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The Mukwikile Chiefdom Trust has instructed its lawyers to take legal action against Mpika Constituency aspiring candidate, Bright Chamwenga, over allegations of human rights abuses at Mutwe Wa Ngombe Mine in Shiwang’andu District of Muchinga Province.
According to reports, Chamwenga, a Kitwe resident, had insinuated that Chief Mukwikile employed workers at the mine who had allegedly suffered human rights abuses and had not been compensated.
He is also reported to have claimed that the traditional leader exerted undue influence on the Zambia Police to investigate a matter involving a complaint against Princess Mapalo.
In a statement issued in Shiwang’andu District on Friday, Mukwikile Chiefdom Trust spokesperson Thomas Ngandu said the traditional leader did not own any mine nor employ mine workers in the district.
“His Royal Highness is in charge of customary land for and on behalf of his subjects. Any person who has been granted an exploration or mining right by the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Mines obtains customary consent from His Royal Highness before commencing exploration or mining activities,” he said.
Ngandu explained that the government had since formalised illegal mining in the district through the issuance of artisanal mining licences. In the first phase, licences were issued to cooperatives after formal training conducted by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development in December 2025.
He said any individual or cooperative with an artisanal licence was free to conduct mining activities, provided they adhered to the conditions set by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.
“The statement by Bright Chamwenga is not only defamatory but an affront to the rules, values, and decorum reserved for Bemba Chiefs. He should therefore consider himself to have committed a serious traditional offence and must appear before Bafilolo for hearing,” Ngandu said.
He indicated that instructions had been issued to lawyers to commence civil proceedings against Chamwenga for defamation of character and to seek damages — a move expected to deter others from disparaging the Chief.
“Further, the matter involving Princess Mapalo is ably being handled by the Zambia Police, and a statement will be issued once investigations are concluded,” he added.
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