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The author interviewing some illegal miners in one of their caves |
A disaster is looming
at Luanshya Copper Mines where hundreds of illegal miners armed with picks and
steel rodes are risking their lives by digging for copper and chrome at one of
the mine's two Black Mountains.
Luanshya Copper Mines
is owned by CNMC, a Chinese conglomerate.
But the illegal
miners, who are mostly youths, have over the past years invaded the area and dug
several underground caves where they dig for copper and chrome in unsafe
conditions.
This reporter recently
had rare access to these miners who are dangerous and are known for killing or
injuring security officers.
These miners do not
have safety suits, safety goggles or safety boots, they dig with their bare
hands and end up with injuries at times.
Two days before the
interview, the miners who are locally known as Ifinyamunyamu or Jerabos, beat
up guards from Cobra Security with machetes and chased them from the mine site.
But using the help of
heavily armed Police officers, this reporter negotiated his way to the Black
Mountain where he had an exclusive interview with leaders of these miners.
One of the leaders of
the illegal miners Bernard Mulenga who is popularly known as Pisto, says they
risk their lives to dig illegally because of the quest for money.
Mr Mulenga, who is a
former convict, says through illegal mining, they are able to make money to
feed their families and take children to school.
He told this blogger
that despite the dangers of being buried alive, poverty forces them to do
illegal work to raise money.
“We work in these
caves without fear because we have no jobs. We risk our lives and dig for
copper concentrates and chrome using various tools. But this cave you are
looking at, we have abandoned it because it is not safe, it can bury us alive,” said Pisto as he
pointed at an abandoned cave.
Another illegal miner
Evans Kabanda has asked President Edgar Lungu to consider giving the copper
rich slug dump to the youths.
Mr Kabanda says just
like he did to the youths of Kitwe, President Lungu should consider empowering
youths in Luanshya with the two Black Mountains to reduce unemployment in the
mining town.
“If we can be given
this Black Mountain like our colleagues were given in Kitwe, mining can be
safer. They can even empower us with excavators so that we stop mining in
caves,” said Mr Kabanda.
But Luanshya District
Commissioner Joel Chibuye, who recently visited the site, expressed concern
that the continued illegal mining at Luanshya Copper Mines will cause
fatalities.
Mr Chibuye said
government is now working out plans to find ways in which the youths can be
helped to avoid illegal mining in unsafe caves.
“We just had a
disaster at the Black Mountain in Kitwe and we risk having another one here in Luanshya. We have started engaging stakeholders to ensure that we avert this
crisis,” he said.
The slug dump is
legally owned by Luanshya Copper Mines but these illegal miners have made it
their workplace.
Their dangerous ways
of mining is a source of concern.
Not too long ago, 11
illegal miners were buried alive at a similar Black Mountain in Kitwe.
Despite all this risk,
these illegal miners are not the biggest beneficiaries of the slug dump.
Richer players on the
black market buy the copper concentrates and chrome from these miners.
The middle men then sale the stones to the Chinese who have a number of smelters across the Copperbelt.
The middle men then sale the stones to the Chinese who have a number of smelters across the Copperbelt.
This illegal business
is so sophisticated that trucks visit the Black Mountains at night to collect what is dug
during the day.
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