By JACKSON MAPAPAYI
ILLEGAL miners have encroached on First Quantum Minerals (FQM) Trident Limited mining licence area and are mining an unknown mineral, which they are supplying to some Chinese businessmen.
Trident Foundation manager, Joseph Ngwira disclosed this during a presentation when students from Defense Staff College toured the mine site.
Mr Ngwira said the illegal mining activities were taking place from the north end of the mining licence area along T5 road.
He said FQM was yet to establish the mineral that the illegal miners were extracting but that it is a shiny rock.
He said the site had over 500 illegal miners including women and children.
He said apart from not knowing the type of mineral being mined, the illegal miners were applying an unsafe type of mining method.
Mr Ngwira warned that the situation would get out of hand if left unchecked. “Because two weeks ago, a gun was discovered in the same area, that’s the situation,” he added.
He said the mining company was working with the Zambia Police Service to bring the situation under control.
