By 
The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and the Green Party have condemned the killing of a small-scale miner during recent protests in Chingola, describing the unrest as a reflection of government’s failure to manage the mining sector effectively.
The violent protests were led by illegal miners—commonly known as Jerabos—after reports surfaced that the owners of the Sensele copper dump had issued an ultimatum for them to vacate the site.
FDD Spokesperson, Anthony Chibuye, expressed concern over what he described as growing police brutality and impunity in dealing with unarmed civilians.
“It is barely a month since police shot and killed innocent people in Mufumbwe District, where residents were merely trying to survive,” Chibuye told Zambia Monitor in an interview in Lusaka.
He stressed that while the FDD did not condone illegal mining, the government’s poor handling of the mining sector under the UPND administration had fueled desperation and unrest among youths.
Chibuye accused President Hakainde Hichilema of failing to fulfill his promises of empowering young people through access to mining licenses and economic opportunities.
“What we are witnessing instead is the slaughter of innocent Zambians whom the President had promised a proper mining regime,” he said.
Chibuye said: “It’s tragic that because of these broken promises, lives and properties continue to be lost.”
He further alleged that while some mining sites were being allocated to UPND cadres, other youths were being excluded, fueling resentment and inequality.
Similarly, Green Party leader, Peter Sinkamba, criticized the government for allegedly placing the interests of foreign investors above the welfare of Zambian citizens.
He cited the violent incidents in Mufumbwe and Chingola as examples of impunity, where state security forces responded with deadly force during mining-related protests.
“We recently demanded a commission of inquiry into the Mufumbwe shootings to establish how many people were killed and whether there was looting by state agents—but our calls were ignored,” Sinkamba said.
He also accused the government of inconsistency, noting that authorities initially allowed local communities to engage in small-scale mining before abruptly revoking access, causing confusion and conflict.
“The core issue here is the government’s failure to effectively manage and regulate the small-scale mining industry, and its lack of accountability to the people,” Sinkamba said.
Both opposition leaders called for urgent reforms and a more inclusive, transparent approach to managing the country’s mineral wealth, warning that continued neglect would only escalate tensions.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments