Chrome pickers arrested, fume
The irate youths blocked the Kitwe-Ndola Dual Carriage-way and started damaging vehicles of unsuspecting motorists before they went to Zambeef Wusakile outlet where they damaged window panes before police in riot gear arrived on the scene.
Police had to fire teargas canisters to disperse the irate youths, and, in the process, some innocent residents of Wusakile Township were caught in the cross fire with most of them getting chocked with the teargas canisters.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Sharon Cheelo Zulu confirmed that an undisclosed number of youths were arrested on Thursday when they became unruly after Lombe was ran over by a loaded Shackman Tipper Truck registration number BCD 5538 ZM which was being driven by Simwambi Samuel aged 39 years old of Ghandi Circle in Chambishi.
"After they got information that one of their colleagues had been ran over by truck from the Black Mountain, they ran amok, blocking the dual carriage-way and started damaging people's vehicles before they went to Zambeef Wusakile outlet where they damaged window panes.
"But quick action by the police saved the situation from degenerating into a serious riot. I can say an undisclosed number of youths were arrested in the fracas. I don't know the exact number of those arrested. I will get back to you,'' Ms Zulu said
And some Chrome Pickers from the Black Mountain told the Daily Nation that they were being forced to climb on top of the moving trucks so that they can get some Chrome before they could be offloaded to one of the four identified sites for Chrome pickers.
Paulo Chibwe, a 23 year old Chrome Picker said they were endangering their lives by climbing on top of the moving trucks to search for Chrome because they feel sidelined after being chased from the Black Mountain.
"No one seems to care about Chrome Pickers or youths in general hence we will continue to be crushed by trucks like this when it is possible to find a solution to benefit both parties instead of being given waste material,” he said.
Another Chrome Picker, Stephen Mwale said the Black Mountain consortium arrangement should be revisited for various reasons, among them greediness and lack of regard for Chrome Pickers.