THE Small-Scale Miners Association of Zambia (SMAZ) has given the Government a seven-day ultimatum in which to address the plight of illegal miners on the Copperbelt.
The association wants Government to legalise their activities and allocate some of the dump sites in Kitwe and Chingola to illegal miners.
But Minister of Mines Wilbur Simuusa said Government will soon hold discussions with small-scale miners to try and address some of their problems.
SMAZ president Simon Njovu said, at a press briefing in Kitwe yesterday, that the association is giving Government seven days in which to address the problems the association is facing in its operations.
Mr Njovu said the association wants Government to legalise small-scale mining activities which are a source of income to the unemployed youth.
He said the association has 4,319 members and that the youth are the majority due to the high unemployment levels in the country.
“As an association, we are giving the Government seven days in which to address our problems. We want the Government to legalise illegal mining activities and to give us some of the dump sites in the province,” Mr Njovu said.
He said illegal miners risk their lives as they dig copper ore in various dump sites at awkward hours for fear of being attacked by the mine police officers.
Mr Njovu said the association has so far lost 231 members who have been buried alive while digging copper core.
[pullquote]He said the association wants Government to give them the dump sites at Mopani Copper Mines in Kitwe and those in Chingola so that they can start mining on a large scale basis.[/pullquote]
He said the association wants Government to give them the dump sites at Mopani Copper Mines in Kitwe and those in Chingola so that they can start mining on a large scale basis.
Mr Njovu said once the association is empowered with the dumpsites, more employment opportunities can be created for the youth.
“If today Government gives us the dump site, we can utilise all the materials there. We can even start making pan bricks and contribute to the construction industry,” he said.
Mr Njovu also appealed to President Sata to arrange for a meeting with small-scale miners because there are many clandestine issues in the mining sector which Mr Sata needs to be aware of as head of State.
But Mr Simuusa said Government is working on modalities to try and address the problems that illegal miners face in the country.
Mr Simuusa said Government is waiting for SMAZ to elect a new executive before holding discussions with them on what should be done to improve the operations of the association.
“I’m surprised to hear that SMAZ had a press briefing to air their grievances when I’m waiting for them to usher in a new executive to address their problems. However, we are working on modalities to bring sanity and order to the small-scale mining industry,” he said.
He said Government wants to offer technical advice to illegal miners and capitalise the small-scale mining industry before the dump sites can be given out.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Lawlessness! Kabova mentality
ATASE HE EVEN SAYS “LEGALISE ILLEGAL MINING” I BELIEVE HES ALSO AN ILLEGAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.NEVER IN ZAMBIA .GO HUNG
Nonsense. What kind of business is this. Kupwanya myala. This is a Kabova association, run by thugs. Instead of legalising it, the fools must be arrested.
The initiative is good ,self eployment is relief to government having to create empolyment for all youths. The only problem is safety. If the safety modarities are put in place why would the government not empower you
Seven days ultimatum or what? A fter losing 231 members, you still want to lose so more people.
Yes please legalize illegal mining as well as WEED selling so we can all make legal money. why not???
but bafikala bambi bali dull..
to legalise wat?nonses
How can governnment recognize an organ with the word illegal in it.These guys must be joking.
if you legalise ba jarabo…naifwe marijuana kucita legalise…50:50 bakaamba!!!!!
Pls govt careful with the way you handle some of these matter. We shall soon have not such a thing has illegal practice. Some people operate illigal hospitals, drug store, debting collection all these will ask for recognition by the system. Pls again work quitely with these people ask them to register first as an association and let them hav rules to govern them. Otherwise you are just going have towns out of control.
Pls govt careful with the way you handle some of these matters. We shall soon have no such a thing has illegal practice. Some people operate illigal hospitals, drug store, debting collection all these will ask for recognition by the system. Pls again work quitely with these people ask them to register first as an association and let them hav rules to govern them. Otherwise you are just going have towns out of control.
The confused president we have at the moment will legalise them.Just wait before the ultimatum what he will say.Populist as usual
This is stupidity of the waste kind, lock the *****s up they think mining is just breaking rocks with hammers.
