By NATION REPORTER
The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) officers armed with guns are allegedly confiscating Gold being mined by small-scale miners in Lumezi Constituency, Munir Zulu has disclosed.
Mr Zulu, the Lumezi Member of Parliament says he is annoyed that the ZAWA officers who were expected to protect the people and the natural resources were in fact involved in illegalities by grabbing the Gold being mined by the small-scale miners.
He said the ZAWA officers were abusing the privilege of their offices and were wantonly engaged in illegalities.
Mr Zulu said in an interview said that he was angry because some ZAWA officers armed with guns were allegedly grabbing Gold from the small scale miners even when the mines were not in a game management area.
“When we went to visit the newly discovered gold mine in Lumezi, on our way back we got soaked with rains but we left the place as happy people for a simple reason. ZAWA officers equally left the area because they could not tell us where they take the Gold after grabbing it from our people who they call illegal miners. Was it fine to grab Gold from illegal miners and ok for ZAWA to confiscate the gold without declaring it to the state? Was it ok for ZAWA to victimise the people in an area that is not a game park?” Mr Zulu wondered.
He also wondered whether it was right for ZAWA to receive instructions from a District Commissioner to grab gold and it was wrong for him to defend the people that elected myself to be their MP.
“Well to those of you who think I reacted hard on those officers acting under illegal instructions, I have no apologies to make as my job is to defend those who you victimise,” he said.
Mr Zulu said ZAWA could only act when the people invaded a game management area and not an open forest.
He said they took action and the ZAWA officers unapologetically left the area much to the relief of the people who were conducting the mining activities. Mr Zulu said he would help the community form cooperatives and woo investors so that it would be easier for them to sell their produce.
