Illegal miner dies after jumping into Luanshya dam while fleeing police

An illegal miner has died in Luanshya after jumping into Luanshya Dam while attempting to evade mine police officers.

Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer, Mwala Yuyi, said in a statement on Sunday that the incident occurred on January 4, 2025, at around 10:00 hours.

“A combined team of Zambia Police and the Fire Brigade from Luanshya Municipal Council had conducted a search of the said illegal unknown miner at Luanshya Dam. Later, around 11:45 hours, the body of the illegal miner was retrieved and properly identified as Malenga Malenga, aged 22, as identified by his father, Kumoyo Malenga, aged 50,” Yuyi said.

Yuyi stated that the body was inspected and the only visible injuries were on the lips and eyelids, suspected to have been caused by water species.

“Meanwhile, no foul play is currently suspected. The body of the deceased has since been deposited at St Anne’s Tontozo Funeral Parlour in Luanshya, awaiting postmortem and burial.”

Police have opened an inquiry file, and investigations are ongoing.

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