HRA cries to Lungu over mine row

THE Human Rights Amnesty (HRA) has charged that some officials at the 0inistry of Mines and Minerals Development are working against the Government’s policy to empower indigenous Zambians.

HRA executive director Frederick Chinsala says this can be seen in the case which started between 2012 and 2013 when *hirrys Mining Limited director Maggie Musonda was arrested by the Zambia Police for suspected illegal mining in Mkushi.

In a statement, Mr. Chinsala said on July 1 , 2018 the +RA wrote to President Lungu requesting him to exercise Presidential powers vested in him to protect Ms. Musonda and her work force of about 65 people who have been rendered jobless and destitute.

He said this followed termination of her mining rights under the Small Scale Exploration Licence number 15847HQ-SEL on the ground that the stated mining rights were erroneously entertained over an area under an existing mining right 14666-HQLML for a company called Status Mining and Exploration Limited.

³+e said on June , 201 , President Lungu, as Minister of Home Affairs and Acting President of Zambia then, wrote to then ,nspector *eneral of Police Stella Libongani telling her that some officers should act professionally and subsequently directed that Ms. Musonda’s liberties be restored fully hence forth.

³The Patriotic Front *overnment came into power on the premise that we shall empower indigenous Zambians and not foreigners at the expense of Zambians,” he said.