‘REMOVE INEPT COPS FROM EMERALD MINES’

POLICE officers guarding the restricted gemstone area in Lufwanyama district have been compromised, Emerald and Semi-Precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) President Victor Kalesha has charged.

Mr Kalesha has therefore suggested that police officers should be replaced by the Zambia National Service (ZNS) officers in order to successfully tighten security in the area.

He said police officers had shown a clear indication of being compromised by allowing people without permits to enter the restricted area.

He said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that some mining companies had experienced thefts because the security situation had become porous due to the compromised police officers.

“Less than a month ago, there was a break-in at one of the mines and people got away with some gemstones. So it is for this reason that we want these officers to be replaced by their colleagues from ZNS,’’ Mr Kalesha said.

Mr Kalesha said the ZNS has a gemstone mine in the restricted gemstone area and so they would be able to provide effective and genuine security in the area.

He said the ZNS had a track record of carrying out an assignment to the satisfaction of the members of the public as evidenced by their operation to curb smuggling of mealie-meal and maize into neighbouring countries.