Over 200 villagers face eviction

MORE than 200 villagers are to be displaced by Dangote Quarries (Zambia) Limited following the usaka igh Court’s decision to re use to restrain the company from carrying out its mining works or developments on the farm land and villages belonging to them in Senior Chie Chiwala’s Chiefdom in Masaiti.

High Court Judge Charles Chanda, dismissed an application for an injunction by 224 plaintiffs, because according to him this was not a proper case in which an injunction can be granted.

He added that the matter is all about compensation and such compensation can adequately be atoned for by an award of damages.

In this matter, 224 subjects and landholders under Senior Chief Chiwala’s Chiefdom on the Copperbelt Province’s Masaiti District have sued Dangote Quarries ambia imited ambia nvironmental anagement Agency (ZEMA), Majaliwa Muwaya (sued in his capacity as Senior Chief Chiwala), seeking a declaration that Dangote Quarries has failed to address or mitigate the adverse social and economic impacts of their cement project on the plaintiffs’.

Mr Jeff Murebwa and 223 others who commenced the action in 2013, also want, among other claims, wanted an order directing that Dangote Quarries’ operation be shut down until adequate compensation has been paid in full to all plaintiffs, and damages for their loss of use of land.

ast year the plaintiffs applied for an order of injunction in the usaka igh ourt to restrain angote uarries ambia imited from continuing to carry out any mining works or developments on their farm land and villages.

But Dangote Quarries opposed the injunction, arguing that restraining it from carrying out its mining operations would not in any way assist the plaintiffs whose claim was for payment of substantial and adequate compensation as well as damages for loss of use of land.