CHIEFTAINS SUMMONS SILO MINING COMPANY

SENIOR Chieftains Dr. Nkomenshya Mukamambo II has summoned Silo Mining Company Limited to the Palace.

And the Soli Royal Establishment cancelled the scope stakeholder’s engagement meeting convened by the mining company held in the council chamber Friday.

Speaking during the meeting where his Worship the Mayor of Chongwe Mr. Christopher Habeenzu and Chongwe Acting Town Clerk who is Director Planning, Biggie Chanda and other Management officers were in attendance, including Place Advisor some Headmen, Indunas and two Officers from Zambia Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA) Dr. Nkhomenshya who was represented by Princess Chalwe summoned the company to the palace after the Soli Royal establishment failed to get clarity on pertinent issues surrounding hosting of the scoping stakeholders meeting.

Princess Chalwe directed the mining representatives that Senior Management officers who could have clear responses to many unanswered questions pertaining to their operations, avail themselves to the Palace on May 2, 2014, to meet with Senior Chieftains Dr. Nkhomenshya II. The Soli Royal Establishment cancelled the meeting which was in progress, on bases that the company representatives, which included, Mining Manager, Chilufya Mwila, a Consultant, Professor, Maseko, and one of the investors, Zheng Hailbo, were unable to give clear answers to certain questions to clarify its position.

The Royal Highness indicated that Sina Mining Company Limited was first operating the same mine under Chief Bunda Bunda in the actual sense the mine in question in Kachubu village was in Senior Chief Dr. Nkhomenshya's area and not in Chief Bunda Bunda.

The Senior Chief also raised a concern that it was unusual that the Palace Office could just receive a letter inviting her and Headmen to attend the scoping stakeholders meeting since the mining operations started last year, without visiting her palace to know them. The Soli Royal Establishment disclosed that it was also surprising that, same company which was under Chief, Bunda Bunda then, could now be a baby of Senior Chief Dr.Nkhomenshya without visiting the palace to explain what has changed over time.

However, the Royal Soli Establishment on Friday cancelled the scoping Stakeholders meeting in progress and a village meeting which was expected to take place in Kasenega instead of Kachubu village, indefinitely until the mine Owners first visit the palace for a meeting with Chief.