Tightened security angers `Jerabos’

TIGHTENED security by the police at checkpoints around all mining firms has angered Jerabos on the Copperbelt as they are no longer transacting with the Asians thereby paralysing the black market copper trade that has been going on.

In its trends report for 2016 the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) observed that there was an increase in the trade of copper ores on the black market which were later exported without being accounted and contributing on the country’s revenue collection base.

The FIC observed a practice in which “Asian nationals” bought copper ore from small scale miners on the Copperbelt, which they subsequently exported to entities that were known to be shell companies or that were registered in tax havens.

The centre called for tightening of security in mining areas as allowing the scourge to continue could amount to encouraging criminality in the region.

There is growing discontentment among people on the Copperbelt as police presence around mining areas had left them stranded as their buyers, mainly Chinese nationals, found it difficult to offload and sell the copper ores to them.

“If it is for the Black Mountain, things have even become worse after the negotiations to return the facility to the locals started because police are all over and have told everyone that no one is allowed to sell copper concentrates on the market. Things have become difficult because the black market offered a lucrative business opportunity for us,” one trader said.

“We know this is illegal but it was the only source of livelihood for us. Remember that not all miners who were declared redundant in 2015 were re-engaged after the mines started making huge profits. Some of us are still on the streets even now but how are we going to feed our families with the current state of affairs?” he asked.

The police command has been asked to remove the police officers stationed at the famous Black Mountain to allow the locals transact with their Asian counterparts and allow them get the copper ores which they had already paid for.

“Of course this is illegal but for the sake of our families, may the police command relocate its officers especially from the Black Mountain so that we can finalise our deals as we anticipate the eminent takeover of the business by the locals otherwise we will starve,” he said.