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The Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC) has urged Zambians not to politicise the Zambia Army’s operations targeting illegal mining activities across the country.
AIPAC Executive Director, Solomon Ngoma, said those politicising the Army’s actions were individuals with hidden agenda or people benefiting from the illegal mining activities currently spreading across nearly ten provinces.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, Ngoma emphasised that the Zambia Army should be allowed to execute its constitutional mandate of defending and safeguarding national peace and stability without interference.
He also appealed to the Chairperson of the Central Joint Operations Committee (CJOCs) to urgently address the rising menace of junkies in urban communities, whose violent and destructive behaviour had left citizens living in fear.
“Illegal mining is not merely an economic crime; it is a direct national security threat that undermines Zambia’s sovereignty and stability,” Ngoma said.
He added that the experiences of countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic—where mercenary involvement and foreign interference destabilised governments—served as stark warnings of what could happen if decisive action is not taken.
Ngoma said Zambia cannot afford to allow criminal networks, often involving foreign nationals with military backgrounds, to erode the peace and stability the nation has enjoyed for sixty-two years.
“President Hakainde Hichilema, like any future occupant of the Presidency, carries the solemn responsibility to safeguard this peace, and it must be understood that the Defence Forces are deployed only when credible and verified intelligence has been received,” he said.
He added that the remarks by Army Commander, Lt. General Geoffrey Zyeele, reflect the seriousness of intelligence reports and should not be misinterpreted or politicised.
Ngoma stressed that the Army Commander spoke on behalf of the Central Joint Operations Committee, which coordinates national security across all agencies.
“His strong words were not directed at ordinary citizens but at hardened criminals who have infiltrated Zambia with ill motives,” Ngoma said.
He stated that citizens should recognise and appreciate the decisive action taken by the Zambia Army, which had already secured cooperation from miners in Mufumbwe, demonstrating that lawful and coordinated operations can yield positive results.
Ngoma said they stood firmly with the Defence Forces in their mandate to protect Zambia’s sovereignty and called for immediate, lawful, and coordinated action to restore peace, security, and stability across the nation.
“The Defence Forces, working in concert with other security agencies, must be empowered to act decisively against threats both external and internal, while ensuring that their operations remain within the bounds of the law,” he said.
He added that only through such decisive and lawful action could Zambia preserve its hard-won peace and stability for future generations.
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