By SILUMESI MALUMO
GOVERNMENT is saddened that illegal immigrants are stealing gold in Rufunsa prompting, Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo to direct law enforcement agencies to stop the scourge.
“We have established during a working visit to Rufunsa that foreigners without proper documentation are conducting illegal mining activities.
This is an unacceptable and we cannot continue to allow this illegality because we shall be losing out as a country.
“So I am appealing to the law enforcement officers to ensure that they protect this resource. We should not allow people from outside the country to come and steal our minerals,” Mr Lusambo said during a farmiliarisation tour of Rufunsa.
He also directed the office of the District Commissioner to act on the ongoing illegality and engage the Zambia Police and Immigration department to intervene in the mining scam.
He said there was no way the district should remain in abject poverty whilst its wealth was being stolen by illegal immigrants openly.
Mr Lusambo however stated that he was not in a position to make a final decision on the land disputes among Chief Shikabeta, Chieftainess Mpanshya and Chief Chembe.
He urged the traditional leaders to follow the right procedures to air their concerns rather than engage in violence.
And Mr Lusambo said Government would continue working with traditional leaders for the benefit of their subjects.
