By SYLVESTER MWALE in Mumbwa  –
THREE companies are rowing over rights to a gold mine located in chief Shakumbila’s area of Mumbwa district in Central Province, with physical fights said to have broken out.
And while the people behind Lwili Gold Mine Limited, Vukoma Mining and Taylor Metals dispute over ownership of the area, illegal miners are hauling away sackloads of the mineral rich dirt, raising fears it could become another ‘Black Mountain’ saga.
District commissioner Felix Ndopu said in an interview that efforts to resolve the dispute had failed and expressed fears the differences could escalate into full blown conflict with the potential to destabilize the local community.
Mr Ndopu said since the discovery of gold at the disputed piece of land, the fight over mining rights had been physical at times and expressed worry that some people might die.
“I only hope it won’t be like the Black Mountain on the Copperbelt because people connected to the (wrangling) companies have been engaged in serious fights and we’ve still not been able to establish the real owner of the mine,” Mr Ndopu said.
He said that he had written to the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to help determine the rightful owners of the mine to resolve the issue once for all.
Last week, Mr Ndopu led a team of government officials to the site where it was discovered that a lot of illegal mining was going on.
He noted that lack of regularised and coordinated mining activities in the district had greatly contributed to the ongoing fights.
Meanwhile, Mr Ndopu has said that K6.8 million has been disbursed to 3,274 vulnerable people under the social cash transfer which is aimed at empowering the poorest in communities.
The 3,274 is part of the targeted K8,000 beneficiaries who expected to receive the free cash from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.
Mr Ndopu said the last disbursement came last Friday and the people in the district were grateful for the gesture from the government.
He advised the beneficiaries to use the money wisely, saying the intention of the government was to improve household economies for vulnerable, the aged and people with disabilities.