MWINILUNGA RIOT
WHAT is happening in Mwinilunga is unacceptable and calls for a full scale investigation into the conduct of Zambia Police officers.
Yesterday, Mwinilunga residents rioted in protest against the conduct of police officers they accused of conniving with foreigners to carry out illegal gold mining operations in the Kasenseli gold area.
The police were brought to the area by the government last year to protect the precious mineral from being mined illegally by foreigners who had invaded the area.
But to the chagrin of the local residents, the foreigners have continued to carry out their illegal activities with “protection” from some police officers.
It is not surprising that the local residents chose to riot so as to show their displeasure over the conduct of the police officers.
Mwinilunga District Commissioner Arnot Mapulanga said the residents started the riot early in the morning of yesterday to show their displeasure over the unprofessional conduct of police officers.
Mr Mapulanga said the residents are not pleased with the illegal dealings which the police have engaged in despite being mandated to guard the Kasenseli gold area.
Yesterday’s riot was something that must have been brewing over a long time for this is not the first time that police officers have been accused of conniving with foreigners to mine gold illegally.
In what appears to be a preamble to the riot. residents nabbed some foreigners on Saturday who have been carrying out illegal gold mining at Kasenseli who Mr Mapulanga said on Sunday would soon appear in court.
Mr Mapulanga added, however, that police officers who were conniving with the foreign nationals had fled the scene.
According to Mr Mapulanga, the foreigners were apprehended on Saturday by some residents who were alerted of illegal activities which had been taking place at Kasenseli.
It is quite clear that senior police officers must have been aware of the residents’ concerns and failed to act firmly to remove the rogue officers from the area.
The inertia by the police top brass to take preventive action is what is robbing the country of valuable income from its mineral resources which are being mined by outsiders.
As we have stated before, Government must ensure it takes stock of the country’s newly discovered gold fields and ensure that organized mining takes place.
The country’s huge debt, though frightening, is something that could be settled by ensuring that gold mining for example is controlled.
It is pleasing to hear though that illegal activities had reduced after the ZCCM-IH moved in and started mining activities, according to Mr Mapulanga.
As Mr Mapulanga indicated, the illegality would come to an end because ZCCM-IH would soon be in all parts of the gold area.
But even before ZCCM-IH is firmly established in the area, it is important that illegal miners do not find any safe haven in the area.
And if police officers are easily corrupted, there are other defence wings that could easily be deployed – and examples are there to show that their presence has made a huge difference.