Wed, 18 Oct 2017 09:54:16 +0000
By VIOLET TEMBO
A CILVIL rights activist has appealed to the Zambian and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) governments to resolve the problem of frontier mining which is negatively impacting on the Zambian community.
Frontier mining is affecting a population of over 2,000 in Mutundu area in Mufulira district.
And Mufulira constituency’s’ Mutundu ward area councillor Jonathan Mutambo disclosed that ten housing units sitting on the boundary of the mine in question have collapsed due to suspected blasting in the area.
Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW) country coordinator Edward Lange said blasting had resulted in houses developing cracks and some have since collapsed.
Mr. Lange warned that with the onset of the rainy season more houses were expected to collapse and could result in injuries or fatalities.
He added that a conflict was looming between the mine and the Zambian community over alleged thefts being experienced at the mine with resident being accused of being responsible.
“The mine in question lies along the border with Zambia from Mufurila Constituency. Having engaged the community, we gathered that the operators of the mine had promised that they would look into the challenges.
The area has no school and health centre. The grave impact on the community dust as the mine is located on an uphill. Some houses have already collapsed. Let the parties involved address the situation with agency,” he said.
Mr. Lange said the institution had advised that the only solution was relocating the community and it was upon the two governments to look into the compensation aspect.
He emphasised the need for empowering the settlers with land for them to continue engaging in farming as it was their livelihood.
And Mutundu Ward councillor Mr. Mutambo explained that the mine was an open pit.
Mr. Mutabo explained the mining activities had affected the sources of water as the shallow wells had ran dry because water levels had gone drastically gone down.
“There are several houses which have cracks and about seven houses have collapsed. Houses which have collapsed include seven at 21 miles and three at 17 miles. Over 2000 people are affected in three communities namely 21, 17 and 14 miles,” he said.
Mr. Mutambo said he had followed the right channel when reporting these concerns to provincial administration and it was agreed that the mine would visit the area to check on the situation but had not fulfilled their word.
He said the boreholes sunk by government had become white elephants because they had run dry. He said the situation in his ward needed urgent intervention.
