Opposition Green Party leader, Peter Sinkamba, has expressed concern over what he describes as government’s continued failure to effectively manage the small-scale mining sector in Zambia.
Mr. Sinkamba was reacting to a riot that broke out yesterday in Chingola, of the Copperbelt Province, where informal small-scale miners protested their recent displacement from the Senseli Open Pit Mine, in which the protest turned violent, resulting in the death of one person, allegedly shot by the police.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka today, Mr. Sinkamba, who is also a mining expert, blamed the incident on poor mining policies and a growing tendency by authorities to respond to civilian unrest with excessive force.
“It is deeply concerning that barely a month after lives were lost in Mufumbwe under similar circumstances, the nation is witnessing another tragic incident involving the death of an unarmed civilian,” said Mr. Sinkamba.
Mr. Sinkamba condemned the use of firearms on citizens, particularly those seeking to earn a living from the country’s natural resources.
He further questioned how the violence in Chingola could have occurred barely two weeks after Minister of Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, publicly announced the empowerment of small-scale miners to operate legally.
Mr. Sinkamba has since called for urgent policy reforms and dialogue to bring stability and dignity to the artisanal mining sector, warning that continued unrest could undermine public confidence in government leadership.
By Christabel Kamunu
