By JACKSON MAPAPAYI
Mines minister Paul Kabuswe has suspended production of all mining production at Kansenseli mines in Mwinilunga due to lack of safety.
Mr Kabuswe said that investigations had revealed that the mines did not meet safety measures.
He said all productions were suspended until remedial measures were put in place.
“All production activities have been suspended until measures are put in place. So all operations have been suspended until the ministry is satisfied that all the measures have been met,” he said.
He said that a number of people had lost their lives in the area due to the unsafe working conditions.
Meanwhile traditional leaders in North-Western Province had earlier demanded that Government should immediately suspend mining activities at Kansenseli Gold Mine in Mwinilunga.
The traditional leaders said the current mining activities were not benefitting the people in
Chibwika chiefdom and surrounding areas.
They have also asked the government to find another suitable investor for the mine as the current one has allegedly failed to run it.
“Government should also publically disclose the owners of the mine and how much it has made since it was opened and how the proceeds have been used,” reads their statement in part.
The traditional leaders said this in a statement issued after a two-day mining “indaba” organised by a consortium of civil society organisations in Solwezi.
They also demanded that Government apologises to Chief Chibwika and his subjects regarding the five percent the mine claims to be owned by the traditional leader.
They revealed that Chief Chibwika has not signed any document regarding the five percent shareholding in the mine.
They have also asked Government to exhaust consultations with traditional leaders on the revision of the mining policy and the legal framework to ensure chiefdoms benefit from natural resources.
“Government must also enact a local content policy to enable local people benefit from mining activities in their various provinces and districts,” the statement reads.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, provincial minister Robert Lihefu said the government intends to foster long term mining policy reforms that will bring all citizens on board without discrimination as well as increase mining production through the introduction of enhanced monitoring and oversight mechanism and technologies.
Mr Lihefu also said Government intends to promote small-scale mining as it has closer links to the local economy as well as put in place a policy and plan to increase local participation in the sector.
“Furthermore, government wants to promote and actualise diversification and value addition and also enhance cooperation between the local communities and investors to avoid development agreements that have been negative on environment and labour abuses,” he said.
He stated that there is need to ensure that policies and legislation are robust enough to protect the communities and the economy at large from negative aspects that come with mining.
