“EMPOWER LOCAL MINERS INSTEAD OF THREATS” NJOBVU

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Posted by admin on January 27, 2026 at 3:06 AM

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Democratic Union (DU) president Ackim Antony Njobvu has criticized government’s handling of illegal mining, arguing that the administration of President Hakainde Hichilema has failed to address long-standing concerns in the sector.

Njobvu said government should be held responsible for the rise in illegal mining activities, not just the Zambia Army Commander.

His remarks follow controversy surrounding Lt Gen Geoffrey Zyeele, who sparked outrage after using the word “exterminate” to describe the approach to illegal miners in Mufumbwe.

Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma later clarified that Zyeele had misused the term, stressing that the intention was to remove illegal miners, not harm them.

Despite this clarification, opposition figures and civil society groups have called for Zyeele’s dismissal, saying his statement tarnished the Army’s reputation.

Njobvu urged government to focus on empowering local miners rather than issuing threats.

He warned that failure to support Zambians could result in foreigners dominating mining activities, leaving locals marginalized.

“Zambians have the capacity to run these mines and get the benefits, so I fail to understand government’s appetite for wanting foreigners to steal our resources while our people remain suffering,” he said.

Njobvu recalled the disruption of President Hichilema’s Chiwempala rally in Chingola last year, attributing it to government’s failure to resolve a mining dispute with the community.

He has also criticized government for giving away copper and undermining economic liberation through tax incentives and export policies.

He insists that local participation in mining must be prioritized to ensure Zambians benefit from their natural resources.

Njobvu called for the formalization of small-scale miners, granting them access to better resources and markets.

He warned against excessive foreign control and influence in the mining sector, stressing that empowering Zambians is key to sustainable economic growth.

“Instead of threatening to exterminate, we need to find ways of supporting small-scale miners,” he said.