CHIPILI District Council has ordered Prango Investment Limited to stop illegal mining of manganese with immediate effect.
Council public relations officer Oscar Malipenga said the mining of manganese being conducted by the private company had saddened the local authority because it did nothave legal documentation from the local authority.
Mr Malipenga said according to Article 152, clause 1 of b, c and d of the Constitution the local authority shall oversee programmes and projects in the district, make by-laws and perform other prescribed functions.
He said the manganese firm had been directed to visit the office of the council secretary with all relevant documents authorising it to operate the mine.
Mr Malipenga said Prango Investment Limited had also been directed to apply for a business permit from the council to enable it to conduct business in the district.
It should also conduct an environmental impact assessment which must be submitted to the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) for approval.
Mr Malipenga warned that the office of the council secretary would take legal action against the mining firm if it failed to comply.
Like other district in Luapula Province Chipili has rich deposits of high grade manganese.
But the mineral is largely mined by illegal miners without regard to the environment. – ZANIS
