Court stops Grizzly, Pridegems from mining in disputed Lufwanyama area

Grizzly Mining Limited and Pridegems Mining Limited have been ordered by the Lusaka High Court to immediately halt all operations in a disputed mining area in Lufwanyama district until the matter was heard in full.

The order, granted on July 2, 2025, by Judge Situmbeko Chocho, follows a legal challenge brought by Chivumbwe Mining Limited, which claims to hold exclusive exploration rights over the site under Small Scale Exploration Licence No. 38563-HQ-SEL.

The contested area is mapped out in Pegging Certificate Diagram No. 20169/24.

In granting the injunction, the court prohibited the two mining firms, together with their workers, contractors, subsidiaries, and associates, from conducting any form of mining, water pumping, or related activity in the area covered by the licence.

Chivumbwe submitted an affidavit sworn by Brian Pinkney, arguing that its exploration rights were being infringed upon. After hearing from the company’s legal representatives, the court ruled in its favour and issued a penal notice.

According to the notice, any individual or entity acting on behalf of Grizzly or Pridegems who breaches the order could face committal proceedings and possible imprisonment for contempt of court.

“The defendants are restrained from carrying out any operations whatsoever in the area licensed to the plaintiff,” the court stated.

The court also barred both companies from interfering with Chivumbwe Mining’s exclusive rights to explore for minerals such as beryllium, emeralds, and quartz, or from deriving any benefit from the disputed licence.

Chivumbwe Mining also gave an undertaking to compensate the defendants should the injunction be found to have caused them undue harm or financial loss.

An inter parte hearing, at which both parties will present their arguments, has been scheduled for September 18, 2025.

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