By RABECCA CHIPANTA –

.Chanda

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) youth chairperson Nathan Chanda has condemned the shooting of six Zambians by three Chinese men  in Lufwanyama earlier this week.
The shooting incident occurred between Ebenezer Mine  and Gemfield Mine.
He called on Chinese investors not to resort to take the law in their hands but engage in dialogue to have a win-win situation.
He has since urged the Chinese investors to engage the state security such as the Zambia Police  to help safeguard their property.
Mr Chanda said as much as the party appreciated and respected any form of investment, it should not be at the expense of the local people.
He further appealed to the ministry of Mines and Zambia Police to thoroughly investigate the matter.
“What happened in Lufwanyama is very regrettable. Shooting  people aimed at killing should never be thought of. We want to state that as PF youths on the Copperbelt, we stand with our people. This is our God given resource and these people must respect the owners of the land,” he said.
Mr Chanda called on the Chinese  to also engage the local leadership when faced with any situation.
He added that the shooting of Zambians over minerals would not be condoned.
Mr Chanda appealed to youths to form cooperatives that would be engaged to derive benefits from the mining sector through dump sites popularly known as ‘Black mountains’ through a normal channel.
Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga said the six illegal miners were part of a group  that was scavenging for emerald in an area between Ebenezer Mine and Gemfield Mine in Chief Lumpuma’s area when they were shot.