21 ILLEGAL GOLD MINERS NABBED

TWENTY- ONE people have been arrested in Mwinilunga for illegal gold mining and their equipment, including an excavator and a front-end loader seized.

The illegal miners invaded a mining area belonging to Philton Investment Limited near Kasenseli area in the North-Western Province.

According to the provincial Commissioner of Police, Mr Joe Njase, the suspects trespassed on a mining tenement belonging to Philton Investment Limited and were arrested for trespassing on a private property.

Mr Njase said the suspects have also been charged for illegal mining and exploration which is contrary to section 12 (2) of the Mining and Mineral Development Act number 11 of 2015.

“Apart from that, they have also been charged for undertaking mining activities without an approved Environmental Impact Assessment which is contrary to section 117 as read with section 126 of the Environment Act. Mr Njase said that during the operation, some equipment which was being used for the illegal mining of gold was seized.

“The equipment include a front end loader, an excavator, two motor vehicles (Isuzu registration number ABG 5907 and a Nissan registration number ABF 4121), a gold catcher, a crusher, washing machine, water pumps among others,” he said.

He said the seized equipment had been moved from the site and parked at Mwinilunga police station.

Mr Njase said the suspects are expected to appear in court soon.