By MARISA MWAPE –
A SENIOR section surveyor at Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) has narrated before a Kitwe magistrate’s court how some residents of Mindolo North allocated land belonging to the company, to themselves.
This is case in which Priscilla Kakoma, Jacqueline Katete, Cliffen Samutete, Whiteson Ngosa and Raphael Mulenga are charged with one count of criminal trespass.
It is alleged that the five entered plot number 5532 in Kitwe, property of MCM, with intent to commit an offence between July 4 and 5, this year.
When the matter came up for hearing before magistrate Kampinda Chipamu, Samson Ngulube an employee at MCM, told the court that on the material day, he was approached by police officers who wanted to find out the ownership of the land allocated to the five accused persons.
Mr Ngulube said in the company of legal officers and the mine security personnel, he accompanied the police officers to the land in question.
He testified that he discovered that the encroachment was on the area between the forest on the northern side and the dump site, as well as the area across the stream near the dump site on the south-western side.
He told the court that the five were later arrested and charged with criminal trespass.
