By JOHN KOMBE
POLICE in Chongwe have released two tipper trucks laden with copper ore after verifications with Ministry of Mines.
Police spokesperson, Esther Katongo, announced the development in a statement made available to the Daily Nation Newspaper.
The two trucks were intercepted December 10, this year at Nkomeshya village in Chongwe on suspicion that the contraband could have been diverted.
Ms Katongo explained that police had detained the trucks to ascertain the validity of the documents in respect of the copper ore.
“The trucks were released after verifying documents and receiving of a report from ministry of Mines and mineral development,” she said.
She indicated that the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development cleared both the trucks and copper ore.
The trucks were intercepted on the said date by the traditional leadership in the area led by senior headman Nkomeshya. They later reported the matter to police who took over the case to verify the documents of the trucks and copper ore.
And in an interview, senior Headman Nkhomeshya said that the traditional leadership was yet to be informed of the final outcome of the matter.
He said that the copper ore was believed to have been mined in Chitentabunga and Kangombe villages in Chongwe.
He insisted that the Busoli Royal Establishment (BRE) would not allow the company to continue mining in the chiefdom without consent from the traditional authorities.
He acknowledged that a Mr Charles Bwalya did apply for authority, but the BRE was still studying the application.
The headman said that was why the traditional leadership intercepted the trucks.
He however indicated that the BRE would wait for a report on the findings from the police.
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