Chief wants gold mining firm’s licence revoked

GOVERNMENT should revoke the mining licence for Sinazocha Resources Limited, a company which is mining gold in Petauke, Chief Sandwe has demanded.

Chief Sandwe cited insubordination and lack of seriousness as the main reasons why the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development should revoke the mining licence.

The traditional leader was speaking in an interview at his Mtondo palace yesterday and explained that the company had been mining minerals from his chiefdom since 2016 but had not developed the area. Chief Sandwe added that Sinazocha was not carrying out mining operations in line with the Mines Act and the laws of Zambia.

"The mining company has been around and mining gold but they are not following the mining laws of this country and for this reason, I want Government to revoke their licence and give chance to serious investors,” he said.

The Traditional leader was not happy that the company had not employed any Zambians for its operations.

According to the chief, the company had not submitted any recovery of ores and mine products, production cost and sales, leaving the community to assume that the licence area was held for speculative purposes.

“Information from reliable sources shows that the company has not been submitting on any recovery of ores and mine products, meaning the licence is for speculative purposes and what they are mining is benefitting their selfish interest,” Chief Sandwe said.