By OLIVER SAMBOKO
GOVERNMENT has been urged to secure the Orezone Gold Mine, whose licence was recently cancelled and other gold deposit sites in Mumbwa, to stop any foreign company from dubiously acquiring the mines.
And Mining Expert Edward Simukonda has called on government to pass laws that will protect Gold deposits sites in the country from foreign invasion.
He said there should be tough laws that will ensure that foreigners found looting the country’s mineral resources are jailed for a long time.
He also said tough measures should be put in place so that only Zambians should be allowed to own gold mines and sites with precious minerals.
Mr Simukonda said this is the only way the government can stop foreigners from looting the country’s rich mineral resources and ensure that Zambian benefit from their natural resources.
He said the gold deposits have been there for a long time but that unfortunately foreigners have been the only ones benefiting from the minerals while Zambian watch.
Mr Simukonda noted there was an unfortunate trend by the previous administrations that cast a blind ear to calls to have the country’s natural resources secured for the benefit of the Zambian people.
He however, expressed happiness that the new dawn Government has shown political will to deal with the situation.
A scheme has been hatched in the Ministry of Mines where officials are planning to grant the Mumbwa gold mine to some foreign owned company, Fandu Mining, which has interest in the country’s precious metals.
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