Shooting of youths in emerald mines worrying

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 13:26:34 +0000

By BENNIE MUNDANDO

WE are concerned with the increasing incidences of Zambian youths being shot at for illegal mining activities and we plan to come up with an initiative for mine owners to allow surrounding communities to legally use their dumpsites.

Emerald and Semi-precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) president Victor Kalesha said they were concerned with the increasing number of unemployed youths who were onto illegal mining in the emerald restricted areas especially on private owned mine dumpsites.

Mr. Kalesha said of late, there had been reports of Zambians being tortured and shot at while traying to earn a living.

“As an association we acknowledge that what they are doing is illegal in that they enter mining areas without consent of the owners save for Gemcanton mining that have allowed them. But that doesn’t mean they deserve inhuman treatment.

He said his association would seek the indulgence of President Edgar Lungu to get assistance so that youths living near mining areas could be helped.

“We want to engage the Republican President that through the Presidential empowerment scheme, we create a database for unemployed youths in the emerald restricted area and then engage the mine owners with dumpsites that have emeralds to agree on the use of the dumpsites legally.

“We want to coordinate this initiative as emerald association so that we resolve this current situation between illegals and mining rights owners. We will agree that any emeralds picked legally from the dumpsite will be sold to the mining rights owners at an agreed price and modalities of paying taxes will be worked out,”

He said the move was expected to create a lot of temporary employment for these youths.

“In every situation there should be a solution that creates peace and harmony. We are mindful as an association that the Republican President is keen to ease unemployment in the country and we expect mining rights owners to cooperate so that we resolve the illegal invading of their mines by illegal miners.

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