…As he welcomes the deployment of police officers at SaSaliGold Mine
By GIDEON NYENDWA
GOVERNMENT should give cooperatives mandate to run mines, Chief Sandwe of the Nsenga people of Petauke has said.
Chief Sandwe, who welcomed the deployment of police officers at Sasali Gold Mine, has appealed to the government to give cooperatives mandate to mine as it was the only way the local people could benefit from the mineral resources.
His comment came after the government had deployed police officers at SasaliGold Mine in Lusangazi to prevent illegal mining activities.
He said that illegal mining had a negative impact on the environment and the local people were not benefiting from the mine.
Chief Sandwe said the move to deploy police officers would help control the situation of illegal mining that was getting out of hand.
“The move by the Zambia Police to deploy officers at Sasali gold mine is a welcome move as that will prevent illegal mining.
“But government should give cooperatives mandate to do mining activities of gold to ensure the local people benefit,” he said.
Chief Sandwe said that cooperatives needed to be empowered to run the mines because if the minerals that this country had were left in the hands of foreigners, Zambia would never benefit anything.
Several police officers have been deployed at Sasali Gold Mine in Lusangazi to prevent illegal mining activities.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of operations, Milner Muyambangowho toured Sasali Mine at the weekend, said the deployment of officers was aimed at preventing unscrupulous people from looting gold deposits in the area.
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