AMOS KAWISHA
Solwezi
SOME illegal miners fleeing Kikonge Gold Mine following a recent Zambia Army operation to flush them out of the premises have taken refuge in nearby areas within Mufumbwe and Kasempa districts.
Others are not just idling around the sites but have also been spotted surveying the Kaluba area in Shukwe Ward, using gold-detecting machines.
Mufumbwe District Commissioner Elijah Munyompe says majority of the illegal miners who vacated the mine precincts are believed to be hiding in Ndenda forest.
This forest is between Musonwenji and Dongwe rivers, as well as in the bush along Kasempa–Kaoma road.
In an interview, Mr Munyompe appealed to the Zambia Army to extend patrols to the identified areas so that they can completely remove the illegal miners who invaded the Kikonge Gold Mine area.
Mr Munyompe is also concerned that most lodges and guest houses in Mufumbwe’s central business district (CBD) are fully booked by foreigners believed to be fleeing from Kikonge Gold Mine.
He warned that the continued presence of suspected foreign illegal miners in the CBD poses a serious security threat to the local people and businesses.
Mr Munyompe urged the army to extend operations to the town centre….https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
