Tue, 13 Jun 2017 13:39:41 +0000
By SANDRA MACHIMA
THERE is need to empower illegal miners on the Copperbelt with mining entrepreneurship skills to deter them from illicit mining activities, says former Chingola mayor McDonald Mulongoti.
Mr Mulongoti said once the informal miners are empowered, illegal mining would come to an end and safety measures would also improve because most of them end up being killed in landslide accidents.
He said the recent visit to Chingola by mines minister Christopher Yaluma who had audience with illegal miners (popularly known as stone dealers) was well thought out and deserved commendation.
He said miners were compelled into that risky undertaking due to lack of employment, saying if they were empowered with skills, such activities would come to end.
Mr Mulongoti however implored miners to seriously consider forming cooperatives on the basis of the minister’s advice so that they might be helped by the government.
Mr Mulongoti further asked for the legalisation of their mining with improved safety since the Government acknowledged them and the fact that it was their source of income.
“However, no forthright person would in any way support any acts bordering on criminality, and therefore if they are empowered with some skills, they will be able to sustain their living.
Let me also appeal to these miners to show general good behaviour in the course of their duty which conforms to acceptable societal norms,” he said.
Mr Mulongoti said the activities of the latter through clandestine had immense social and economic value which could not be ignored.
He said personal safety was fundamentally important because any loss of life or injury was always regrettable to both the family and government.
