‘Manganese firms must plough back’

MANGANESE mining firms should plough back into the community of their operation, Chitambo District Council has said.

Council chairperson, Lastone Chibuye, said in interview with the Daily Nation that firms that were mining manganese in the district must make it a point to improve the community in which they were operating. He observed that many roads in the area had been damaged by manganese mining firms, as they transported the mineral to the market. Mr Chibuye cited the road from Great North Road via Nakatambo where manganese activities were hyper which he said was completely dilapidated. He charged that after damaging the road, the firms were now using the other

Many roads in the area have been damaged by manganese mining firms, as they transport the mineral to the market.

roads through Chibakabaka, Musangashi up to Chalilo. The council chairman warned that the local authority would barricade the road the companies were using if they did not heed his advice the repair the stretch. “I always bemoan when l look at some investors in our district. The investors doing manganese have literally neglected the roads. Roads and bridges are very paramount,” Mr Chibuye said. He said investors should plough back to the community by building schools, health facilities and bridges because it was where they were getting the wealth. Mr Chibuye also expressed concern on the quarries left open by manganese miners that were posing danger to society and had become breeding places for mosquitoes.