GOVT ADVISED TO URGENTLY DEPLOY ZNS OFFICERS TO NEWLY DISCOVERED SUGILITE SITES

 

Green Party Leader Peter Sinkamba is advising government to deploy Zambia National Service-ZNS- officers to newly discovered sugilite sites to prevent looting of the mineral resource.

Police in Mansa have jointly arrested and charged 19 people for mining 23 tonnes of sugilite mineral ore without a license in Muombe Mine area of Chembe district, among them former Luapula Province Minister Derrick Chilundika, Northern Province Police Commissioner Gloria Mulele, 5 Police Officers and some UPND officials.

But Mr. Sinkamba feels ZNS officers are more effective in providing security to the country`s minerals as they cannot be easily bribed like the case is with police officers.

Mr. Sinkamba notes that ZNS officers have managed to curb rampant smuggling of mealie meal into the Democratic Republic of Congo and smuggling of mukula hence the need for government to engage them in safeguarding the newly discovered mineral.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sinkamba has joined calls by stakeholders for government to formalize mining of sugilite in order for the country to benefit from the natural resource.

PHOENIX NEWS