By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
THE State has sued Bolo Mining Limited in the Lusaka High Court demanding payment of K1.5 million statutory penalty for operating a mineral processing plant without a licence.
Government also seeks punitive damages, damages for breach of statutory duty, account of all proceeds realised before the grant of the licence, interest and costs.
According to a statement of claim, Attorney General Likando Kalaluka stated that in July 2017 when the Geological Survey Department of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development conducted an inspection on the operations and adherence of Bolo Mining to the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Development Act no.11 of 2015, it was discovered that the mine had been operating a mineral processing plant without a licence contrary to the provisions of section 12 (1) of the Mines and Minerals Development Act 11 of 2015.
Mr Kalaluka stated that Bolo Mining was fined five million penalty units statutory penalties which translates into K1.5 million on September 7,2017.
He stated that several letters of demand were issued to the the Mine, claiming the statutory penalties to which it has refused , neglected and ignore to honour the said statutory penalties.
“That the plaintiff has travelled on several occasions to the defendants last known address in an attempt to settle the matter amicably but the defendant has not been open to settlement hence the commencement of this action to seek redress in the courts of law,” he stated.
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