CHINESE FIRM STOPS CHIEFTAINESS NKOMENSHYA
THE Lusaka High Court has granted an exparte order barring Chieftainess Nkomenshya Mukamambo II and her subjects from entering the Mining area belonging to Sinomine Resources Geological Engineering Company limited ((SMRGEL).
According to the ex parte order for interim injunction granted by Judge Charles Kafunda, the traditional leader and her servants have been restrained from interfering or harassing the Chinese owned company pending determination of the matter.
“The plaintiff hereby undertakes to indemnify the defendant for any damages that the defendant may suffer as a result of this order or injunction should the court afterward be of the view that the
order should not have been granted,” he ordered.
The company claims that it was ordered by the Busoli Royal Establishment (BRE)to stop construction or building activities on Lot. No. 2677/M/ Lusaka because it did not get consent from Chieftaness Nkomenshya as required by the chiefdom guidelines.
Sinomine in its application filed in the Lusaka High Court stated that it was the legal owner of the land in question which it purchased from the Registered Trustee of the Society of Jesus at a consideration of USD 5,500,000 on September 26, last year.
It added that the process of the transfer of legal ownership was completed on February 25, this year.
“The plaintiff also has a large-scale Mining License No.26238-HQ-LML in accordance with the mines and Minerals Development Act No.11 of 2015 over the property for a period of twenty-five years effective from the 30th of March 2020 to mine the following minerals, copper, cobalt, Gold and Nikel,” it said.