collapse of the portion which was left hanging after bring down the portion which was right next to the same.
1. basic slope stability physics
2. Maintain angle of repose.
3. Constant geotechnical monitoring of unstable slopes, i.e like the one which claimed lives at black mountain.
4. Mining Engineers to render technical advise to those involved in mining hence the need for black mountain Jerabos to at least employ one Mining Engineer for consultaions.
5. The government overlooked; MSD which normally accesses if all the necessary safety measures are in place before issuance of Mining Licence.
We the technocrats with Education…
When you allow small-scale miners to mine have you ensured safety? This was an issue even with emerald mining. Remember all the big Mining companies should have an approved safety policy before we pass their contracts so why have we been lax with black mountain miners? Government will be to blame
Just watch how lungu will avoid all eye contact with microphones and cameras untill after the burials.
Lungu gave back that heap to them after failing to provide the 500,000 jobs he promised.
The nation expects lungu to say something….
There are no surprises here. You can never divorce actions from consequences. This is what corruption can do to society if you entertain it. Most of you Zambians are very content with the rubbish Lungu is doing and vehemently condemning H-H as though he was the president.
Trust the PF system to overcome this within a week. The surviving boys will be digging up corpses in no time and promptly throwing them aside for the minerals. Don’t expect anything to change under this regime and its rhetoric. This is the new, every day normal in Zambia. Simply pick your poison and pray you perish with some panache.
Somebody must take responsibility, irresponsible statements like it was just an accident must not come from anybody, how can it just be an accident when it could have been prevented. That was very unsafe mining and no one must appear surprised and shocked. Black Africa please
Mining is a dangerous venture. It cannot be left without being regulated. This is the consequence of it. I hope the unruly youths and those interested in proving a safe environment to mining in Zambia have taken note and will do something. I lived in this city and I am aware of the Mine Safety Dept., Pneumoconiosis Bureau and other bodies responsible for safety. I hope they didn’t go away with HH’s sales.
Unregulated black mountain tunnelling is part of the 500k jobs lungu promised…
Now you know its dangerous….
Fellow Zambians,this event is really sad and shameful to say the least. Expert advice was ignored including court orders. I did a survey of these so called black mountains in 2000 and made serious recommendations on how to exploit them safely. 3D models and designs on how to safely secure these from extreme weather events or during hauling. So it is not lack of technical or professional advice. It is sheer negligence. I hope that (ALL OF US), the civil society, professional bodies and all goodwill ambassadors can rise up to the occasion and take the responsible people to task. We can’t allow this to happen and go unpunished. May we unite to bring sanity to this situation. I wish the families of the lost lives my deepest condolences.
Thats really a sad development,when the black mountain was given to the unemployed youths of the copperbelt what Saftey measures were put in place like SOPs or Risk Assessments,Stardand methods by the responsible ministry or it was done just for politics
sad. this can only happen in a fourth world banana republic like ours. In the civilized well Edgar would have resigned by now
This was a time bomb in waiting, so sad that lives have been lost in this manner which could have been avoided. MTSRIP
This is not the time to blame one another. It time to make suggestions to prevent such occurrence. Secondly, those that are blaming God should take time to study the bible it is all written, only when you do will you be able to interpret all the happening in this life. May we all learn from what has has happened and may those souls rest in peace
I saw this coming, I packed near the mountain one day saw the excavator on top of the overhang of the excavated part of the mountain, they thought loose particles had solidified enough into a rock to transmit cantilever bending moments.The mining process has been an insult to the Mohr-Coulomb model, there uncontrolled excavations ended up creating steep perimeter walls instead of berming.
May the souls Rest in peace
Cabipa mwandi. I saw how dangerous it was to operate from that black mountain thing..
Mwebuteko, mine tabula safety. Balepalaulafye ngaba koswe. Mwaipaya Ababa. Already fee baume natucepa. Man shortage
Mwebuteko, mine yabula safety. Balepalaulafye ngaba koswe. Mwaipaya Ababa. Already fee baume natucepa. Man shortage
To bad for our beloved brothers may there souls rest in peace,only GOD knows don’t judge,peace be on to you mourners.
When such things happen, it means that we really need to put our love and trust in God for his protection, mercy and motivation.
Remember, God will never do anything wicked, for he is not a wicked God, neither call he deliberately cause it to occur°°
May our brethrens souls rest in Peace as we are also waiting for our day to come°°