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Mines and Mineral Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, has urged youths to respect the Head of State, assuring them that the US$4 million earmarked for miners at the Sensele copper dump will be released in due course.
“Bane filya tabacita (guys never do that), no one dares to throw stones at the Head of State and comes out alive. Just be patient with the government, things will be better,” he said, drawing cheers from the “stone dealers.”
Kabuswe expressed concern over the continued loss of life among illegal miners at the Sensele pit.
“We have been losing the lives of our youths every day in the Sensele pit. We all remember that on 30th November 2023, we lost close to 40 of our youths at the same pit, and thereafter, we kept on losing lives almost every day,” he said.
He stressed that no parent would tolerate losing their children daily in the name of mining.
“If this is called ukuchinga abaiche (preventing children), then let it be so. The same people who are accusing us today are the ones who were calling us names when our children were dying every day in the pit. We have never abandoned our youths in Chingola,” he added.
Kabuswe said contrary to assumptions that the government had denied small-scale miners a chance to benefit from illegal operations, the administration was “walking the talk” of President Hichilema on ensuring legal, safe, and formalised mining.
He said government had already negotiated, under the President’s guidance, a US$4 million support package for the youths as discussions continue to secure a safe mining site.
Scores of small-scale miners (Jerabos) staged a solidarity march in Chingola on Saturday to “atone for their sins” following last month’s stoning of President Hichilema.
Almost three weeks ago, a group of illegal miners sparked national concern when some youths pelted stones at the President at Chiwempala Market.
During the march, Jerabo leaders read an apology letter at the Chingola District Commissioner’s office in the presence of Kabuswe and his Commerce and Copperbelt counterparts, Chipoka Mulenga and Elisha Matambo, who received the apology on behalf of the Head of State.
Matambo, who welcomed the solidarity march, reminded the youths of the seriousness of the offence committed during the President’s visit.
“The law will deal with all those who were involved in that very unfortunate incident. The President is good-hearted — had it been other Presidents, a lot of people would have died that day,” he said.
Mulenga, the Chingola lawmaker, assured the miners that alternative pits would be identified, stressing the importance of formalising mining operations.
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