Typical kaponya business. How can they give government ultimatum when they don’t pay tax?
Hon. Minister, definetly how can you accept an ultimatum from an illegal entity? 231 lives have been lost and you want to discuss with an illegal body so that more lives can be wasted. These illegal miners deserve to be visited by the law for engaging in illegal activities. The honeymoon is over let us have sanity in the nation. We have PF cadres wanting to fire government employees in North Western Province and the government is under playing such a volatile issue. When is this government going to get serious? Do you have cabinet meetings. Your Honour the Vice President what is going on? You are in charge of cabinet hence government. Do not be a decoration
This are true pictures of poverty Vs governance.No one can support such illegal mining for this simple reasons.It has no structure and breeds crime sydincates.It brings child labour.It exposes people to serious safety hazards.Regulation must just be tightened around of this areas because if not controlled will become breeding ground of militias like in Congo Dr.Have worked in Congo for an exploration company, there some areas you can not explore although there is a rich mineralised zone.This is because of the presence of illegal miners who have armed themselfs to defend what does not belong to them against anybody.The area was explored by a big company which hit a rich copper cobalt zone.They drove them out and started mining.-
These are the guys who voted overwhelmingly, so they want a piece of the cake. They want more money in their pockets. Those of us on the keyboards in the diaspora and condemning them do not understand why RB and team were kicked out. Even the minister has been caught off guard, hence the waffling. Badala ba Wlybur, sort out the guys, they gave you the vote in Chingola.
I’m surprised at the comments here. Those dump sites will never be used again. That is why they are called dump sites. In other words, rubbish heaps. These guys are extracting something of value from there, as anyone who has lived on the copperbelt or near a mine (Kabwe) will know, those dump-sites contain minerals. Of course the 7 day ultimatum is a joke, but to ask to have their business legalized is not wrong. They are not stealing our valuable resources. They are taking what we have thrown away. Legalizing means that we can as a nation benefit too, through taxes and through their products. Safety is the issue here, and the more illegal it is the more unsafe it remains. The minister has said that government would like to offer technical advise.
Those talking about child labour, of of course there’ll be more child labour when operations are not regulated. Once government recognizes these operations, there will be regulations, there will be safety measures, and there will be taxes. Legal or not, these guys will continue operating, so why not make it safe and also beneficial to the nation? To say it is illegal therefore it should not be legalized is really stupid. Multi-partyism was illegal in Zambia. Does that mean we should not have changed the system? Think, for once. Don’t just hate. What alternatives do you have for those people? Give me a list, or even just one alternative.
And for those saying if illegal mining is legalized then weed should be legalized too, that is just madness. I think weed should be legalized, and I have my reasons, but to make it a pre-condition for legalizing illegal mining is madness. The two are so totally un-related. These guys are fighting for their cause. Fight for your weed legalizing cause without interfering with other causes.
Iwe those dump sites are private property, what you should be saying is that government should educate the local populattion on small scale mining (why are you mining on private property) and giving assistance to local business men on the development of locally groomed mines. even if they legalise you Mopani can still sue you for tresspassing and theft.
What kind of nonses is this? To hell whith jeraboss,quit stupid to even set an outmentum. This is madness
Ba Zedi, so its a process. Then what? We just begin that process. Who says the mines cannot be stakeholders? Kafula Davies, to hell with you too. Why do we bloggers argue as though we are sworn enemies? Can’t we just discuss? How old are you people?
Those dump site have been planned for by mines,i asked and a mine manager told me that they will mine there in 15years time(if am correct),these guys are all under a jerabo boss,they give the said youth miners K20,000 per night after risking there lives and the big over 90% go to the boss,hence the hammers few jerabo guys drive and they want to make it legal?joke…now this govt has got issues,they called an innocent white man a fugitive and wanted him arrested when he did clean business because of MMD,now they are talking to people responsible for many deaths and abuses and theft on a table to discuss an absurd motion all because of votes..Kaunda,FTJ,Mwanawasa and RB wouldnt have tolerated such insolence…..yaba irits
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